increase font size
John Deere’s ag machine range has been boosted by the purchase of Sentera, specialists in equipment for capturing and interpreting aerial images.
While tractors combines and machinery for agriculture and construction is still its key business, John Deere appears to be taking opportunities in the hightech sector via acquisition, with the recent purchase of Sentera, a Minnesota-based company that specialises in equipment for capturing and interpreting aerial images.
Described as being able to provide “farmers and ag service providers with a more comprehensive set of tools to generate and use data to make decisions that improve farm profitability,” Sentera may be viewed as a further piece in the smart farming jigsaw.
Interestingly, it also means that Deere might be adding drones to its portfolio, as Sentera – on top of offering sensors and cameras – has a plane-type drone within its offering, as a mounting platform for the former. The PHX drone can fly for an hour, in which time, it can collect data over three hundred acres.
Offering the opportunity to capture more information, it is understood that Sentara’s imagery capabilities, in conjunction with Deere’s digital hub, will enable farmers and advisors to seamlessly gather and integrate agronomic data, understand real-time conditions, and turn data into insights that drive decisions in the field throughout the growing season.
Key areas of assessment are crop health and weed infestation, with the ability for high resolution images to be analysed to locate individual weed plants.
The resulting prescription map could be used by sprayers to treat weeds though section control, or even single nozzles. It is claimed that the same process can be used in a paddock to assess crop stand uniformity, disease pressure, and pests, opening all areas to more efficient remedial action.
Rural News understands that Sentera will continue to supply cameras directly to drone manufacturers for integration into their products, as well as selling to farmers, agronomists, ag retailers, and other users.
In addition, the John Deere Operations Centre will continue to be open to other drone imagery providers, where images may be used in the Map Layers tool, enabling farmers and advisors to continue to have the choice of which solutions best suits their operation.
A long way from when AI meant plunging a plastic-covered arm armpit deep up a cow’s rear, John Deere has shown off its new artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, aptly called JD, which aims to simplify data processing on farms.
Twin rotor swathers have become the ‘go-to’ for forming swaths to feed hungry harvesters and balers, however, the design layout often means that crop located between the two rotors is not picked up, turned over or incorporated into the swath formed for subsequent harvesting.
Operating large tractors became more expensive back in March due to the ongoing Strait of Hormuz conflict, meaning contractors had to introduce fuel surcharges and farmers had to adjust their budget forecasts.
Close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, Motueka is known for apples, pear and kiwifruit orchards, alongside specialised crops such as hops. Indeed, that specialisation, saw the area being the New Zealand centre of the tobacco growing, until the early 1980s.
Can-Am has introduced its 2027 range of side-by-side vehicles (SSV) and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), including the industry leading Defender, the Maverick R and the hugely capable Outlander ATV, incorporating a host of advancements designed to deliver an exceptional riding experience.
A seasoned horticulturist has been appointed to deliver the Apple Action Plan, a key initiative of the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.
New Zealand's citrus growers have been told to compete on the value built into their fruit rather than the volume they grow.
Hawke's Bay fruit growers are being reminded of the need to prepare for whatever the El Niño weather system may bring in the coming months.
Three and a half years on from when Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke's Bay, some orchardists in the region are still receiving counselling to help them deal with the trauma they suffered.
South of the central Hawke’s Bay town of Waipukurau is Taniwha Station – a highly successful 550ha bull beef farming operation.
Beef + Lamb NZ funded research has shown that some simple changes to pasture management could help farmers make better use of rainfall and build resilience before dry conditions hit.
OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…
