Hettinger Farms, Philo, Ill.
Although we try not to jump in before technology is proven, my brothers and I are always watching for tools that will help us do a better job and/or be more efficient.
RTK auto-guidance (real-time kinematics with sub-inch accuracy) meets those criteria. Besides efficiency, we have found there are intangible benefits that can't be quantified but still add value to auto-guidance and help justify its cost.
In 1989, before I joined them, my brothers began using an early type of automatic steering for cultivation and harvesting. Robotic drivers, made by Tri-R Innovations in Gibson City, Ill., use fiberglass feelers to detect the corn row and a model airplane wheel to turn the steering wheel.We still use the robotic drivers sometimes when cultivating and harvesting.
In 2005, we moved up to RTK guidance. We use an AutoFarm system in our two John Deere 8310 tractors, two John Deere 9650 combines and Hagie STS10 high-clearance sprayer with a 100' boom.
When spraying, reducing overlap saves product and fuel. A Purdue University study found that if you steer the sprayer yourself, you overlap an average of 5%. With auto -guidance, we cut overlap to 2%, which is a 3% savings.We will cover 15,000 acres with our sprayer this year. Without RTK auto-guidance, we would apply chemical to 3% more acres—or an additional 450 acres of chemical. When we interplant male rows of seed corn among female rows, autoguidance lets us plant faster, while keeping rows straight.
When harvesting soybeans, we can run two combines in the same field and have the swaths perfectly match up, so we don't waste time harvesting a 1' or 2' strip.When harvesting corn, we don't have to count rows when we move to a new field.We use RTK to position the combine, then switch to the robotic drivers because they actually feel the corn plants, which often works better than RTK auto-guidance.
We have found that auto-guidance reduces stress, especially when unloading on the go and there's only a few feet between a tractor and a 30' combine head.We certainly don't miss the hassle of planter markers, particularly when it's dusty or dark.
Even though auto-guidance diminishes fatigue, we typically don't run longer hours. Since we operate more efficiently, we usually do the same amount of work in fewer hours.
Intangible benefits. Opportunity time is the time available when you aren't busy steering the tractor. During the course of a year, I spend 25% to 30% of my working hours with a steering wheel in my hand. You can't think as well when you're busy guiding a piece of equipment. I can't eliminate driving my pickup, but I can reduce the time I spend steering a tractor. One of my favorite uses of opportunity time is to monitor the equipment and spot problems before they become serious. One of the best intangible benefits is using the opportunity time to coordinate farming operations with my brothers while on the go.
Since we went to auto-guidance, we notice our part-time employees monitor equipment performance, rather than just driving and listening to the radio. Near the end of a field, they'll call and say,“I have three passes left— where should I go next?” Efficiency can be contagious.
Using opportunity time to read mail and make phone calls lets us get a lot of business done in the tractor cab. Next year, I'll probably take a laptop computer along so I can read e-mail and stay current with market information and weather.
Auto-guidance even benefits our families. I used to be much more stressed when my wife would call me on my cell phone. Now, if she catches me getting grumpy, she tells me to turn the auto-steering off for a few minutes, stop taking it for granted and remember how good I have it.
With all of the benefits, and the fact that auto-guidance systems are coming down in price, I think RTK guidance can be a pretty good value for most farms. If you are shopping for your first system, my only advice is to look for a reliable RTK signal, combined with good service from the manufacturer and support from your dealer. Signal plus support plus service equals steering satisfaction.