When Tony and Daniel Neu, partners in Neu Way Farms near Ashley, North Dakota, traded for two new Lexion combines a couple years ago, one of their main concerns was being able to integrate the harvest data into their network, since everything else on the farm sported green paint. With the help of their equipment dealer, the Neus were able to install a Claas-JD Bridge in each combine that provides full integration of auto steer, ISOBUS functions, performance data, and yield/moisture maps.
“It wasn’t always that easy,” Tony admits. “About 20 years ago, we had a Cat combine, and we couldn’t merge any of the data. Today, due to the bridge, we’re able to use John Deere receivers and displays in the Lexion combines to collect and integrate everything into our existing system, which was important since we have so many years of data.
“The system basically consists of a black box with a wiring harness that translates the data into a different format,” he adds. “It even allows us to see the location of the other combine and where it’s been, and to connect the combines to our JDLink system.”
According to John Fulton, Ohio State University associate professor, advances in technology have given farmers access to a wide variety of data, which he summarizes into five basic categories. They include agronomic data, machine data, prescriptions for seed, fertilizer, etc., remote sensing, and production data.
Even though compatibility between sources and platforms has improved, there are still a number of hurdles. “One part of the compatibility issue is interoperability, which is the ability of one system to work with other systems without special effort on the part of the user,” Fulton says. “The other issue is portability, or the ability to move, copy, or transfer data easily between environments securely without affecting data usability.”
Part of the challenge is that there is currently a wide range of file formats used within agriculture. In addition, both open and proprietary file formats exist for storing and exchanging data. Even if producers have the same brand of combine, tractor, and planter, they may still have to deal with a different type of file from the co-op that applied the fertilizer and/or the agronomist who created an infrared image of the field.
“However, we’ve seen a growing effort by manufacturers and software companies to alleviate the issue,” Fulton adds. “AgGateway has probably made as much headway in this area as anyone, particularly through ADAPT (Agricultural Data Application Programming Toolkit), which is an industry-wide effort to improve interoperability.”
As a nonprofit consortium of more than 200 businesses, AgGateway’s mission is to promote and enable the industry’s transition to digital ag through a collaborative process within and across agricultural sectors. With help from ADAPT, several hardware and software companies are developing plug-ins for their proprietary formats that allow data conversion from one format to another.
“Producers need to realize, though, that we’re still in a stage where companies are implementing a solution. Even if they have one, it could take months or years before a plug-in or a bridge is available to the end customer,” Fulton says. “The best advice right now is for producers to develop a digital strategy. Part of that is understanding who you may be sharing data with and how you’re going to be sharing that data. Do your homework and find out what’s out there to bring all the data together under one platform.”
Tim Smith has a story to tell, but it’s stuck way down in his throat. Typically, this fourth-generation Iowa farmer is chatty and warm, but sitting at the kitchen table with his wife, Tina, his face is ashen, his eyes clouded. Smith starts talking a few times, only to trail off mid-sentence. A fog of silence settles over the room, until Smith quietly, hopefully tries to change the subject: “Lots of robins this year. Don’t you think?” While not specific to
I’ve been at this lifestyle for almost 3 years now and, I have to admit, I’ve taken a few breaks. I don’t mean taking a break as in neglecting the animals and letting them fend for themselves.Table of contents 3 different types of breaks to take when homesteading, why and what to do.Taking a mental breakThe emotional breakThe physical breakWhat to do when you’re taking your breaksSummary of taking a break on the homestead3 different types of breaks to take when homesteadi
Table of contents The best garden planner you’ll ever find and why I love it (and use it every year!)Do you have to have a garden planning program?Is planning a garden hard?How do I keep my gardening hat on straight?Are there other awesome features in the best garden planner EVER?Let’s sum it up and get to planning!The best garden planner you’ll ever find and why I love it (and use it every year!)I’m here today to tell you about how I plan my gardens year round and why I
Table of contents Tropical Storms and First Years on a HomesteadWhat we accomplished the first year on our homestead and our future goals.Raised and LearnedGrew and PreventedThe First Year on a Homestead Was…Tropical Storms and First Years on a Homestead The first year on a homestead has been kind of wild. We’re officially experiencing our first storm, Tropical Storm Colin, as homeowners and homestead owners! What we accomplished the first year on our homestead and our future goals.A