Case IH and Agri Technovation a perfect match in precision agriculture

Case IH and Agri Technovation work together to provide an all-inclusive service to producers.

This collaboration empowers producers to farm even more accurately because Case IH’s AFS system enables farmers to plant, spray and harvest with remarkable precision, and Agri Technovation assists with comprehensive data analyses from planting to after harvesting.

As profit margins become smaller, there is little room for error or making wrong decisions. To optimise these margins, careful management at every level of the farming operation is crucial. The collaboration between Case IH and Agri Technovation places both companies’ expertise and technology at the disposal of local producers so farm management decisions can be based on real knowledge.

Case IH and Agri Technovation have scheduled a series of technology days hosted across the country, where information sessions are presented on the importance of precision technology and accurate data analysis for improved productivity and sustainability. Making the right decision for the most appropriate action, at the right time and the right place, requires more than just data or equipment. Information collected continuously, with the help of the two companies’ expert staff, can be expertly processed and practically applied so the full potential of the soil, the seed or the crop, as well as the precision equipment used, can come into their own.

“The core strategy for Case IH in local agriculture is sustainability. This collaboration is a huge step in that direction,” said Case IH Managing Director Stephen Nel, at a recent media event. He went on to explain that integrating data is one of the most important aspects of farming. “Measuring is important, but knowing what to do with your data is even more important.”

To further increase the potential of the extremely efficient Case IH AFS system, the company is now using Agri Technovation’s agronomic support service to help farmers make informed decisions. “This combination of technology and practical knowledge will enable producers to analyse and apply data collected over years to ensure environmentally friendly and sustainable farming methods. Good technology already exists on the farm, and the information is available, but Agri Technovation sums up everything in one package. This collaboration literally combines knowledge and wisdom for the benefit of the farmer,” said Arno du Plessis, Case IH Head of Tactical Marketing. “It gives the farmer the freedom to farm from anywhere.”

The ultimate aim is to assist producers with the application of precision technology on their farms, and with the analysis and integration of the data provide optimal farming practice outcomes.

According to Du Plessis, this offers the opportunity to optimise all facets of farming, including:

• Sustainable utilisation of resources,
• Sustainable application of inputs,
• Real efficiency and profitability

Schalk Oosthuizen, Product Specialist at Case IH, believes data is a critical aspect of the whole process. “Data and statistics mean nothing if the information collected is not completely correct. Just as data can help you make smart decisions, so too misinformation can lead to poor decisions and failures.”

He also pointed out that while information must be correct, its processing and its application is just as important. “The processing of historical data can determine where problems are located so they can be corrected. Record keeping is therefore equally significant – for today and for the future. Precision farming is more than just applying precision implements. It is the repeated and constant collection, analysis and application of information.”

According to Oosthuizen, Case IH’s AFS Connect™ system brings the following to the table in this combined package:

• Fleet management and monitoring – producers can see where the tractors are and how fast they move.
• Remote support to the grower and his fleet.
• Remote transmission of information.
• Data is visualised.
• Five years of open data is provided.
• Sharing information – the producer can decide what is shared with whom.
• Software can easily be updated.
• Other platforms can be incorporated.

Heinz Oellermann, Head of the Grain Division at Agri Technovation, is convinced that the success of profitable farming lies in the synergy between agriculture, science and technology. “We can’t just look at one component. If one looks at the cultivar being planted, one should also look at where the cultivar fits in. Therefore, it is important to properly analyse your soil so that you know what type of soil you have, how deep the soil is, and what the total composition of a field looks like. Thus, one can determine which cultivar should be planted where. It becomes more than just variable fertilizer application, but actual variable cultivar application. If you farm like this, you can manage the kernel weight, the kernel number and the heads per hectare to arrive at the optimal yield.”

“Our involvement is to help manage the aspects over which a farmer has control and make adjustments where necessary. Gone are the days when a farmer could only be satisfied with the condition of his land. Farmers need to look at the inherent potential of land and manage it in such a way that they can harness that potential,” Oellermann said.

He also stressed that recommendations are not perpetually applicable and should be adjusted annually depending on the new data collected.

Nico Myburgh, Case IH Head of Precision Technology, emphasised that the customer, in their case the farmer, should always come first. “We obsess over our customers – their needs determine our activities.”

He explained that precision farming today is performed according to the following principles:

• Soil to soil – type of soil and depth placements.
• Kernel by kernel – the speed and pressure of the planter is adjusted to place each kernel correctly.
• Drop by drop – each drop should be placed in the soil in such a way that moisture and sprays are applied evenly without unnecessary damage to plants.
• Spray for spray – with more efficient implements the farmer can ensure that he sprays at the optimal time.
• Grain for grain – because the bushel weight of the grain can already be determined at harvest, it can also help to deliver grain to the buyer more efficiently.

Photo caption

Case IH representatives from left: Schalk Oosthuizen, Product Manager; Stephan Nel, Managing Director; Nico Myburgh, Head of Precision Technology; Arno du Plessis, Head of Tactical Marketing; and Heinz Oellermann, Head of the Grain Division at Agri Technovation.

For more information contact Chimene de Villiers, Case IH Head of Marketing and Communication, at chimene.devilliers@cnhind.com