COVID-19 update 20-12-21:

The LAMMA Show announced today that it will move its dates from January 11 and 12 to May 4 and 5, 2022, in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation due to the Omicron variant. Here are some of the tecchie things that will be at the show ...

 

New drone software

New features of Drone Ag’s Skippy Scout crop monitoring software will be available to experience in virtual reality (VR) at LAMMA on stand 11.344 in hall 11.

The 2020 ‘future innovation’ award winners will offer visitors a chance to experience the new features using a VR headset. “The headset will show users how Skippy Scout enables them to see a whole field from above and zoom in on specific parts of the field that have been imaged by a drone,” said founder, Jack Wrangham.

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The so-called ‘Scout Spheres’ interface provided users with interactive whole field viewing for the first time. “We are the only provider to offer users a drone-enabled, full field overview that includes the ability to focus on any area of the field and choose where to inspect at leaf-level,” he said.

But this is not future technology, he pointed out and that drones with this software are already being used on farms throughout the UK. “A drone with Skippy can walk a crop 20 times faster than a farmer on foot. PDF reports are generated immediately showing the green area index and the number of plants. This technology is being used by hundreds of farmers already and the data will soon be used to support the use of spraying drones too,” he said.

To show the full extent to which drone captured images can improve crop management, Drone Ag will also be exhibiting one of the latest DJI spraying drones that has a 20-litre capacity and is also capable of granular spreading.

Hutchinsons' new services

The answer to many 'tecchie' questions will be able to be found on the Hutchinsons stand at LAMMA.

The advice specialists will be able to answer such things like: Looking for a variable rate drill conversion kit? How to navigate new environmental legislation? Or manage carbon? Or how best to use your nitrogen next season?

For instance, converting a standard land metered drill into a variable rate drill is made easy and affordable with the Hutchinsons' variable rate drill conversion kit, Omnia E-Seed. This is the first stand-alone variable rate drill conversion kit that fits to any standard drill and does exactly what it says on the box for a simple conversion job.

TerraMap Carbon is the first ever carbon mapping service to provide the most accurate baseline measurement of both organic and active carbon in the soil, now available to UK farmers.

Within the Omnia Carbon management tool it is possible to create different rotation scenarios, from types of cropping and variety to stewardship and management practices, and see first hand the projected CO2 impact and financial performance for each scenario.

Future Services within Omnia will offer the ability to also create potential cropping scenario’s to calculate costs of production allowing users to make decisions on how to manage both carbon and profit before putting a crop into the ground.

Teejet's field computer

The Matrix 908 is a full-featured field computer that offers both guidance and ISOBUS UT capabilities for TeeJet Technologies' customers.

Its high-resolution, eight-inch touchscreen display has a rugged magnesium alloy housing to make it field robust, while its integrated GNSS receiver and external antenna can be upgraded to support various levels of pass-to-pass accuracy, with no changes in hardware. Unlocks are also available to support application rate control and VRA functionality.

It has four guidance modes and provides field coverage mapping, data storage and transfer, and a unique TwinView feature that allows both guidance and application control screens to display side-by-side. Optional features include assisted/automatic steering, automatic section control, video camera monitoring, droplet size monitoring, and more.

Tim Stuenkel, marketing communications manager for TeeJet Technologies, said: “The variety of upgrades, unlocks and add-on features means growers can purchase the features and functions they need at the time. If improved accuracy or added capabilities are needed at a future date, they can simply be added on. This way, you pay for what you need now and nothing else.”

TeeJet manufactures a comprehensive line of products, including agricultural spray nozzles for various herbicide/fungicide applications, boom components, valves/manifolds, strainers, and spray guns, as well as GPS guidance systems, sprayer control systems, ISOBUS job computers, assisted steering systems and other precision farming products.

Spaldings focus on parts

Bespoke soil restructuring tines from Tillso sporting different point and wing combinations will feature alongside the SPL Ultra range of soil-engaging parts on the Spaldings stand at LAMMA.

Spaldings is sole distributor of Tillso’s Sabre system, a multi-component assembly of points and wings designed for efficient restructuring of compacted soils; the designs result from intensive studies of soil mechanics. The system comprises a common point and shin and four soil-lifting wing assemblies to suit different soil types and working depths.

Steve Constable, Spaldings' managing director, said: “To reinforce the relationship between Spaldings, as sole UK and Ireland distributor, and Tillso as the innovative manufacturer behind the Sabre products, Tillso’s owner Chris Lane will join us on the stand to talk through the features and benefits of the system.”

The partnership marks a return to the LAMMA event for Tillso, said Chris Lane: “We haven’t exhibited at the indoor show, so being with the technical team on the Spaldings stand will be a great opportunity to explain to farmers how we arrived at the Sabre designs, how they work beneath the surface, and how users can be sure of getting the best results in different situations.”

The retro-fit components are available for a number of different manufacturers’ subsoilers, and also cultivators fitted with soil-loosening tines.

The Spaldings exhibit will also include items from the SPL Ultra range of premium-quality points, wings and shins for leading makes of cultivator and subsoiler, as well as the laser scanning technology that measures wear patterns and 3D printer for prototypes used in the development of these parts.

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Original wearing parts for Grimme machinery will also be shown, as Spaldings is an approved national dealer for these components.

On the stand will also be TMC Cancela mulching pasture toppers and forestry mulchers sold by Spaldings as will a range of powered and fixed brush sweepers from a comprehensive range produced by Padagas, including bucket sweepers for clean-and-dump operation.