Basic HTML Version
By PETER GREDIG
TECH
@WORK
High-techatHarvest
Technologies and tools that
make you safer, more efficient and more
productive during harvest time offer big
benefits and quick payback. The follow-
ing suggestions are not about iron and
horsepower—they’re your top picks for
electronics and software. The brands
referred to in the following list of sugges-
tions are provided as examples. Do your
own research to find the products that
best meet your needs and budget.
Equipment-Mounted Cameras
It’s a relatively small-ticket item, but
heavy-duty remote cameras have proven
very beneficial in many harvest scenarios.
Being able to see behind the combine, into
the grain tank or the view from the grain
cart auger—it’s really up to you where to
position the cameras. Think about how
much time and effort you would save over
the harvest if a camera helped you back
the truck up to the unloading auger per-
fectly every time. AgCam (www.dakota-
micro.com/agcam) is one brand, but there
are others.
Wireless Grain Cart Scales
Many grain carts are equipped with
scales, but now it’s possible to have a
system that pushes load data wirelessly
to your desktop computer, mobile phone,
tablet or the cloud.
Agrimatics (www.agrimatics.com/
app) offers an aftermarket kit that utilizes
existing scale load cells and links to your
iPhone or iPad via the cloud. The software
keeps track of all crop that goes through
the cart, and can even create a GPS co-
ordinate for each load to help track what
inventory came from where. No more
notebooks, flash drives or printers to slow
you down.
Cart manufacturers like Unverferth
are also offering new data management
technology that can work through your
ISO terminal or touch screen tablet. Un-
verferth’s UHarvest (www.uharvest.net)
software can link wirelessly to the cloud if
you have an account with Raven Indus-
tries’ Slingshot (www.ravenslingshot.com)
data management service.
There are numerous other options,
but the primary message is that, finally,
wireless data collection, storage, organ-
ization and sharing are becoming easier
and more efficient.
Grain Dryer Monitors
More and more crop producers are run-
ning grain through their own dryers and
this can be a show stopper if the dryer
is not functioning properly. A number
of dryer manufacturers are now offering
mobile apps or web-based monitor-
ing technology. Dryer Master (www.
dryermaster.com) allows users to view
and change the settings on their DM510
drying control systems via the web
browser on their smartphone, tablet or
desktop. This system can also be retrofit-
ted to work on older dryers. Eliminating
the need to have someone on hand at the
dryer at all times is a huge benefit and
will provide savings.
Grain Bin Monitors
For grain already in storage, the priority
is to make sure it doesn’t heat up or spoil.
With Bin-Sense (www.intragrain.com), a
wireless bin monitoring system, informa-
tion generated by in-bin moisture sensors
is sent to a website over cellular networks.
The password-protected data can be
viewed from any device with an Internet
connection. If a hotspot is detected, you’ll
be alerted by a text message or email so
you can take action to prevent spoilage.
The system is solar powered and can be
used with some existing temperature
sensors and cables.
Grain Inventory Management
Keeping track of what grain is stored
where, and whether it’s sold, forward con-
tracted, on basis or available to sell is very
difficult when under the gun at harvest
time. Grain Storage Manager, a free mobile
app for Apple and Android devices, allows
you to create virtual bins and yards, and
to track crop loaded in and out. It converts
wet to dry weight and accounts for shrink-
age. The visual display allows you to see at
a glance how full or empty each bin is. The
app also allows you to export all data to a
spreadsheet via email, but it does not keep
track of marketing information.
Farm Credit Canada’s Field Manager Pro
recordkeeping software has a mobile app for
Apple and Android. It lets you enter the rele-
vant information via your smartphone when
you harvest or sell crop, and adjusts your in-
ventory accordingly. The app integrates with
the desktop version of the software so you
don’t have to enter the information twice.
Go to www.fcc-fac.ca and click on “Tools &
Resources” to learn more.
Peter Gredig is a corn, soybean and wheat
producer near St. Thomas, ON. He is also a
partner in AgNition Inc., a Guelph-based mo-
bile development company focused on building
agriculture apps and solutions.
Fall
2014
grainswest.com
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