There’s no question about it: crop stands that remind you of a picket fence, starting at the headlands and covering every acre of a field, are a satisfying sight.
But creating that visual doesn’t happen by accident. To maximize machine performance and minimize input waste – especially on point rows – a proactive approach to setting up your precision ag technology is essential.
From importing field boundaries to validating row offset measurements ahead of planting, spraying or spreading, proper preparation can reduce costly overlap of seed or chemicals.
“I’ve had farmers tell me that the addition of section control saved them 10% on inputs,” says Zach Gettman, Trimble Product Manager. “But to capitalize on that investment in the technology, farmers also need to invest their time planning and properly setting up their display.”
With nearly 15 years of experience working with Trimble planter and application control systems, Gettman shares four ways you can avoid cutting corners on point row production and achieve better overall crop consistency.
Measuring Up
One of the most valuable but overlooked opportunities to improve planter performance and application accuracy on point rows is validating implement offsets. Maximizing the value of section or swath control depends on accurate equipment dimensions being entered into the in-cab display.
Generally, it only takes about 30 minutes to park an implement in the shop or the yard and take accurate measurements, Gettman says. While some farmers try to get by with an “eyeball” evaluation, he says it’s not worth the risk. After all, entering inaccurate front-to-back implement offsets in a display can result in frequent planter or sprayer skips or overlap on headlands.
“You might get into the field and find out you are two feet off on a measurement and now you have two feet of overlap or skips on every end row,” Gettman says. “That adds up and it’s going to be lost yield and lost inputs.”
Looking Ahead with Vision
It’s also worth reviewing and adjusting any look-ahead values that determine future mechanical configurations in the field to account for areas that have already been planted or sprayed.
Boundaries, headlands or waterways are key pieces to map and upload prior to taking measurements. Display features like AutoSync™ automatically sync guidance lines, field names, boundaries and implements across all connected devices. This automation simplifies seeding populations or application rate adjustments on lower and non-producing areas of the field.
“On farms in our area, there are a lot of center pivots, so we want to account for those when planting corn and adjust accordingly for areas that won’t be as productive.” Gettman says. “When setting up your display, it’s not always about where you’ve been to avoid overlap; it’s also about knowing where you don’t want to plant or apply fertilizer.”
Maximizing Machinery
Another opportunity for farmers to improve point row consistency is by fully capitalizing on the capabilities of their equipment. Gettman has helped farmers tap into or enhance the performance of their machinery through economic display updates or upgrades.
“Farmers will add the hardware for section control on their planter, but they won’t invest in the technology to take advantage of that hardware on the machine,” he says. “Maybe their planter has section row capabilities for all 12 rows, but they are only utilizing six of those rows. The planter already has the mechanical capabilities, so we can help that farmer take that next step to fully utilize the technical ROI.”
Avoiding Operator Error
Manual machine adjustments on point rows aren’t ideal, especially if there is an inexperienced operator in the cab. Pre-loading planting and application patterns for each field using Trimble’s Precision-IQ™ interface automates the process and provides more labor flexibility.
“You don’t want an operator frantically pushing buttons or flipping switches on headlands,” Gettman says. “Having accurate field information already in the display gives farmers confidence that inexperienced operators won’t have to make unnecessary headland adjustments, especially on oddly shaped fields.”
Want to maximize point row production and minimize input waste? Contact your local Trimble reseller today to learn how they can help create that “picket fence” stand on your operation.
