Precision Agriculture Including Yield Monitoring and Mapping

Trimble has introduced yield monitoring and mapping capabilities, allowing combines equipped with a Trimble AgGPS FmX integrated display to accurately monitor and map harvested crop yield and moisture. The same display that steers the combine using an AgGPS Autopilot automated steering system or an AgGPS EZ-Steer assisted steering system can map yield data.

Farmers can use the recorded yield data to analyze performance and create variable rate prescription maps using Trimble AgGPS EZ-Office software. Yield data stored on the FmX display can easily be transferred to the office using a USB storage device. EZ-Office software can help farmers evaluate field performance and identify problem areas.

The yield monitoring functionality allows growers to perform accurate area calculations using the auto cut width feature when the header is not full. This is an advantage for harvesting odd-shaped fields, point rows or areas already harvested. It relieves the farmer from having to manually adjust actual cut width when not harvesting a full swath.

"Yield monitoring is beneficial for farmers who want to analyze how well their fields perform. They can record and monitor results, and then adjust their seed and fertilizer application rate to generate higher yields," said Erik Arvesen, vice president and general manager for Trimble's Agriculture Division. "In addition, growers can now perform yield monitoring with the same display that steers their vehicle, reducing cab clutter."

The yield monitoring and mapping functionality upgrade is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2010.