Precision upgrades provide farmers latest technology

DECATUR, Ill. — Adding precision technology to equipment helps farmers increase profits through higher yields and lower costs.

“Our team thinks about how to get the Deere tech stack to every acre, on every machine, on every farm,” said Than Hartsock, vice president of precision upgrades at John Deere.

“New innovation is happening at such a rate that waiting to get technology only when the farmer decides to buy a machine is just not quick enough,” Hartsock said during a presentation at the Farm Progress Show. “You don’t have to buy a brand new machine to get the latest Deere technology to your farm.”

Farmers have been using GPS guidance on their tractors for over 20 years. “AutoPath is the next wave of GPS guidance,” Hartsock said. “With our StarFire receiver on the implement, whenever that implement goes through the field, the exact location of those planted rows is recorded.”

Regardless if it is a planter pass, fertilizer pass or strip-till pass, each pass is recorded when the machines are connected with AutoPath. “When the sprayer comes into the field or a sidedress bar, there is no question where the rows are planted because each row is mapped and documented,” Hartsock explained.

John Deere has upgrade kits for planters that farmers are currently using. “A customer that has a planter 2012 or newer can add the ExactEmerge technology,” said Yancy Wright, John Deere agronomist. “It has the same electronic metering and BrushBelt delivery that we’ve had out since 2013 on our planters.”

Farmers can add the ExactRate fertilizer system to their planters. “This is a complete fertilizer containment, control and delivery system,” Wright noted. “The individual row hydraulic downforce is also available as an upgrade.”

With the tight planting windows, many farmers are planting long after the sun sets. “The LED lighting kit enables more visibility when planting at night to provide a safer and better planting experience,” Wright said.

With the central commodity system planters, there is a lot of weight in the middle of the machine. “The frame weight distribution upgrade helps to transfer the weight out to the frame so you get good seed depth across the width of the planter,” Wright said.

“We are really excited about the central tire inflation system that just came out this year,” Wright reported. “It allows customers to run two different inflation pressures on their planter frame so they can have a higher inflation pressure when they’re transporting for safety and when they go to the field, they can bring it down to a lower pressure for managing pinch row compaction.”

The ExactShot builds off the ExactEmerge technology. “By knowing exactly where the seed sits in the furrow, now we can target apply a starter fertilizer in a two-inch band right over the seed,” the agronomist explained. “We can save up to two-thirds of our starter fertilizer by adjusting to where the seed is going to use it and be the most efficient.”

FurrowVision looks down at the furrow. “We can see the shape of the furrow and also know where the bottom of the furrow is so you can monitor exactly where that seed is going to sit,” Wright said. “As conditions change, you can make adjustments in the cab to get the correct seed placement at the correct depth.”

A planter update configuration tool is available for farmers to use by going to www.JohnDeere.com/YourUpgrades. “This allows customers to put in the serial number of their planter and it will tailor the upgrades available for their specific planter,” Wright said.

For sprayers, the ExactApply nozzle control system allows for individual nozzle control. “It also has the droplet sizing control to target the right droplet size that’s agronomically optimal for the chemical you’re applying with the sprayer and it also allows you to go from one nozzle size to another,” the agronomist said.

“The Individual Nozzle Control Heavy Duty has an electronic ball valve,” Wright noted. “With higher volume fertilizers or dry flowable chemicals, it’s going to be a better system for getting individual nozzle control.”

Precision upgrades are also available for John Deere combines.

“The cross auger shutoff and the adjustable auger spout are two features that come standard on the X Series and now they can be added back to the S700 Series of model years 2018 and newer,” said Jon Ebert, precision upgrades marketing lead for John Deere.

“The cross auger shut off allows farmers to shut off the auger in the grain tank so the grain empties out of the auger,” Ebert explained. “The adjustable auger spout is a popular feature for farmers when they’re trying to top off the grain cart.”

The corn head short points upgrade is important for farmers with hilly fields or that have terraces. “Short snouts allow you to be more nibble through curves or tight corners so you’re not knocking over plants,” Ebert explained.

“We’re really excited not only for what’s in the portfolio today but we’re going to continue to look at how we can get the latest technology that has farmer value back as far as we can go that makes sense for our customers,” Ebert stated.

Orders are now open for farmers to upgrade their planter, sprayer or combine for 2024. “Our upgrades team is going to continue to make it easier for farmers to take a whole fleet advantage of precision ag components,” Ebert stressed. “We want farmers to have an easy path to adopt the next version of technology.”

For more information about John Deere equipment, go to www.JohnDeere.com.