Precision Ag: Accuracy Is Critical For Vegetable Growers
March 11, 2013 
Precision ag comprises numerous technologies with many components. Vegetable growers, specifically, are looking for accuracy and efficiency when they opt to use precision ag tools.
What technologies are currently being used by vegetable growers and what are the main benefits? What will be used in the future? American Vegetable Grower asked Mike Martinez, market manager for Trimble’s Agriculture Division, these questions and more. Here’s what he had to say.
What are the biggest benefits of the technology currently being used by vegetable growers?
Mike Martinez: High accuracy correction sources, such as Trimble CenterPoint RTK paired with an auto-steering product like the Autopilot automated guidance system, provide growers with the sub 1-inch repeatable accuracy that many vegetable production operations require. As a result, growers can rest assured that they will plant and harvest their vegetables without damaging the crop.
In addition, variable rate technology, like the Trimble Field-IQ crop input control system, not only helps growers save on seed cost by eliminating overlap, but also help maximize productivity by ensuring proper spacing between plants. Proper spacing ensures the plants are not competing with each other for water and nutrients.
To date, how widely adopted is the technology used by vegetable growers, and what tools lend themselves for use by medium and small growers?
Martinez: High-accuracy automated guidance is by far the most widely adopted technology by vegetable growers. However, the effective use of water, or irrigation, is the most important crop input in almost any vegetable growing operation and the management of that resource is crucial.
How do you see vegetable growers using precision ag tools in the future? Which tools will they use and for what end gain?
Martinez: They will continue to use RTK and auto-steer for increased accuracy. This will result in higher crop yield by ensuring the grower does not damage the crop during planting or harvesting.
We expect to see continued use of variable rate technology among growers, too. The technology helps growers increase yield and save on input costs, such as fertilizer and seed, by eliminating overlap and helping to ensure proper spacing between plants.
Increased adoption of on-the-go sensors like the GreenSeeker and WeedSeeker also will continue to pave the road to smarter application of nutrients and increased crop productivity.
In addition, data management and analysis will be a key area. Solutions such as Trimble’s Connected Farm can help vegetable growers simplify information management ranging from their fleet to the field.
Growers also can use real-time data sharing between multiple vehicles operating in the same field, utilize a new Connected Farm app (See App For Collecting Field Data) for mapping and scouting. Apps for smartphones and tablets also will be key grower tools in the future as more growers are looking for ways to increase productivity.Â
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