Leading provider of precision agriculture technology, Ag Leader, is offering up to 50 on-farm demonstrations for its new SeedCommand precision planting system this Spring
Ag Leader claims the system delivers accurate singulation, spacing and depth in all operating conditions and at speeds from 4.8km/h to 19km/h.
Suitable for retrofitting to most makes and models of box hopper and bulk-fill row crop planters, the SeedCommand product family comprises SureSpeed metering and delivery system, SureForce hydraulic downforce control, SureDrive electric drives and SureStop electric row clutches.
Ag Leader Asia Pacific sales manager Doug Amos says the technology can turn existing planters into a high-speed precision units for a fraction of the cost of a new implement.
“You can spend about $60,000 to retrofit a 12-row planter and add another 10 years to its working life or pay about $250,000 for a new planter with the same technology,” he says.
“Agreeably, not everyone wants to plant at 19km/h, but even a 5km/h improvement is going to be a major step forward in productivity when every hour counts.
“The real benefit of this system is planting accuracy, which has immediate benefits on emergence, establishment and yield.
“It’s incredibly simple to set up, [and] operate and the only tools you need are your hands.”
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Ag Leader’s SeedCommand system will be demonstrated on farms later this year
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SeedCommand is operated using Ag Leader’s InCommand 1200 display, which provides ‘all-in-one’ control of steering, planting, spraying, spreading, harvesting and farm management operations.
Ag Leader hopes to lock in at least 50 on-farm demonstrations throughout the cotton, sorghum and maize planting season in October and November.
“The itinerary is yet to be finalised, but as a guide, we expect that the demonstration unit will spend at least a week with our dealers in Emerald, Dalby, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Moree, Narrabri, Griffith, Swan Hill and Bendigo,” Amos says.
“It only takes an hour or two to conduct a side-by-side demonstration of the test unit versus your existing machine.
“We’ll then come back in two weeks to inspect emergence and the operating performance of both machines.”
The demonstration unit is a six-row John Deere MaxEmerge XP planter fitted with the SureSpeed metering and SureForce downforce control.
The unit was developed by Dalby-based Ag Leader dealership, Ag Knowledge Australia, in conjunction with Ag Leader Technical Support Manager, Andrew Piper.
Each trial will be conducted using a strict methodology that enable the results to be compiled and analysed.
Ag Leader is a leading provider of precision agriculture technology, including GPS guidance and steering systems; precision planting, spreading and spraying technology; and decision support systems.
Ag Leader is represented by more than 60 specialist dealers throughout Australia.