French manufacturer LaForge has created a universal guidance interface for farmers that will help them take full advantage of precision farming opportunities to increase yields, reduce inputs (fertiliser, seed, chemical products, tillage) and improve profitability.
The DynaTrac interface, which was awarded a Gold Medal for Innovation at Sima 2019, is positioned on the tractor rear hitch. It slides laterally, controlled by the guidance system (GPS or camera) to ensure rear-implement positioning with an accuracy close to 2.5cm. It allows decoupling of the implement’s motion from the tractor’s movement. This eliminates constraints on the implement, easing its positioning and improves tracking of tractor’s trajectory. The system has been proven beneficial both on flat and hilly fields.
The DynaTrac interface, coupled with a guidance system (GPS or camera), allows farms to instantly get ready for precision farming with their current range of implements, as well as those they will buy in the future.
It’s a simple solution as the user only needs to understand and set up one kind of interface instead of a specific one for each implement.
It’s also money saving as it’s compatible with all tractors and all implements in the marketplace, so the DynaTrac adds the guidance function to standard implements. It’s an economical solution instead of buying separate implements with integrated guidance functions.
Examples of agronomy practices that can be carried out using the DynaTrac include:
- Strip-till implement guided to only till area to be seeded, reducing fuel consumption and limiting soil disturbance. Also accurately place seeds at a later stage by guiding planter with DynaTrac.
- Planting with regular spacing between rows on the whole field allowing:
- mechanical weeding using a cultivator, with the possibility to work at early/late stages of plant growth, and in windy or in poor light conditions because of GPS accuracy;
- harvest optimised and faster with the harvester guided by seed positions.
- Efficient bedding and planting of vegetables, with better yield thanks to preventing overlaps and poor seed positioning.
- Fertiliser applied as close as possible to the roots, whatever the growth stage of the plant, allowing decreased application rates and savings for the farmer.
- Allows precise positioning of irrigation tapes and then accurate planting of crops close to tapes to boost yields while limiting water use. Also allows subsequent operations without damaging the irrigation tapes.
For more information visit: www.laforgegroup.com.
