Net Irrigate WireRat 4.0
Net Irrigate, a manufacturer of wireless agricultural irrigation monitoring (WAIM) technology, announces WireRat 4.0, an update to its WireRat technology that offers pivot owners new benefits like the ability to self-test the system and increased battery performance. Since its release in 2011, WireRat technology has become the agriculture industry’s bestselling alarm solution for copper theft on center pivot irrigation systems and other agriculture equipment.
WireRat technology offers each grower the ability to better protect the valuable copper wire on their pivot irrigation systems and other equipment by immediately sending alerts to his phone when a span cable is cut. The technology works seamlessly with all brands of center pivots and requires no external power. New for the WireRat 4.0 is the ability to self-test by simulating span cable cuts without causing any damage to your equipment. Every month the system will auto-test the copper wire, ensuring the alarm is not compromised during the off season.
WireRat 4.0 also includes increased battery performance, with a battery pack design that can last up to seven years with average pivot usage.
Contact Net Irrigate at www.netirrigate.com.
McCrometer Connect TrendView Mobile App
The new Connect TrendView mobile app is designed for Android and iOS smart phones and tablets. Critical ag management information, such as weather, ET, soil moisture, water flow/pressure and more is now conveniently and securely displayed by phone in customizable quick-look colorful graphic views to support fast, informed decisions.
Connect TrendView data can be viewed in two easy ways: as instruments that display sensor data in panels resembling real sensors and as data graphs trends that can be customized to combine readings from multiple sensors with an adjustable date range.
Wyma Vege-Polisher
The new Wyma Vege-Polisher will be made unveiled to North American growers at Potato Expo 2015. The new root/tuber vegetable polishing machine has already been a success in carrot and potato operations in Australia and New Zealand.
The Wyma design team has placed an emphasis on labor efficiencies, hygiene and safety standards as well as data traceability (machine running hours, water usage, etc.).
The Vege-Polisher’s side doors have been reshaped to remove catch points and minimize risks for food waste accumulation. Consequently, the internal wash area can be easily hosed down as debris is guided to the recycle base underneath the machine. The side doors and drive guards have been completely redesigned to provide full access without the need for tools, reducing cleaning and maintenance time.
The new automated touch screen machine control (also able to be remote controlled via smartphone, tablet or desktop) ensures precision farming goes beyond just harvesting equipment into processing machinery. Automation features include drive torque measurements, favorite settings, data logging, service and cleaning reminders, automatic brush reversal and rinse cycles to prolong the life of the bristles, and connectivity to the Wyma after-sales team for online service and technical assistance.
Nelson 1000 Series Valves
New 1000 Series valves save energy with higher flow capacity and lower friction loss—better than any other valve on the market. They also have more precise and stable pressure regulation over a wider range of flow and with minimal pressure differential required across the valve.
A modular design provides ultimate flexibility in valve style and connection type while simplifying installation, troubleshooting and maintenance—great for the grower, installer and system designer.
Choose from three different flow path options: inline, tee and elbow. Choose from five inlet/outlet styles.
The 1000 Series valve applications include zone control for sprinkler or drip irrigated row crops, nursery crops, orchards and vineyards. The valve fits perfectly under a Big Gun for solid-set irrigation, end-of-pivot solutions and a variety of environmental controls including fire suppression, dust suppression and cooling.
Learn more at www.nelsonirrigation.com.
Tomra Modus
Previously, the majority of washed potato sizing was done by mechanical means because up until now, there was no high-volume optical food sorter that came close to the traditional mechanical grids, square meshes and roller sizers.
There are, however, limits to these mechanical food sorting processes, including that almost all mechanical sorters in use today only grade by width. To address this issue, Tomra Sorting Food’s development team has designed the Modus, which can sort washed potatoes by width and length, or a combination of both.
The revolutionary Modus size grader delivers high throughput: nearly 100,000 pounds per hour. Tomra offers the Modus as a stand-alone size grader or integrated with the Halo, Sentinel II or Titan for quality and size grading.
The Modus’ operation is simple and effective. After alignment by a simple shaker and conveyor, an imaging module and electromagnetic diversion system are used to gently divert the potatoes of the selected sizes into three different exits. The Modus is also supported by the new intuitive and user-friendly Tomra user interface. Additionally, the novel pulsed-LED sensor optics are an important feature of the Modus, producing stability and accuracy on high-volume whole potatoes.
Contact Tomra Sorting Food at www.tomra.com.
SD 25 by Bio S.I.
Microbes do a lot of work during the winter months. It has been demonstrated that microbial activity increases the soil temperature by 2-4 degrees when organic matter is available for digestion. By using Bio S.I. Technology’s SD 25 Field Stubble Digester, beneficial soil microbes that digest the plant debris (stubble) left behind after harvest are added to the soil, recycling the nutrients tied up in the plant debris for the next crop. This activity makes both nutrient and water use more efficient. Soil microbes are essential to restore carbon, improve water efficiency, and improve nutrient holding capacity of the soil. Without a proper mixture of microbes in the soil, organic matter can’t be totally broken down and the soil becomes clogged with two much undigested organic matter that ties up nutrients. SD 25 Field Stubble Digester replenishes the soil with naturally occurring microbes that convert and recycle nutrients tied up in stubble to make them available for the next crop.
The conversion of plant debris to humus aerates the soil, improves soil tilth, and improves water penetration. Creating healthy soils is essential to continuous production of healthy, nutritious food for future generations. SD 25 is an all-natural microbial formula that is safe for organic use. Unlike other stubble digesters, SD 25 is free of preservatives, which makes it safe for use in any setting.
Contact Bio S.I. Technology at www.biositechnology.com.
PlantCalc App from IPNI
Designed for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, the PlantCalc app from the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) estimates crop nutrient removal of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur for a wide range of field crops.
PlantCalc was developed from a still widely used web-based version that was released in
November 2013. This web-app is available to all operating systems with an internet connection. PlantCalc provides a truly portable solution that does not require internet connectivity. Results are calculated based on yield goals selected by the user, and displayed in either metric or standard units. Users also have the option to copy, print or email results. This multilingual calculator is accessible in six languages—English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Mandarin.
The PlantCalc app is available for free online at info.ipni.net/PLANTCALC or the AppStore.
Bobcat T450 Loader
Due to popular demand for a compact track loader in the 400 frame size, Bobcat Company has introduced the new T450. The Bobcat T450 reintroduces a compact track loader platform size that has not been available from Bobcat Company in recent years. In addition to M-Series enhancements and engine innovations, the T450 features more horsepower, higher auxiliary pressures, lower ground pressure and increased travel speed when equipped with the optional two-speed drive system.
With a width of just 56 inches when paired with a bucket, the T450 is well-suited for accessing and working in tight jobsites, often replacing tasks previously done with manual labor and tools. The machine’s rubber track undercarriage minimizes ground disturbance—just 4.7 pounds per square inch—to established surfaces for fewer repairs when a project is complete.
The T450 loader features a radius lift path, providing operators with good reach and visibility. An optional enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning is available for improved operator comfort. Air conditioning is a new option for this size of Bobcat compact track loaders. Also available for the first time in a Bobcat compact track loader this size, a two-speed drive system provides faster travel when desired—with a maximum speed of 7.3 mph in low range and 11 mph in high range.
PakSense Temperature & Humidity Logger
PakSense, Inc., a provider of innovative environmental monitoring solutions, announces the availability of its reusable temperature and humidity logger. Small and compact, these loggers download data via a USB connection to a PC and are fully programmable by the user via provided software. They can record up to 32,000 data points and are optimal for use in closed-loop situations and import/export container shipments.
The PakSense temperature and humidity logger features a temperature operating range of -40 to 185 degrees (-40 to 85 Celsius) with an accuracy of ± 1 degree. Relative humidity range is 0 to 100 percent with an accuracy of ± 3 percent. Users can program the recording interval from 1 minute up to 24 hours. Downloaded data is presented in summary, graph and parsed data formats.
For more information, visit PakSense at www.paksense.com or (877) 832-0720.
DMA Solutions Planning Resources
DMA Solutions, Inc., a specialized marketing agency dedicated to driving demand for fresh fruits and vegetables, has created free resources to help marketers within the fresh produce industry get a jump start on their planning success for 2015, including a how-to guide to get more marketing dollars and a produce marketer’s master calendar.
The newest resource that launched yesterday is titled, “Mission Possible: 5 Steps to Get More Marketing Dollars.” This guide will help produce marketers learn how to approach the planning and budgeting process when more dollars are needed to support the company’s overall goals and gain approval from senior management.
The second free resource, titled “The 2015 Produce Marketer’s Master Calendar” features 12 months of important dates including fresh produce industry trade events, professional marketing conferences, major blogging events, foodie celebration days, noteworthy holidays and eating occasions. The calendar can be used as an effective tool for professionals seeking to get ahead on tradeshow planning, social media content management and influencer management for the coming year.
Users can download both guides, or any one of DMA Solutions’ free marketing resources, by visiting dma-solutions.com/marketing-resources.
AyrMesh Bridge
Now farmers and ranchers can have a long-range internet connection up to 14.5 miles from their home-base router. Ayrstone Productivity introduces the AyrMesh Bridge, a five-mile-long, point-to-point internet bridge that acts as a wireless ethernet cable, allowing farmers and ranchers to easily connect distant devices to their networks.
For users who already have an AyrMesh wireless network, which uses a system of hubs to provide a long-range internet connection to devices up to 7.5 miles from a home-base router, the AyrMesh Bridge can boost the range and efficacy of those AyrMesh hubs. In fact, it can extend the reach of the network up to 14.5 miles, easily accessing devices such as remote cameras, switches, gauges and weather stations without the need for a cellular data signal.
The AyrMesh Bridge can also be used by those who don’t have an AyrMesh network simply as a way to connect one part of the farm to another, even for devices that are several miles apart.“For example, it can connect a remote building or camera to a home router.
Contact Ayrstone Productivity at (888) 837-0637 or www.ayrstone.com.
ANBO WorkPro Snow Blade
A new generation of spring-trip snow blades designed specifically for smaller, lighter machines has been announced by ANBO Manufacturing. The new WorkPro Series of blades is a high quality, versatile design with more options and features than any other compact blade on the market. WorkPro Series blades can be tailored to the customer’s specific requirements for machine size and horsepower. The blades are lightweight (245 to 350 pounds) and can be offered in a broad range of widths from 3 to 8 feet to accommodate a variety of machines and tasks. WorkPro blades come standard with a 25-inch high mold board and a five-position manual adjustment for angles up to 30 degrees left and right. The blade is available with hydraulic angle as well.
A high-carbon steel replaceable cutting edge comes standard, but the blade can also be fitted with a rubber cutting edge for softer surfaces, driveways and parking lots. Spring-trip tension can be varied by adjusting the number of springs that are installed. The blade comes standard with two springs for typical snow plow use, but a third spring can be easily added, making the WorkPro ideal for gravel and road work. All WorkPro models come standard with abrasion-resistant skid shoes and can optionally be fitted with box ends and marker flags.
Contact ANBO at www.anbomanufacturing.com.