Ag Data Collection

Thought this may be of interest.
Modern Ag & Data Collection

I read the story a day, or 2 ago. I still do things way same way I did 20 years ago, & can say I don't care to change. Lets take fertilizer for example. Went to the Louisville Farm Show & found a broadcast Fertilizer spreader that could be hooked to the electronics of Your tractor which would have computer data showing areas where less nutrients were needed. The computer would then adjust how much fertilizer would be realeased to the spinners as You travel through the field. Of course the price was astronomical even for a 6, or 8 ton spreader. All hydraulic also meant using a newer tractor. The salesman told me that an IH 1066 might not even have enough GPM to run the plumbing. I have a IH 666 I want to pull it with. Half the power, & 1/3 less GPM. I told him its PTO operated, or nothing for me. I don't want to be pulling a 6 ton spreader with a $100,000 tractor. & how do you control a 60 foot spread pattern, & get the correct amount applied on the left, & the right at the same time? The machine can only regulate all 60 foot span; not part of it!

We are getting too advanced in some areas of farming. Collecting data is OK; but how much do we really need? & what we think we need changes daily with Floods, & droughts. Even a computer cant keep up with that!

I've seen a lot of changes in my life.....and I been agin' every one of'em. LOL

I watch the "Big Ag" shows on RFD and whatnot from time to time. I read the magazines and the ads and hit the webistes. It' interesting to see what's out there but the only reason I look is out of interest. My methods and equipment are probably circa 1955 or so and I'm okay with that. Sinking $100 into a new tractor or $35K into a baler or mower or skid steer...none of that s going to work for me. I enjoy seeing how technology progresses, but that's for industrial.corporate farmers afaic. Around here if a guy auto take offs on his pipe line or a discbine he's at the peak of technology. For that matter, there are still lots of farms running open station tractors in my area. No heat, no air, duct tape holding the seat together. You don't see that on TV!

My father watches that RFD TV, I don't ever recall seeing it, but should check it out, being of interest. Its somewhere in that abyss of channels LOL !

10-15 miles north of here, well its less than 20, there's a large community of farms, from large operators to smaller operations and the latter is all open station and vintage tractors/equipment, which you will see in the fields. I go up to a Temco dealer and tractor/equipment repair shop there and that is all you see, and is mostly what you see in their shop for repairs. I just like to visit, go for parts, to just see the area.

The thing that raised an eyebrow with this article is the commodities exchange and or connection to this data, and or the potential subsequent manipulation of same by use of this collected data.

Modern times can be hard to comprehend once you get to a certain age, when you are used to older practices that do not encumber the compiling of such detailed information for the "alleged" benefit of farmers.

I've got 1970s and 1980s equipment, trying to farm some with modern farming ideas.

The electronic data could be increadably helpful for all us farmers, but the power is remaining in the hands of a few. My data is my business, I just can't subscribe to the apps and services that keep my data for themselves. They will have all the advantage. Power is in knowing all the data for a wide area.....

The big companies, M, Pioneer, JD, etc are buying up he small companies that are coming out as fast as they can. Get all the information together.

Info is power.

Bad deal in the long run.

Paul

Good to hear I am not the only one farming with 25+ year old technology. Although I did have to get a trimble gps guidance system for spraying as it is just too hard to avoid overlap or misses. Otherwise the older stuff grows a good enough crop for me and I see no likelihood of updating at this stage of the game.

Had to do the pesticide training course a month ago, every 3rd
year. I don't use anything that requires it, but good to know
info anyhow, and just in case....

Anyhow they did a survey of us, room full of 60 or so farmers,
and was very surprised over 50% were farming 500 acres or
less.

I had the impression everyone was at 1500 acres or more
these days around here......

Paul