1. GPS Applications for Precision Agriculture by Randy Price Precision Farming Technologies Engineer and Specialist K-State Extension and Research Kansas State University

2. Overview: Discuss Current GPS Systems in Agriculture Discuss Current GPS Systems in Agriculture Where things are going Where things are going Height Modernization Uses in Agriculture Height Modernization Uses in Agriculture Questions? Questions?

3. Largest Users of GPS Systems in Ag. - Guidance Systems: Automatically (or through visual cues) steers a tractor through a series of GPS points or down an A-B Line. Automatically (or through visual cues) steers a tractor through a series of GPS points or down an A-B Line. Reduces driver fatigue. Reduces driver fatigue. Allows for straighter rows. Allows for straighter rows. Reduces overlap and skips. Reduces overlap and skips. Can skip a wet spot in field during planting/cultivating, work other side of field, then go back and plant or cultivate area that was skipped. Can skip a wet spot in field during planting/cultivating, work other side of field, then go back and plant or cultivate area that was skipped.

4. Different Types of Guidance Systems: Manual Guidance: Manual Guidance: Light Bars, PDA’s Light Bars, PDA’s Auto-Steer Systems (performs the steering function for you): Auto-Steer Systems (performs the steering function for you): GPS Antennae Computer and Operator Interface Hydraulic Valve Block

5. Accuracies Available to Farmers: WAAS: WAAS: OmniSTAR®: OmniSTAR®: Similar to WAAS, but with carrier phase (L2) information. Similar to WAAS, but with carrier phase (L2) information. RTK: RTK: L1 and L2 with Base Station. L1 and L2 with Base Station.

6. Pass-to-Pass Accuracies of Each System: WAAS – 6 to 12 inches – 5 ft. deviations year-to-year. WAAS – 6 to 12 inches – 5 ft. deviations year-to-year. OmniSTAR – 2 to 5 inches OmniSTAR – 2 to 5 inches XP - +/- 8 inch year-to-year accuracy XP - +/- 8 inch year-to-year accuracy HP - +/- 4 inch year-to-year accuracy HP - +/- 4 inch year-to-year accuracy RTK – 1 inch or less and year-to-year RTK – 1 inch or less and year-to-year

7. Portable Removable Units: All-in-one All-in-one Less Wires Less Wires Easy Installation Easy Installation Movable Movable Available in: Available in: WAAS WAAS OmniSTAR® OmniSTAR® RTK RTK Low Cost: $3000 to $6000 Low Cost: $3000 to $6000

8. Built-in Units:

9. High-End Displays:

10. John Deere System - StarFire: Similar to others: Similar to others: SF1 – WAAS SF1 – WAAS SF2 – OmniSTAR® SF2 – OmniSTAR® RTK RTK No Subscription Needed RTK $2000 U SD $1400 U SD $800 USD $600 USD $400 USD SF2 Free SF1 36 month 24 month 12 month 6 month 3 month

11. Ways to Get RTK Correction: Dealer or Farmer Owned Base Station: Dealer or Farmer Owned Base Station: 30 to 15 miles radius 30 to 15 miles radius Portable Base Station: Portable Base Station: 2 to 6 mile radius 2 to 6 mile radius

12. Single Frequency (Non-RTK) Portable Base Station : Outback Guidance Baseline Outback Guidance Baseline L1 Only L1 Only Guidance System in Tractor + Radio Beacon Accuracy: 1 inch (from manufacturer)‏ Transmitter rated for 2.5 miles 2.5 miles Advantages/Disadvantages:

13. Many Other Systems:

14. WAAS Coverage of Kansas:

15. Light Bar / WAAS Guidance System - Light Bar Steering Only: Set overlap correctly to manufacturers recommendations!

16. Pass-to-Pass Accuracy with Time

17. WAAS System - Long Term Offset from Original A-B Line: 14.54.2May 23 21.40.4May 25 17.5-0.3June 15 Maximum Difference (in.) ‏ Offset from Original A-B Line (in.) ‏ Day

18. Five Different RTK Systems: (Source: Adumchuk - University of Nebraska) ‏ 68% 68% 68%  95.4%   99.7% 

19. Pass-to-Pass Accuracy in Multiple Research Papers:

20. Pass-to-Pass Accuracy at Drawbar:

21. Cost of Guidance Systems:

22. Prices Going Down –New Products EzGuide 250 Lightbar EzGuide 250 Lightbar $1500.00 $1500.00 Leica MojoRTK System: Leica MojoRTK System: RTK and Base Station for $12,980 RTK and Base Station for $12,980

23. Where GPS is Going: Accuracies have been seen as quite good (by Farmers standards) Accuracies have been seen as quite good (by Farmers standards) Boom Control Boom Control Turns off the boom sections as they pass over areas already sprayed Turns off the boom sections as they pass over areas already sprayed Seed Control Seed Control Turns off every 1 or 2 planter boxes when needed Turns off every 1 or 2 planter boxes when needed

24. Example of Planter Auto Shut-Off

25. Uses of GPS Height Modernization: Government: Government: Watershed Mapping and Flood Plain Determination Watershed Mapping and Flood Plain Determination BMP’s (best management practices) BMP’s (best management practices) Atrazine Measurement (Herbicide for Killing Weeds) Atrazine Measurement (Herbicide for Killing Weeds) Sediment Loads Sediment Loads Individual Farmer: Individual Farmer: Not as much Not as much Relative heights usually good enough, but bench mark may be used to help determine sloped land and land type easier Relative heights usually good enough, but bench mark may be used to help determine sloped land and land type easier

26. Effects of Crop Growth: Rainfall Rainfall Soil Texture Soil Texture Texture affected by land type, slope, topography Texture affected by land type, slope, topography

27. Topography: Topography has a significant impact on soil formation. It determines the runoff of water and the micro-climate which in turn affects vegetation. Topography has a significant impact on soil formation. It determines the runoff of water and the micro-climate which in turn affects vegetation. Water moving across the surface strips parent material away and deposits in low areas. Water moving across the surface strips parent material away and deposits in low areas.

28. Other Sensors Seeing Success: NTech Greenseeker NTech Greenseeker Tractor Mounted Tractor Mounted Hand-held Units Hand-held Units Sees the Same thing as Remote Sensing Units Sees the Same thing as Remote Sensing Units Real-time Real-time

29. Kansas Wheat Field – 3% to 7% Slope

30. Nitrate Calibration Plots:

31. Flood Plain Soil: Ponding of water / soil texture may explain differences in vegetative index in this map Ponding of water / soil texture may explain differences in vegetative index in this map

32. The Future: No-till becoming more widely used. No-till becoming more widely used. Farmers doing much more spraying and at higher frequencies (more trips across the fields). Farmers doing much more spraying and at higher frequencies (more trips across the fields). High cost of inputs (fertilizer and herbicide) causing farmers to re-think spraying strategies and move towards variable rate applications. High cost of inputs (fertilizer and herbicide) causing farmers to re-think spraying strategies and move towards variable rate applications. Land levelling could become more important as inputs become higher / crops worth more. Land levelling could become more important as inputs become higher / crops worth more. Farmers will probably tend to use data that is easy to get first for developing prescription maps: Farmers will probably tend to use data that is easy to get first for developing prescription maps: Soil Texture Soil Texture Topography Topography Relative (RTK measurement) Relative (RTK measurement) Tilt sensors Tilt sensors Preloaded map, etc. Preloaded map, etc. Greenseeker Greenseeker Etc. Etc.

33. Automated Tractors: Auto-turn around and guidance Auto-turn around and guidance John Deere – ITEC Pro John Deere – ITEC Pro Implement Steering Implement Steering Trimble ® Trimble ® GPS on Implement down to 1 inch. GPS on Implement down to 1 inch. AutoFarm AFTracker AutoFarm AFTracker

34. The End (Questions?) ‏

35. Things to look at: Things to look at: Land leveling in flood prone areas Land leveling in flood prone areas How much does this help versus cost How much does this help versus cost Disadvatnages? Disadvatnages? Etc. Etc. Cell towers for RTK correction (and internet) Cell towers for RTK correction (and internet)

36. To Replace Base Station: Need the Following: Need the Following: Must be close (for errors to be lowest) ‏ Must be close (for errors to be lowest) ‏ Fast repeat time Fast repeat time Sprayers travelling at 15-20 MPH need a GPS with an output rate or 5 to 20 Hz (real-time). Sprayers travelling at 15-20 MPH need a GPS with an output rate or 5 to 20 Hz (real-time). Different Options: Different Options: Cellular Cellular Internet, etc. Internet, etc. Some Type of Standardized Transmitted Signal Some Type of Standardized Transmitted Signal Similar to Coast Guard Beacon Similar to Coast Guard Beacon

37. Topography in Turn Determines Texture to Some Degree

38. Effect of topography and texture 0.340.830.790.74R4 0.200.630.580.54R3 0.190.410.30.27R1 NT 0.110.220.150.11R4 0.420.630.520.32R2 0.170.650.560.54R1 CT Partial R 2 for Clay+Silt R 2 Topography and texture R 2 Texture R 2 Topography Contribution of texture is significant even after accounting for topography effect

39. Texture Triangle:

40. Other Uses of RTK: Variable Rate Spraying: Variable Rate Spraying: Farmers are looking for those easy to find data Farmers are looking for those easy to find data Currently Currently GPS location GPS location Next: Next: Greenseeker / Remote Sensing Greenseeker / Remote Sensing Elevation / Topography Elevation / Topography Texture / Soils Maps Texture / Soils Maps Organic Matter Organic Matter

41. Payback Period: Estimate 30” off without guidance, better than 15” with WAAS alone. Estimate 30” off without guidance, better than 15” with WAAS alone. Typically, 2.5 yrs needed to pay off lower-end system (depending upon type of system purchased and number of uses per year). Typically, 2.5 yrs needed to pay off lower-end system (depending upon type of system purchased and number of uses per year). Ag Economics at Kansas State University Ag Economics at Kansas State University http://www.agmanager.info/farmmgt/machinery/default.asp#Decision- Making%20Tools http://www.agmanager.info/farmmgt/machinery/default.asp#Decision- Making%20Tools http://www.agmanager.info/farmmgt/machinery/default.asp#Decision- Making%20Tools http://www.agmanager.info/farmmgt/machinery/default.asp#Decision- Making%20Tools

42. Sensors Necessary as Better Accuracy is Desired: Tilt sensor Tilt sensor probably the best sensor you can add on probably the best sensor you can add on IMU (Inertial Mass Unit): IMU (Inertial Mass Unit): Next best sensor Next best sensor Helps short term loss of GPS signal. Helps short term loss of GPS signal.

43. Website: www.bae.ksu.edu/precag www.bae.ksu.edu/precag www.bae.ksu.edu/precag Email: rrprice@ksu.edu Email: rrprice@ksu.edu Call: 785-532-2929 Call: 785-532-2929

44. Possible Future Noise: We are in a minimum of energy disruption caused by sun spots, etc. We are in a minimum of energy disruption caused by sun spots, etc. This will continue to get worse to a maximum at 2012. This will continue to get worse to a maximum at 2012. Some worry for WAAS Some worry for WAAS

45. Air Clutch on Planter System

46. Plant Height May Be Needed:

47. Example of Automatic Planter Shut- Off

48. On/Off Seeder Controls:

49. New Equipment: Leica MojoRTK Agricultural Guidance System Leica MojoRTK Agricultural Guidance System RTK and base station for $12,980 RTK and base station for $12,980 Still need hydraulic actuator box for auto-steer Still need hydraulic actuator box for auto-steer

50. Parts of System: Guidance unit in a radio type mount housing Guidance unit in a radio type mount housing Built into a radio unit Built into a radio unit Mounts up in the cab where the radio was located Mounts up in the cab where the radio was located Includes AM/FM radio Includes AM/FM radio RTK accuracy (2 inch) ‏ RTK accuracy (2 inch) ‏ Portable Base Station Portable Base Station Virtual Wrench Virtual Wrench Remote service capability via Remote service capability via digital data cell network digital data cell network $12,980 price tag $12,980 price tag Note: Still need a steering kit!!! Note: Still need a steering kit!!!

51. Wireless Data Downloading Go Wireless with Farm Sync Go Wireless with Farm Sync Downloads data when equipment close enough to wireless router in house or building. Downloads data when equipment close enough to wireless router in house or building. Download multiple cpmputers from different equipment. Download multiple cpmputers from different equipment. Extended antennaes avaivble: Extended antennaes avaivble: 1000 ft. extra 1000 ft. extra

52. Steering Wheels Actuator: Major Improvements with the Trimble Ez-guide System: Major Improvements with the Trimble Ez-guide System: Faster line acquisition Faster line acquisition EZ-Guide 500 +/- 2 inch accuracy EZ-Guide 500 +/- 2 inch accuracy Older EZ-Guide Plus +/- 6 inch accuracy Older EZ-Guide Plus +/- 6 inch accuracy

53. Air Compressor

54. WAAS Update – New Satellites: WAAS Satellites 122 and 134 taken out of service July 31 st ! WAAS Satellites 122 and 134 taken out of service July 31 st ! These were the main Satellites for WAAS reception. These were the main Satellites for WAAS reception. Upgraded with 135 and 138 (newer, higher transmitting power, etc.). Upgraded with 135 and 138 (newer, higher transmitting power, etc.). Older GPS units may need software updating!!! Older GPS units may need software updating!!!

55. Patterns: A-B Line A-B Line A + (based on degrees direction) ‏ A + (based on degrees direction) ‏ Adaptive Curve Adaptive Curve Headlands Headlands Pivot Pivot Etc. Etc.

56. Built-in Units: Multiple Components Needed Multiple Components Needed Display Computer (moveable) ‏ Display Computer (moveable) ‏ Guidance Computer (not moveable) ‏ Guidance Computer (not moveable) ‏ Other Sensors to Increase Accuracy Other Sensors to Increase Accuracy Tilt, Steering Angle, etc. Tilt, Steering Angle, etc. Typically $15,000 or more (when all components combined together): Typically $15,000 or more (when all components combined together):

57. Where is GPS Going? WAAS most sold in the U.S.: WAAS most sold in the U.S.: Mainly because free and accuracies good enough for many farming operations Mainly because free and accuracies good enough for many farming operations Omnistar Omnistar Usually just an upgrade in price from WAAS with an antennae and sibscription. Usually just an upgrade in price from WAAS with an antennae and sibscription. RTK least sold RTK least sold Mainly larger farm with more money Mainly larger farm with more money Farmers needing strip tillage, etc. Farmers needing strip tillage, etc.