Printable VersionGTA400 Precision Farming
For commercial and environmental reasons, recent years have seen a significant shift among arable farmers towards adopting precision farming techniques, to the extent that in some countries now it could be described as mainstream agriculture.
Initially, precision farming took the form of a move away from blanket applications of inputs, increasing in sophistication as developments in technology advanced to enable variable application rates - only applying fertiliser and chemicals where they are required and at the optimum rate.
GTA400 Precision Farming enables growers to do just that, by generating planned application maps based on analysis of the influencing factors affecting crop production. It builds an accurate picture of each field's strengths and weaknesses, highlighting problem areas and those where different levels of inputs are required. All via the GTA Console II or Fieldstar terminal.
With all the capabilities of the first three GTA software packages, GTA400 Precision Farming allows users to accumulate a powerful and intuitive database that exactly meets the needs of their individual farm businesses and the various enterprises within them. As all the packages form an integrated suite of software, only one simple system needs to be learned - and at the user's own pace.
Site-specific application planning
- Assign treatment inputs to specific field areas
- Use themed map layers to create application maps
- Import and adjust third-party application plans
- Automatically adjust application rates to a total amount or cost factor
Map layers
- Display and work with multiple map layers
- Import additional themed maps, such as aerial photos or satellite images
- Use the 'Calibrate Image' tool to create geo-referenced themed map images
New buffer zone creation
Quickly create field buffer zones to help protect sensitive conservation and environmental areas, including watercourses.
The Ultimate Precision Farming Tool
The GTA400 Precision Farming package builds on existing farm details and crop data by allowing such information as soil sampling results, sensed crop nitrogen levels, as-applied inputs and management zones to be used as a basis for application plans.
Soil sample data is displayed in a similar format to yield data, meaning that the information is clear and easy to understand. The common layout also ensures that analysing and using the data is quick and efficient.
Creating an Application Plan
Application maps can be created directly from a themed map layer for any point data, or they can be produced by hand drawing, using background layers as a visual guide.
Users are then able to take account of various layers of information, or to fine-tune application plans to comply with specific legislation, guidelines or customer specifications.
Simply set up a working group of input resources and right-click on the map layer to start the plan, based on the selected information layer. Check the variable rate box in the farming window, adjust any input resources and then transfer to the application plan window.
View and Adjust Third-Party Application Maps
Planned application maps that may have been produced by an outside service provider or crop consultant in other file formats can be imported and viewed in GTA400.
The user can also modify the plan if, for example, conditions have changed or supply of the product to be applied is restricted. Once the details have been checked or modified, the file is simply saved and is then ready to be transferred to the machine controller.
Manage Background Map Information
Being able to view and manage background map layers considerably enhances user information, allowing further analysis of the elements influencing crop production.
A whole range of information can be imported in the form of background map layers – the location of roads, watercourses, county and district boundaries, digital soil survey data and imagery – all can be managed at farm or field level. Over-layering of geo-referenced machine task data enables machine movements and working paths to be tracked, providing the information to maximise productivity. Select the layer and use the transparency slide control to compare the foreground layer with the background layer.
Calibrate Image Tool
Existing farm maps and aerial or satellite images can easily be geo-referenced for use in GTA400, so that all relevant data and resources are fully utilised.
The calibrate tool enables the user to import existing scanned images or change the co-ordinate systems on images from third parties. A comprehensive set of tools allows image quality and size to be adjusted to match the area required, so they can be used in GTA400 map layers.
Write Task Data
Once an application plan has been completed, the Export tool is used to export it to a CSV, Shape or FODM.xml file for use in a range of other applications.
Alternatively, the Write Task Data tool provides a simple means of writing the plan to a card or file in a number of different formats, along with Farm and Resource information, if specified from the Resource list.
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GTA400 Precision Farming
