Features Agronomy Corn
Software for variable rate maps

GTA400 Precision Farming PC software, new from AGCO Global Technologies, will make it easier for farmers to work with field data, plan and carry out single or variable rate application of crop inputs. The new product is the fourth in a suite of user friendly software for PC products recently introduced by AGCO to simplify gathering, transferring and analyzing data from tractor and combine mounted GTA consoles, Fieldstar terminals and other sources.

GTA400 takes a brand neutral approach to creating 'planned jobs' such as variable rate application of seed, fertilizer and crop protection products. With this software, farmers have full control of their data. GTA100 Communicator facilitates the transfer and organization of data logged on GTA consoles and Fieldstar terminals, displaying it by farm, field or job, and exporting in formats compatible with a wide array of farm management software. GTA200 allows users to plan, trace and manage field operations including equipment and fuel, crop inputs and labour using GTA100 and other data sources. GTA300 works with geo-referenced data collected on GPS equipped in-cab terminals, allowing it to be turned into easily understood reports or maps. All four software packages use a common 'key information at a glance' format and database structure.

GTA400 capabilities include layer management, management zone creation, data import and classification, nearest point interpolation, and creation of planned and completed job maps. Layer management allows customers to visually compare multiple maps by overlaying one image on another, such as a yield map over soil test values or tile lines over a yield map. The former might simply verify the impact of soil types on yield, while the latter might identify problems with drainage.

GTA400 also makes it easy for users to create customized maps from imported data sets. Specific colour and data range themes can be created and automatically reused on similar data sets. GTA400 can make even sparse data sets more valuable using nearest point interpolation. Information identified at scattered data points is applied to surrounding areas for improved analysis and planning.

While GTA400 enhances data analysis through layer management and management zone creation, application and other job map creation is at the heart of this software product. It enables customers to create maps that will control variable rate applications with VRT capable equipment. The maps can also be used with GTA consoles, Fieldstar terminals or other in-cab terminals to manually control application rates as well as seed varieties/hybrids or input products by management zone. Management zone maps can also be exported to PDAs for field scouting or for use with in-cab terminals.