Transcript
March 2013 Volume 3, Issue 1
Winter Technology Expo
Inside this issue:
Winter Technology Expo p. 1 Seed Meter Test Stand
p. 1
Wireless Data Transfer
p. 2
SeedStar Mobile
p. 2
Sloan Support Call Center
p. 2
Gator Mapping Service
p. 2
Harvest-Max Partners
p. 3-4
Software Update
p. 4
Mapping Service
p. 5
Sloan Implement App
p. 5
AMS Trade-Up
p. 5
Getting to Know the AMS Department
p. 5
Come see the new John Deere high speed planter and the drones by Horizon Hobby on display! We will be hosting a one day technology/AMS expo at our Atwood training center on March 11th from 10am-2pm. No signups required. The expo will be open to everyone to come and go as they please to see the different booths that we have setup. Booths will include: Wireless Data Transfer, Remote Display Access, JDLink, MyJohnDeere.com, SeedStar Mobile, John Deere Automated Crop Reporting, Gen 4 CommandCenter, Kinze ISOBUS, Harvest-Max Partners, Mobile Farm Manager, planter clutches, automatic down force, swath control, rate controllers, RTK network, Gator mapping, Horizon Hobby drones, and the brand new 1775NT electric drive, high speed planter. One lucky winner will get their choice of a FREE 1 year mapping service or our Gator boundary service on up to 500 acres ($500 value).
Seed Meter Test Stand We now have a seed meter test stand at our Assumption location to test vacuum meters as well as finger pickup meters. We have the ability to run your meters with your seed to optimize performance. Just bring in one or two of your varieties and we can run it through the meters and make sure everything is working properly. We also have the ability to print out reports on each row to show simulation and population. For $30 per row we will run the meters and calibrate them. Parts are not included in that price.
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Wireless Data Transfer Wireless Data Transfer is now available for FREE!
No more USB sticks Send setup data from your computer directly to the GS3 Send prescription files directly to the GS3 The GS3 sends data back to your computer once the field is complete Less chance of losing data if something happens to the GS3
When you are done recording a field the data can be automatically sent to MyJohnDeere.com where you can retrieve it or share it with your trusted advisors. It can also be setup to unload files directly into Apex. You can view up to date data on Apex without ever touching a flash drive. Older machines can also be retrofitted to have this ability. Contact us for more information and to get setup today.
SeedStar Mobile Coming Soon: SteedStar Mobile will have the ability to see what the planter is doing in real time on an iPad. You will quickly be able to see if there is a problem with a row so that you can correct the problem faster than ever. This data will also be stored on the iPad and can be sent to MyJohnDeere.com. More details to come.
Sloan Support Call Center Call us this spring with all your AMS questions.
217-693-6209 Gator Mapping Service We now offer field mapping with our Gator using RTK signal. We can map boundary lines, waterways, as well as guidance lines. This works great when using Section Control to plant or spray through waterways. You can also utilize these boundaries to ensure that you or your operators are in the correct field. Simply hit the “Find Field” button when you pull into a field with a mapped boundary and it will know the Client, Farm, and Field associated with it and populate them into the drop down boxes. All your guidance lines for that field will be pre-loaded as well. You can then select the line you want to use, center the line with where you’re at and take off. This eliminates the need to make new guidance lines every time you enter a field. Mapping will cost $1/acre with minimum acreage required.
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Volume 3, Issue 1
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Sloan Implement has joined forces with Harvest-Max Partners to complete the precision farming process. Harvest –Max brings the data analysis, recommendation, and validation piece to partner with your John Deere AMS equipment so you can use your collected data as a management tool. We have paired with Harvest-Max because of their customer focused approach and their unique method of extracting usable and practical information. Furthermore, Sloan Implement will remain in the loop to assist with executing your plan and to answer any equipment related questions during the season. We believe that this partnership combines the strengths of both businesses to provide a very powerful and useful management tool for your operation.
Points to Consider about Precision Ag Every company in the world wants grower’s field data, hitting farm operations from all fronts to share their data. Wireless data transfer is a very handy thing for the grower, his consultant, retailer and equipment dealer to stay connected in real time. Believe me, it will save gas and time running around setting up prescriptions, unloading monitors, as well as helping a grower through a monitor problem in the field. Although those are all great things and are positive advancements in precision ag, there are some points we want you to really consider before sharing your data. Too often we see growers hand over their agronomic data on cards or jump drives to companies without any regard to how it will be utilized. Yes, they are going to generate a yield map, fertilizer recommendation, etc… but think about this for a second; if I walked up and asked you for the passwords to your online bank accounts, would you give them to me? Perhaps if I were your attorney or accountant, maybe - only after both parties have agreements in place for protection. Just the same, I see growers give cards or jump drives full of farm information to companies with nothing more than a promise of a yield map or recommendation. I have also seen growers give password access to monitors full of information (same as bank account access) to all kinds of people who may not always have their best interests in mind. Our point with this is if you don’t have proper agreements signed as to the use of that data, what are you giving up? The possibilities might be endless. Continued on next page.
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Again precision ag offers promise in so many different ways. With all the information it offers, you can at times be overwhelmed. We encourage growers to walk versus run into implementing precision ag tools from an information standpoint. The possibilities are endless for what it can do for an operation, but keep in mind that the data generated in the beginning can be mind-boggling. It is so much more than just a bunch of color-coded maps that look pretty in a binder. The investments that I see farm operations make, not only in equipment but programs to interpret that data, will be good investments if handled properly. Equipment that didn’t work as promised can be frustrating but so can reams of paper in 5-inch binders full of unused valuable information. If you have a good plan implemented and can interpret the data, you are on your way to make full use of your precision ag investment. If you have made or are making a large investment in precision ag and are collecting information, make sure you are able to turn that information into good decisions. Don’t let it collect dust on the wall in a binder. Too often I see growers get frustrated or hear them say, “I have all this information but don’t know how to use it.” If you have found yourself saying the same phrase, spend the money needed to get help and hire a trusted advisor to work with you to build a plan. Don’t let a couple bushels of corn at today’s prices stop that. You are giving up 10x that in the future, let alone the investment you have today. Keep in mind that if you go shopping for an advisor that you both understand what is to be expected and delivered. There are lots of good folks in the business today to work with, just make sure that recs can be validated with plenty of comparisons each year. It is important that current management practices in each field’s management zone can be tested against your current practice in a way that is easy and at low cost/risk.
www.HarvestMaxPartners.com
Spring Software Update for GreenStar Equipment There is a new software update now available on StellarSupport.com that can be downloaded and installed on your displays and receivers. These updates fix problems and make improvements to the equipment. The release notes can be found on Stellar Support as well. Make sure these are up to date to avoid problems during the season. If you are having problems then that will be the first thing we check. If you are unsure how to update your equipment then you can bring it in to us and we will update it for you. Software version numbers:
StarFire iTC—3.73 E
GS3 2630—3.22.1095
ATU 200—2.20 B
GS2 2600—2.8.1033
Rate Controller—3.42 E
StarFire 3000—1.90 S
Dry Rate Controller—2..10 Q
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Volume 3, Issue 1
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Mapping Service Tired of struggling with APEX or just want to start mapping and keeping records of your data? Contact us to get set up with our mapping service. We will provide a new data card or flash drive each year so that you can keep your old data in a safe place for backup. We will make sure your equipment is up to date and also get your monitor loaded with all your setup data including farms, fields, clients, and varieties. After planting, we will print your variety maps and reports and get you set up for harvest with variety locator. We will then print your harvest maps and reports after you are finished with the years harvest. All of this is included for just $500 a year.
Sloan Implement App We now have our own app on the Apple iTunes Store and Google Play Store. You can scan the QR code to the left or search for us in the app store on your phones and tablets. Features include: the ability to view our equipment list and get equipment alerts, store location addresses and phone numbers, help videos, quick reference guides, ag markets, weather, and much much more. If you don’t currently get our newsletters electronically then you can sign up to receive them through e-mail by signing up on the app.
AMS Trade-Up Trade in your GS2 for a GS3 between now and April 30th and get $500 off for a total price of $3395. You can also trade in your StarFire iTC for a new StarFire 3000 for $2000. The 3000 receiver is much more accurate and doesn’t lose signal nearly as easy as an iTC especially near tree lines.
Getting to Know the AMS Department
Dylan
This issue features Dylan Vickers out of our Atwood location and Josh Thornton out of our White Hall location. Dylan is from Ogden, IL and went to parkland community college and graduated with an A.A.S. in Precision Agronomics. He has been with Sloan Implement for a little over 2 months now and enjoys hunting and farming whenever time permits. Josh is from Greenfield Illinois. He attended Lincoln Land Community College where he received an associates in Agriculture and then transferred to Western Illinois, receiving a bachelors degree in Ag Business and a Minor in Animal Science. He has been employed with Sloan Implement since August of 2011. He is also actively involved in his family’s farming operation which includes livestock and crop production.
Josh
Sloan Implement 120 N Business 51 Assumption, IL 62510
Product Support Team Sloan Support Call Center - 1-217-693-6209 Assumption - 1-800-745-4020, Lucas, Derek, Jared W., or Jake Atwood - 1-800-323-4573, Matt Cuba City, WI - 1-800-508-2178, Bill Effingham - 1-866-666-9400, Matt Lanark - 1-800-344-8023, Josh Monroe, WI - 1-800-813-4255, Joe Vandalia - 1800-972-9420, Lucas Virden - 1-800-745-8960, Justin White Hall - 1-800-644-2138, Josh
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A Word from Lucas Greetings from the frozen tundra of Central Illinois!! Even though we are all cold now, spring is right around the corner. Our Technology Expo is coming up on March 11th. Please plan on attending. This is the event where we have all John Deere has to offer on display. We recently updated our planter seed meter test stand. Bring in your meters for us to check out and get ready to go for spring. We can do Deere, Kinze, Precision, Case, and others as well. The new spring software update was just announced so make sure to update your displays and receivers. Or, bring it in to your local Sloan location and we can do it for you. It takes about an hour to complete. Don’t forget to use the Call Center listed above for a quick answer to your questions this spring. Our goal is to get you a correct answer as fast as possible. Finally, if you want to start to take your data to the next level as a management tool, attend the Expo or give us a call and we can explain all of your options and what the equipment you already have can do. Thanks Lucas
