Trimble has announced today that its NextSwath end-of-row turn technology is now available.
When approaching the end of a crop row, NextSwath automatically calculates and executes the best possible path to turn the farm vehicle around and approach the next crop row or swath with the implement precisely aligned to begin working. This efficient and consistent end-of-row turning saves time and increases productivity, enabling the grower to approach the next line with a turn that is best suited for their vehicle and implement configuration.
The technology saves onfuel costs, and reduces crop damage and compaction at field boundaries, which can increase yield. In addition, since Trimble products work on a variety of different machinery, growers are able to use NextSwath technology on a broad range of vehicle brands and implement types.
By automating the end-of-row turn process, NextSwath technology can dramatically improve the operator’s performance, eliminate towed implement undershooting or overshooting, and minimize skips and overlaps when lining up for the next row. As a result, it is well suited for field tasks that use a pull-behind implement or require multiple applications during the crop season such as nutrient spraying.
The ability to make tighter end-of-row turns with pull-type implements can also reduce the headland space needed at the end of the field for turning machines. Plus farm managers can use the equipment utilization functionality in Trimble’s Connected Farm solution to observe and measure the efficiencies gained by automating the end-of-row turns.
NextSwath can be accessed from the FmX Plus application on the Trimble TMX-2050 display — an Android-based display specifically designed for precision farming applications. The display includes a suite of mobile applications that provides greater flexibility to growers, and is also optimized for connectivity with Connected Farm.
“Trimble understands that enabling a grower to be more efficient can make all the difference,” said Pierre-Andre Rebeyrat, marketing director for Trimble’s Agriculture Division. “With NextSwath, Trimble provides growers with a tool to improve both the accuracy and consistency of their end-of-row turns and the technology works with a diverse range of equipment brands. NextSwath complements an already large family of Trimble solutions designed to improve the productivity of today’s farming operations.”
NextSwath technology is available now as an un-lock on the TMX-2050 display for users of the Trimble Autopilot automated steering system.
The technology was announced during last year's Farm Progress Show. In the video below, we caught up with T.J. Schulte, marketing manager with Trimble Navigation, to talk about NextSwath:
