For years, row crop farmers have benefited from using the FieldView™ digital software platform to capture field data. Those insights help them make better data-driven decisions to maximize their return on every acre. While most farmers using FieldView grow broad acre crops like cereals, corn and soybeans, more and more potato farmers are seeing the benefits of integrating the FieldView platform into their farm management practices.
FieldView is a leading digital platform that allows you to gather all your field data in one place. It’s a very flexible platform compatible with many equipment types, makes and models, as well as connectivity to multiple farm management software systems. Using an iPad®, growers can use FieldView to map their field data in real-time. FieldView is backed by dedicated customer support, data-driven recommendations and cutting-edge science.
* There has been a steady increase in potato growers using FieldView to map their fields. The 2023 image shows planting, satellite imagery, application and harvest maps of a potato field.
The more you know, the more you grow
Potato farmers who use FieldView have access to scouting tools, including Field Health Imagery. These weekly biomass and vegetation images help pinpoint potential problem fields by highlighting areas with lower or higher biomass. This can help with fertigation timing, as a slight colour change in the canopy shows up on the imagery before it’s noticed by the naked eye in the field. Growers also use the Field Health Imagery to track the performance of field trials in-season, or for example, to demonstrate to crop insurance companies the damage sustained from hail.
Another benefit to using this platform is record keeping. Integrating all field activities in one place makes end of year reporting much easier. FieldView enables growers to view their planting and application maps from their phone as they’re scouting their fields. FieldView provides detailed reports for each field activity. While these reports are not CanadaGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) compatible, growers on the platform can add the missing components manually (ex. EAHD, PHI, etc.). Farmers who prefer to use official reports have the option to transfer field data from FieldView to AgExpert Field, where the data from FieldView auto-populates the corresponding sections of the CanadaGAP forms.
Additionally, the FieldView account can be shared with the farm’s agronomists, so everyone has access to the data.
Recordkeeping is one of the primary benefits of using FieldView. The screenshot above is from a FieldView application report.
* Field Health Imagery shows an insecticide trial in 2023 with Emesto® Complete fungicide and insecticide seed-piece treatment that was applied between the purple pins.
More mapping capabilities
Currently, FieldView can map potato planting at a static population using the tractor’s GPS. The most common setups are using Trimble or John Deere antennas and monitors, with some setups able to tie into the hydraulic lift switch. This facilitates the tracking of different varieties and seed lots.
For applications, FieldView can pull the GPS signal, sections and rates automatically with most RoGator, John Deere and Case sprayers. Some granular applicators are also fully compatible. Multiple products can be tracked at the same time, and if a cellular or hotspot signal is available, FieldView can log the weather conditions at the time of application.
Potato farmers can now map their potato yields with Greentronics and FieldView. Using a FieldView Drive, GPS from the tractor and Greentronics’ Rite-Yield monitor and load cells, the yield maps can be viewed on an iPad in real-time.
There are still other compatibilities available in FieldView. FieldView is being continually improved with new features to make the mapping experience more seamless for potato growers. Currently, FieldView cannot read planting populations automatically, but we are looking at ways to connect directly to potato planter monitors to obtain accurate planting maps. For harvesting, farmers can only see their data in lbs./ac. or tonnes/ha instead of CWT. Testing is ongoing. Watch for more news soon about these features.
Using data to make better decisions – Getting started
There isn’t a single ‘right way’ to use FieldView – it can be adapted to suit the needs of any individual farm. If recordkeeping and diving deep into data is your primary objective, FieldView is a great fit. If testing new products is your priority, it’s a great tool to test, track and evaluate field trials.
There are many ways that FieldView can help you better understand your fields and improve efficiency. By mapping every pass you make in your fields you can capture that data in one place with FieldView. You can then use those results to enable better decision-making next year.