GPS / Precision Stuff

[ddivinia]

Is anybody using GPS in their tractors? For spraying, mapping, etc? A buddy of mine keeps saying get Raven GPS to spraying and weed wiping. Foamers are OK, but a GPS could be a lot better.

Any experience out there?

Thanks,
Darin

 

[RickB]

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Click on precision talk. These guys are the pro's.

 

[ddivinia]

AgTalk Home - Category & forums listing
Click on precision talk. These guys are the pro's.

Outstanding - I am looking for something simple to allow me to spray at night and just pitch the foamer.

Thanks,
D.

 

[chh]

I'm told the system Wylie sprayers sells is supposed to be good. I haven't tried GPS yet but I can sure see where it would help.

 

[Oleozz]

A friend uses an EZ Guide 500 for spraying and planting beans. It is accurate to several inches. There is an EZ Guide 250 that sells for around $1400 and is accurate to several feet, my friend paid $3000 for his 500. You can get accuracy to several inches with the 250 with the optional antenna.

 

[WTA]

What is a foamer? I'm saving my pennies for a tractor GPS and auto guidance system but it's a couple years off still for that. My only problem is spraying. I've tried the dye before and it's costing more than the weed killers I use to use enough of it where I could see anything. It would be nice to put down fertilizer in one pass but I cut my rate in half now and crisscross over the field twice just to make sure I don't miss anything. That's burning too much fuel.

 

[hudr]

I'm not using it on the tractor exactly, but I do have a handheld that I am using to map out all of our pastures and hay meadows. With the rising prices of fertilizer, I don't want to just eyeball a field and say "oh, that's about 30 acres" and put out that much fert when it may only be 25 acres. I have gone around several of our fencelines and then gone back around ponds and stands of trees to get a true measure of useable acreage. So far I am seeing some cost benefits from it as well. One field we had been calling 15 acres was really only 11.5 after taking into account areas we couldn't really fertilize or cut for hay/graze.

 

[Renovator]

I have a Raven GPS that I use for spraying, fertilizing and seeding, It saves 20-25% on chemical and fertilizer. It also prevents skips and tells the acreage and speed to help with calibration. When I am estimating jobs I use a rangefinder that golfers and hunters use. It is fast and suprisingly accurate.
Renovator

 

[ddivinia]

Good stuff - I just ordered a EZ-Guide 250. I hope to have it up and running this weekend.

D.

 

[WTA]

I just called one of the local dealers this morning for the 250 and got the scoop on them. It sounds great. Now I just have to talk my wife into another major expense. I guess the tax man will be giving it all back again next year too.
The 250 system locally is almost 1900 bucks. With the cost of fuel and fertilizer now I really don't see it talking long to pay for itself.