In the 1990s, the opening of GPS satellite signals to the public marked a turning point for the primary sector, allowing industry professionals to benefit from continuous and progressive improvements in efficiency and quality of key operations. This technological revolution in precision agriculture has, in more recent times, been complemented by the increasing digitalization of farms, giving rise to the so-called “Agriculture 4.0,” considered by the FAO as the best path to ensure food security for a population now exceeding eight billion people. This strategic approach has been recently embraced by John Deere, a pioneer in satellite and digital technologies, with the launch of an innovative package of solutions aimed at simplifying and facilitating customer access to precision agriculture.
Buy only what you need
“Precision Ag Essentials,” as the solution is called, is an entry-level offering that enables users to access John Deere’s latest technologies through a basic hardware package that can be supplemented with two different one-year service licenses. Essentially, a John Deere customer can equip their machinery with the “JDLink M” modem, which includes the “JDLink” connectivity service offering continuous remote support, the universal “StarFire 7500” receiver, a 12-inch touchscreen “G5Plus” display, and the cloud-based “John Deere Operations Center” management software, accessible from both computers and mobile devices—all with a relatively modest initial investment. Once the hardware is installed, the farmer can choose between two annual licenses, “Guidance” and “Precision Ag,” based on their specific needs.
The “Guidance” license provides access to assisted guidance systems such as “AutoTrac” for tractors, “AutoTrac RowSense” for large self-propelled harvesters, and “AutoTrac TIM,” which enables two-way communication between tractors and equipment, allowing the latter, for instance, to control the vehicle’s speed based on working conditions. Additional features include “Variable Rate Application” for managing variable-rate distributions and “Data Sync” for sharing operational data with the farm’s technical management team.
The more advanced “Precision Ag” license builds on these capabilities by adding functions such as “Section Control” for precise control of sprayers and “AutoPath,” which records and stores the exact position of each row during planting. It then automatically creates guidance lines for both the field and headlands, ensuring precise passes even when using different equipment, thereby minimizing any potential crop damage.
Thanks to this approach, farmers can gain access to the latest precision agriculture hardware technologies with low initial costs, paying annually for the license that best fits their specific needs. This eliminates the need to invest in solutions with features and systems they do not require and will not use.
Title: Package “Precision Ag Essentials” by John Deere
Translation with ChatGPT
