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ScoutDoc: Helping Farmers Map The Fields

May 26th, 2013

Farming is a large part of our heritage here in the US. Some families have been farming the same fields for generations. Now, technology is changing the game and allowing them to manage more farm operations with ease, even from the comfort of their own home!

Wait, what? Thanks to farming apps made for iPads, smartphones, and various online portals, they are able to perform more farming tasks efficiently, anywhere they happen to be.

Allowing Farmers More Office Time

One such app is ScoutDoc, developed by Ontario-based AgNition, and was launched in 2012 for the iPad platform. AgNition is a company that develops mobile technology solutions for the agri-food industry in order for farmers to manage their entire business more easily.

Peter Gredig, a partner with AgNition, points out that several years back, farmers were told to focus on being the CEO of their business just as much as working the fields. “We were told that we needed to be in the office in front of a computer,” Gredig said. “Now we’re told to get out there (in the fields).”

How It Works

ScoutDoc allows farmers to do just that. Auto-generated maps provided by Google Maps give farmers the means to scout fields using their iPads and a stylus. The app detects the users GPS location, pulling up the appropriate map, which the farmer can then mark up any way they need to. They can add field boundaries, as well as pin drops which they can attach comments to for future reference regarding a variety of things: where to plant certain things, the condition of certain locations, or where weeds need to be eradicated.

The information input into the app allows a farmer to keep up-to-date and accurate information on field condition all season long, letting them forwarding concerns and task lists to field help quickly via email. The reports generated through the GPS app gives farmers the power to compare growing seasons looking at trends and patterns throughout the years, giving them vital information they can use to make adjustments in order to increase yields. The best part: no more lugging around clipboards and paper scouting forms!

Agronomists Love ScoutDoc

Anyone out in the field applauds ScoutDoc for bringing efficiency to the act of field scouting. The GPS technology alone saves heaps of time and paperwork, and more accurately marks locations that need to be monitored more closely. Tying Google Maps in to the app makes it even better, providing an accurate, live map of the field in an instant.

What does the future look like for AgNition? Gredig spoke of a cloud computing system to store this map data rather than directly on the device. Currently, ScoutDoc GPS is only available for iPad2 and newer, but an Android version is in the works.

How GPS Could Save U.S. Farmers

April 10th, 2013

People have always shared a somewhat dangerous relationship with nature. Our hunter/gatherer ancestors relied on nature to produce food in large enough quantities to sustain themselves. As farming spread throughout the world, certain elements of food production came under human control, but the vast majority of responsibility was still with nature to provide correct weather at the right time to sustain life. Even today, with impressive irrigations systems criss-crossing Southern California, massive machinery helping to turn the midwest into a seemingly endless supply of corn, and graders carving farmland out of previously unusable areas, farmers still face an uphill struggle in their battle to control as many aspects of farming as they can. With financial ruin only one bad season or new law away for so many farmers, GPS technology may provide them with help they need to achieve a more secure financial state.

GPS navigation allows farmers to plot their fields more accurately and specialize treatment for exact areas within each field. In recent years, farming has become as much about science as it has traditionally been about back breaking labor. Farmers take soil samples to determine what crops will best grow where, and what fields need to be fertilized when. GPS helps farmers track this information more accurately than before, allowing them a more detailed knowledge of their fields, and providing them with the information needed to care specifically for trouble areas. In this way GPS also saves farmers money, as there is a lower risk of fertilizing or spraying too broad a section because the farmer didn’t know exactly how large of an area needed treatment.

In addition to helping farmers treat fields in preparation for a crop, GPS can help farmers determine how successful the harvest was in different fields. With this information, farmers can spend the rest of the year cultivating fields that are in need of extra work, and maintaining the fields that did well through field specific preparation. By enabling farmers to have greater knowledge of their fields, GPS systems are helping to reduce the cost of farming, and encourage field specific preparation techniques, which will result in greater crop yields. While farmers will continue to contend with nature, GPS is helping to eliminate problems that have plagued them for just as long.

GPS Assistance for Farming Tile Drainage System Installation

April 3rd, 2013

Already utilized by many farmers around the country, GPS tracking devices have many applications within the agricultural world. GPS devices can be used as guidance tools in low visibility weather conditions, such as fog, rain, darkness, or dust. And in conjunction with geographic information systems (GIS), GPS devices can be used in real-time collection of geospatial data, allowing farmers to augment their precision farming methods. From field mapping to soil sampling to tractor guidance, GPS tracking systems are certainly having an impact on the agricultural community.

Fairly new to the agricultural worker is the method of GPS-guided installation of tile drainage systems. Farmers who find water drainage systems necessary in the maintenance of their fields may consider utilizing GPS tracking devices to help to increase the accuracy of tile installation.

Farmers use agricultural drainage systems to control water levels over their crop fields’ surfaces by removing excess water from depressions or low banking areas within the growing area. These systems are usually comprised of surface ditches or subsurface permeable pipes. Land leveling and channelizing systems are also sometimes used. Some farmers may choose to use a combination of different types of drainage systems in their field.

The subsurface permeable pipes are traditionally called “tiles” due to the fact that the original variety was manufactured of a clay material, crafted in short, cylindrical tiles. For tiling in a crop field, the tiles are installed below ground, between two and four feet beneath the surface of the earth. Farmers lay out the tiling strategically through their fields to optimize the drainage system. New GPS tracking systems can greatly increase the strategic accuracy of tile layout and positioning.

By using GPS tracking devices to map out the best location for the tile drainage system, farmers can work out the optimal position for their tiles even down to the inches. This can be very helpful in preventing unwanted gaps or needless overlapping in the tile layout. Another helpful benefit of GPS tracking in tile installation is control of the grade, or incline and decline of the tiling. Because the track of water flow is so vital in moisture control, poor or carelessly constructed grade in tiling can cancel out the advantage of installing a tile drainage system. By using GPS-guided devices, however, farmers can much more easily avoid mapping errors while planning their tiling installation.

All things considered, it would seem that, if accuracy and precision are desired in agriculture, GPS tracking devices can’t be beaten.

Virtual Fences Could Modernize Livestock Management

March 27th, 2013

For the past few centuries, cattle farmers haven’t changed much about how they manage their livestock. Typically, cows and other livestock are kept within wood or wire fences. These methods work fairly well, but Dean Anderson, a scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wants to digitalize fences and bring cattle farming to the modern era. Using GPS tracking technology, Anderson has developed a system called Directional Virtual Fencing, which eliminates the need for physical, stationary fences.

We’ve all heard the phrase, “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.” Perhaps you’ve heard that it’s not always greener, but in either case, this common saying comes from livestock farming. With wood and wire fencing, the land on which the cattle or other livestock are allowed to graze is limited to one, unmoving piece of land. Depending on the weather and density of livestock, the grass within the fence tends to be more scarce than outside, where the cattle cannot roam.

Some farmers choose to solve this issue by manually moving their fences when needed, while others move their livestock through multiple, smaller ranges so the land has more time to recover. However, these solutions require quite a bit of manual labor and/or management of many fences and gates. With a digital fence, the parameters are flexible and decided by the user. Instead of rotating livestock through a maze of fences, whomever is managing the herd can virtually adjust the barriers of the pasture towards fresh grass.

The Directional Virtual Fencing system is very similar to virtual fences used by many modern pet owners to keep animals on their property. This system requires the cows to wear headsets with GPS technology equipped. The GPS device provides constant feedback of the animal’s location. As the cattle approach the virtual fence, a light sound is triggered, followed by a louder sound, and finally a light shock. Currently, the technology is slightly more expensive than most ranchers would want to pay, but the benefits may soon outweigh the costs.

Researchers In MN Brave Harsh Winter Conditions To Track Moose

February 1st, 2013

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wildlife researchers successfully launched a study of the North Shore’s moose population. Unfortunately, moose in the area have been dying off rapidly and wildlife experts are scratching their heads. It’s been determined that hunting and natural predators can’t account for the population’s rate of decline. They managed to attach 31 moose with GPS tracking collars, but the frigid weather was a significant obstacle. On Monday, January 21st, the ground crew were facing daytime wind chills as cold as 54 below zero. Temperatures didn’t raise above zero until Thursday, Jan. 24th.

“We started the project last week near Grand Marais during a four-day stretch of extreme cold,” Lou Cornicelli said, DNR wildlife research manager. “Flight safety guidelines dictate no work can be performed below 20 degrees below zero. So despite the fact the helicopter was grounded for most of the first three days, we successfully collared and now are tracking nearly a third of the moose we plan to study.”

The study will span multiple years, hoping to track 100 moose total with GPS devices. “When you watch a collared moose disappear back into the brush, you hope data will help unravel the mortality mystery that is puzzling wildlife managers,” said Erika Butler, DNR wildlife veterinarian. . “The technology we helped develop for this project will be of use to other researchers.” The tracking collars are also attached to complex sensors, which can detect weather, heartbeat and much more.

“Signals sent from the 31 moose we have collared as of Monday afternoon are already providing us with their precise location,” Butler explained. “Sensors are recording the air temperature around them and, in some cases, their internal body temperature and whether their heart is beating. If a moose dies, we will receive a text message so that researchers stationed in the field can get there within 24 hours to allow for a necropsy and other tests to better understand the cause of death.”

Tribal Villages In India Use GPS Devices To Claim Land

September 22nd, 2012

Tribal families living within the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Narmada, and parts of The Dangs district are using GPS devices to officially claim land they’ve been living off of. Under the Forest Rights Act, a family may claim forest land if they have been using it since 2005. There are more than 5,000 tribal families living in the forests. A large portion of the crops cultivated by the villagers are used for sustenance, and by officially claiming the land under the Forest Rights Act, the Indian government will recognize the land as belonging to the locals.

“We carry these GPS devices, turn it on and ask the claimant to walk on the border of his fields,” explained a member of the local Forest Rights Committee (FRC) in Patholi Ganina village, Bamanjibhai Vasava. “The data is then super-imposed on satellite maps, and we can see which areas are being cultivated by people. These maps, names of claimants and other details are then submitted to the government as evidence that we have been cultivating these lands, so we can gain possession under the Forest Rights Act,” he continued.

Unfortunately, there have been some problems with the GPS devices while plotting land. “The GPS has to connect with a satellite, so when there are clouds, it does not work. We carry out surveys when there are no clouds,” explained Indrasinh Vasava, from the Signal Garan village. There also seem to be some logistical concerns about the verification process required by the Forest Rights Act. In order to claim land, the villagers must have been cultivating the land since 2005.

The Indian government is using maps developed by its own BISAG (Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics). Many are concerned that the satellite images used to verify their claims are not reliable. The technology was not as accurate back then, sometimes resulting in errors of 300 meters or more. As it turns out, the concerns were founded. 113,000 out of 156,000 of the claims were rejected, resulting in mass protests. Currently the verification process is under review, and some have suggested using Google Earth images as an alternative.

Boars Tracked With GPS Devices In China

September 22nd, 2012

When Jin Yongmin, a villager in Huangbei county in Wuhan, Hubei Province, found his vegetable garden destroyed, he took it upon himself to capture the beasts that trampled his plants. Well, he and seven other villagers captured the animals. it took them an hour and a half to catch four boars, which were reportedly the size of large dogs. It didn’t take them long to notice that these boars had tags attached to their ears. Those tags turned out to be GPS tracking devices. The locals easily deduced where the destructive animals had come from.

“There is a pig farm nearby. So we thought the boars might have run away from there,” explained Zhou, one of the villagers who helped capture the boars. The owner of the farm, Xia, confirmed the pigs belonged to him. “They have escaped several times,” he explained. He apologized for the damage his boars caused, and agreed to compensate Jin for the value of the vegetables destroyed. Xia explains that it’s difficult for him to keep track of all his pigs, so he decided to invest in GPS tracking devices. This way, when the boars escape, he can locate them and not completely lose his investment.

“Boars cost three times the price of ordinary pigs. I suffered a lot from their constant escapes,” he said. “So I equipped them with GPS microchips, each costing me no more than 20 yuan ($3.14). The expenditure is not a big one, compared with the value of the boars.” Xia has been breeding boars since 2009. In that time period, he estimates that he’s raised around one thousand boars. Now that the pigs are a lot bigger, they have less problem breaking through his fence. Perhaps its time to invest in stronger fences, to avoid having to pay for future damages from these destructive beasts.

GPS Helps Farmers Increase Productivity

September 7th, 2012

The days of traditional farming are quickly passing, replaced by high-tech, almost robotic methods. Global positioning system (GPS) technology combined with geographic information system (GIS) technology is paving the way for more efficient and environmentally friendly agriculture, and farmers across the country are taking advantage of the advances in farm equipment to improve their crop production.

Uses of GPS on the Farm

Tractors equipped with GPS devices can now help farmers micromanage the acreage used in producing all kinds of crops. Using the data collected from GPS-enabled equipment allows farmers to map out their fields with precision as well as locate boundaries and irrigation systems. They can determine which crops grow best in variable soils and topography. Farmers can also pinpoint problem areas in their fields, such as an overabundance of weeds, pest infestations, and areas of plant disease. This in turn allows them to more accurately apply pesticides, insecticides, fertilizer, and water.

Benefits of GPS on the Farm

The more information a farmer has about his fields the better he is able to increase efficiency and decrease cost. GPS technology allows a farmer to use every part of his land, so there is no longer the waste that comes from straight-row farming. He can also know the amount of seed that is going into the ground and eventually how many crops that seed will yield, helping him plan for the future. The ability to decrease the amount of chemical products used on the crops helps the environment by reducing overspray into the atmosphere and the water systems.

Cost of GPS for the Farm

Many would argue that the cost of implementing GPS technology on the farm is prohibitive, but like many ventures, sometimes it takes money to make money. However, like most forms of technology, an individual can spend as little or as much as he desires depending on the number of features he is investing in. A basic subscription can run from $1,500 up to $15,000 for a more advanced, all encompassing agricultural GPS system that monitors data and transfers analysis reports for the farmer.

Precise farm management results in greater crop production at less cost for both the farmer and the environment. From the small family farm to large governmental agricultural projects, GPS technology helps every aspect of farming for a better tomorrow.

Precision Farming Gets Better Thanks to eDriveX Enhancements

September 4th, 2012

Hemisphere GPS, developers of the eDriveX automated steering system for precision farming applications, announced numerous enhancements to the GPS system. These enhancements include support for the VSi steering interface, improved contour operations, and other vehicle kit support, and gives users a more accurate and affordable steering platform to get the job done. The eDriveX v2.1 was also enhanced for users needing long-range functionality with the release of 400 MHz radio repeater kits to extend the range of their RTK systems.

VSi support takes the electric steering wheel solution and boosts its performance, bringing eDriveX to equipment that was not previously designed with hydraulic kits. VSi is perfect for easily improving performance on another tractor or piece of farm equipment.

The contour improvements included in the eDriveX enhancements includes a mode that allows the equipment to follow curves where either skipping or repeating passes is required, called Identical A/B Contour. Adaptive A/B Contour, on the other hand, allows on-demand modification of identical A/B contour in case there are obstacles in the way or the ground conditions change. It also offers a new Pre-Engage function, which gives the operator the power to pre-set the steering system. When the equipment enters the GPS coordinates of the pre-set parameters, the auto-steering kicks in without the farmer having to input information. The farmer can focus on other aspects of the equipment while the tractor does its thing, and this also gives the farmer the power to enter coordinates while the tractor is stationary. Certain markets will receive the Pre-Planned guidance feature, which lets growers survey fields and create driving paths using a GIS tool, exporting these paths in a shape file to be used by S3 and eDriveX for auto-steering.

Hemisphere GPS has also released eDriveX VSi capable installation kits for a range of specific vehicles. The kits come with everything needed along with simple to follow, detailed vehicle-specific step by step instructions that give the customer the power to install the device on their own, no special training or tools required.

The radio repeater kits, 400MHz A320/A321 and A220/A221 smart antenna compatible, extend the range of the RTK system thanks to their standard 5 watt 400MHz radio. It allows users to receive radio signal even in valleys and under tree cover. The kits are offered in either a portable or fixed repeater installation kit, and is simple to install with the help of the PC-based configuration tool, included in the kit.

“We are always looking for ways to improve upon our successful eDriveX product line that offers industry leading performance and great value and we believe customers will appreciate the VSi support as well as the new guidance features,” said the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Agriculture for Hemisphere GPS, Kip Pendleton. “Providing new and innovative product features is at the core of our solution-based approach to helping current and new customers become more efficient and productive.”

GPS Devices Show Sheep Retreat Into Flock When Threatened

August 23rd, 2012

GPS tracking devices are being used in all kinds of research, from measuring glacier melting to tracking migratory patterns of sea turtles. Recently, researchers from The Royal Veterinary College in London, UCL, as well as Cambridge University tested a 40 year old theory about how sheep respond when threatened by a predator. The theory is that sheep on the outside of the flock push themselves as far into the flock as possible when approached by a predator. Although it’s not the first time this theory has been tested, it’s the first time GPS tracking devices have been used to detect individual sheep movement.

The head of this project is Dr. Andrew King from The Royal Veterinary College. “For the first time, we could show the individual movement trajectories of all the animals involved,” Dr. King explained. “Before, we could say, ‘yep, they move in and run to the center’. But because of the GPS backpacks tracking movement every second, [we were able] to monitor every animal when they were under threat.” The team trained an Australian Kelpie dog to herd sheep, and then attached each sheep in the flock with GPS tracking devices. This way, the researchers could watch how the individual sheep move when approached by the dog. The theory is that the sheep instinctively move in toward the middle of the flock to avoid being targeted by the predatory.

Although this information isn’t exactly groundbreaking, the technology used to gather the information is more than noteworthy. “The field of collective behavior is undergoing rapid change at the moment,” Prof Jens Krause told BBC News. Krause is a professor at Humboldt University in Germany, and was not involved with the project. “We are getting better and better techniques for studying what is going on and understanding the mechanisms by which animals organize and accomplish collective feats, like sudden changes in direction.”