Ag Tech Newsletter Winter 2013

Precision Ag U P DAT E Winter 2013

A TIME TO PLAN

If spring is a time to sow and fall is time to reap, then winter is a time to plan. You can plan your next growing season by collecting soil data, playing “what-if” scenarios for variety selection and placement, and choosing the right seed.

LOOKING BACK AT 2013

The Top 5 Trends in Precision Ag The field of precision ag is growing at such a rapid pace, that sometimes it is hard to get a handle on what is most important and where to place focus. In a recent report by PrecisionAg.com, industry experts came together to share their opinions on the past year’s most important technology trends.

1. SMART DEVICES

4R NUTRIENT STEWARDSHIP

Applying the right source at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.

PRECISION AG YIELDS GREATER NET PROFIT "Gone is the day when a higher yield means greater income. Gone is the era when management was completed by “whole farm” or “whole field.” Today, management occurs on an acre-by-acre or sub-acre basis, and greatest net profits are sought, rather than highest yields." -USDA

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 16 GA Peanut Farm Show in Tifton January 31 and February 1 GA Young Farmers Assoc. State Conv.

March 14 Georgia FFA Blue and Gold Gala

It seems as if almost everyone has some type of smart device, like a phone or tablet. These devices should continue to penetrate the agriculture market as internet quality and availability continue to improve. Ag Technologies’ new offering, Ag Uplink, is helping to pave the way in this market.

Application development is another key in the continued growth of smart devices in agriculture.

2. DATA SOLUTIONS The precision ag industry continues to strive for ways to maximize the efficiency of application equipment. Solutions, such as Ag Technologies’ Precision Ag Services, provide data management so that the information collected can be processed and used to help make important decision on such things as fertilizer, seeding and chemical applications.

3. VARIABLE RATE APPLICATION (VRA) SEEDING According to most industry insiders, this technology continues to develop at a fast clip, with users quickly working out some hiccups in adoption. This should continue to be a growing segment.

4. IN-CAB SOLUTIONS In-cab technology includes automatic steering systems and boom section control. Users are becoming more comfortable with integrating these systems into their equipment, and many guidance products are being adopted as new equipment is put into service. A high percentage of new machinery now comes factory-equipped with automatic steering systems.

5. UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES (UAVS) Some of the newest technology, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, has already jumped to the Top 5 list because of its potential. UAVs are poised to become game changers in the agriculture industry with possible uses including crop scouting, spot spraying, and real-time decision making. One major obstacle that will have to be overcome is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations in place that limit commercialization.

The Southeast’s Leading Precision Ag Company

NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT Q&A

Hunter Stone of Ag Technologies Precision Ag Services Team answers your questions about nutrient management What is nutrient management?

Nutrient management is the practice of amending critical soil nutrients to levels required for profitable crop production. This includes management of primary macronutrients (N, P, and K), secondary macronutrients (Ca, Mg, and S) and applicable micronutrients (Cl, Fe, B, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, and Ni). Generally, soils contain adequate amounts of these elements to support plant growth. However, in an effort to increase plant vigor and yield, growers often supplement with fertilizers. Understanding nutrient levels and their distribution across a field is essential to proper nutrient management.

How is nutrient management implemented?

Since the green revolution, growers have become accustomed to yearly application of fertilizers to support desired yields. However, with the advent of GPS technologies and precision ag, nutrient management has become more involved. Now, growers are concerned not only with proper nutrient levels at the field scale, but also with their spatial variability at the sub-field scale. Precision soil sampling, by either grid or zonal methods, and variable rate application technology has allowed for proper rates and placement of soil nutrients to guard against deficiencies and toxicities. Nutrient management in the modern age breaks down into 4 Rs: the right nutrient source, the right application timing, the right rate, and the right placement.

What is the benefit?

Numerous university studies have demonstrated the financial advantages of nutrient management coupled with precision technologies, but the bottom line is increased profitability. Generally, fertilizer costs decrease while net yield increases. This means more profit at the end of the season. In addition, there is a reduced environmental impact for those utilizing a well thought out nutrient management scheme using precision ag technology because there is less chance for over-application of nutrients. There is also less chance of water table contamination from leaching or eutrophication from runoff.

How do I get started?

The starting point for nutrient management is a plan and a partner. Plan out the types of fertilizers you intend to use and the optimal time for their application. Then see Ag Technologies, your precision ag partner, to get set up with the latest technologies for precision soil sampling and variable rate application. Get in touch with your regional manager today for more information on nutrient management.

REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES Central Georgia 855. 601.4477 | Ernest Cook Southwest GA / Southeast AL 855.602.4477 | Robbie Tabb | D. J. White South GA / North FL 855.603.4477 | Adam Anderson East GA 855.604.4477 | Elliott Marsh | Jesse Neidlinger Central / South FL 855.605.4477 | Andrew Bryan | Ken Lodge

FIELD IQ SPREADING APPLICATIONS Field IQ for Spreading Applications Use Trimble's Field-IQ™ crop input control system to apply the correct amount of granular application to your field—and save money, increase yields, and keep records of what you've applied for post-harvest analysis.

• Automatically control spinner speed for spreaders with the FmX® integrated display • Vary rates of fertilizer or lime manually or using prescriptions • Avoid overlap by shutting off spreading when going over previously applied areas or point rows • Connect directly to many manufacturers’ existing components • Add a Rawson® variable rate drive to handle high-performance spreader boxes. These drives provide you with a very fast response when going from stand-still to material application.

• You can also use a GreenSeeker® crop sensing system for an efficient way to manage crop inputs such as nitrogen for on-the-go application.

Guidance and Steering with CenterPoint RTK Trimble® offers assisted and automated steering options to help keep your farming vehicles on line-so you can focus on other farming tasks. With the added benefit of terrain compensation technology, you can operate in difficult terrain conditions while minimizing skips, overlaps, and guess rows.

The CenterPoint RTK correction service is well suited for row-crop planting, strip tilling, land leveling and other water management applications in which the best horizontal and vertical accuracy is required. Trimble pioneered RTK in the early 1990s as a means of delivering high accuracy corrections for field applications. In the two decades since, RTK has become the industry leading methodology for sub-inch positioning.

xFill™ technology Trimble® xFill™ technology utilizes Trimble® RTX technology, delivered via satellite, to "fill in" for RTK corrections in the event of temporary radio or Internet connection outages, which are the primary sources of dropped corrections. As a result, you can experience more in-field run time with fewer interruptions.

• Up to 20 minutes of extended RTK operation keeps users in the field for longer with fewer interruptions.

• Seamless switching ensures that there are smooth transitions when the system switches to the xFill™ function and then back to RTK once the corrections are restored.

• Global coverage area allows global users to benefit from xFill™ technology.

TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Adam Anderson

SOUTH GEORGIA REGIONAL MANAGER EXPERIENCE With Ag Technologies for 4 years, previously with Lasseter Implement Co. as a salesman.

Bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State.

BEST THING ABOUT THE JOB Being able to work with the employees of this company and customers in my region and helping the farmers day to day.

SPARE TIME When I’m not working, I enjoy family time, hunting, training my lab and shooting my bow.

FAMILY My wife, Julie, and I welcomed a baby boy, Paxton Jack, in April.

HOLIDAY PLANS I plan on hunting deer and ducks, and I am also looking forward to spending time with family and enjoying Paxton’s first Christmas.

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 41 ALBANY, GA

185 Fish Hatchery Road Cordele, GA 31015

It is our mission at Ag Technologies to provide progressive-minded customers a complete solution of precision agriculture with superior products and a professional staff to help inspire, educate and provide first class service and support.

877.585.4GPS

SoutheastPrecisionAg.com

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT JOEY WILLIAMS, COOK COUNTY, GA

JOEY, MELISSA, ANNAH AND LANDON

Joey Williams, a second generation farmer, has been farming for 17 years on his land in Cook County, Georgia. His father, Don Williams, started the family operation, Williams Farms, 35 years ago. Today, father and son each rents his own land and pays his own bills, but share the labor and a few pieces of equipment.

Williams primarily grows cotton, corn and peanuts on 1700 acres and also manages a 10-head cattle herd. He is a firm believer that precision agriculture has made his farming both more productive and more efficient. He uses a variety of Ag Tech products, including GPS RTK Guidance, Swath Control Booms on a John Deere 4730 sprayer, and Field IQ with Air Clutches on John Deere planters.

“The guidance not only allows for straight rows but also makes planting and plowing up peanuts easier on the operator,” he says. “The Boom Control eliminates crop damage and over-spray, which in turns saves money and makes money because crops yield better. The Air Clutches have allowed us to be able to plant around our ends with no wasted land & better controlled weedy ends.”

Like many farmers, Williams sees major challenges managing input cost and prices. “You have to be very much business minded and on top of your business. There is a lot of paper work, the market is always changing & it is not easy cash flowing. Prices have not adjusted to the cost of fuel, fertilizer and other things going up in the past several years.”

On the flip side, he feels a great sense of pride knowing that he is helping to feed and clothe others. The benefit of being able to work with family by his side also outweighs much of the stress.

“I feel very blessed and thankful. I could see my life in no other profession. I love what I do, and having my wife and children with me every day makes it that much better. I am very thankful to God that his blessings have allowed me to live my childhood dream.”