Production | Spring 2010
Sectional boom control moves to air seeders.
Just as variable rate technology (VRT) and control of individual boom sections made crop spraying easier and more efficient, the same innovations are now being applied to seed and fertilizer placement. All major air seeder manufacturers offer VRT.
While these systems allow for control of multiple granular products at the same time, a couple of manufacturers have gone one step further to include flow control to individual sections of a seeder, minimizing overlaps. As seeder widths now stretch up to 90 feet, overlaps in irregularly-shaped fields can waste a lot of inputs.
Seedhawk, one company that offers this feature, calls it Sectional Control Technology (SCT). Chris Morson, Seedhawk’s marketing coordinator, says the system uses the same Raven Viper Pro boom-control system available on sprayers to control seed and fertilizer flow. Seeders are divided into eight individually-controlled sections. When GPS senses any section is passing over previously-seeded ground, the system raises the openers and stops product flow.
SCT can also build field maps and communicate directly with other computers via a satellite Internet connection, enabling a farm manager to monitor seeding progress from an office computer. He could even track the amount of seed and fertilizer used.
Seedhawk claims field trials using the system have demonstrated a saving of up to 10 per cent on input costs. Seeders equipped with SCT were first produced in limited quantity for the 2009 season, and 2010 marks their first year of full availability.
Regina-based SeedMaster also offers a similar option on its line of seeding equipment. Norbert Beaujot, company president, says SeedMaster’s optional Zone Control feature can be controlled by shutting off product flow with the flip of a switch inside the tractor cab. FF
