[Technology Corner] Strip-Tillers Invest in Variable-Rate Technology
According to the results of the 8th annual Strip-Till Operational Benchmark study, nearly 75% of strip-tillers indicated they utilized RTK-level GPS correction, in line with last year’s survey. Last year was the first time the percentage dipped below 80% in 5 years. Another almost 20% of farmers indicated they relied on either GLONASS or WAAS for GPS and about 6% said they didn’t use any level of correction for strip-till.
For the seventh year in a row, John Deere topped the list as the most popular brand of GPS used by strip-tillers. Some 44% of strip-tillers utilized Deere guidance in 2020, in line with the prior year. Trimble was the second most used system, by 25% of strip-tillers, followed by Ag Leader at 17% and then Case IH at about 11%.
Looking at what new technologies strip-tillers had added or plan to add in 2021, abut 40% of respondents cited variable-rate seeding and another nearly 47% cited variable-rate fertilizer application systems as planned purchases this year. Another 35% have added or plan to add implement guidance in 2021 and 24% plan to purchase ag data management service or support.
