Recent Articles
- Updating Trimble EZ Guide Plus for 2022 WAAS ChangeOn May 17th 2022, the FAA shut down WAAS correction satellite 138, replacing it with WAAS satellite 135. If you’re seeing “Low Accuracy No Corrections” since this change, you’ll need to adjust … Read more
- Sweep Auger Remaining Bushel CalculatorThis web-based calculator estimates the number of bushels remaining in a grain bin once the sweep auger is started. Plug in the bin diameter, angle of repose or grain depth, and slide to set how much of the floor is exposed.
- Seed Cost Matrix for Quick Breakeven CalculationsEach winter brings with it another seed buying decision and thus another opportunity to make some spreadsheets to overanalyze said decision. I continue to look for better ways to compare profitability between … Read more
- Changes in Commodity Marketing Year Highs Over TimeOur market advisor periodically publishes a histogram that shows how many times a marketing year high in corn or soybeans has occurred in each month, starting with the 1970/1971 marketing year. I … Read more
- StarFire 3000 vs 6000: SF1 Signal Pull-In TimeStarFire 3000 globes currently sell for $one arm and a leg, while 6000s sell for $one arm and two legs. If you’re shopping between the two and don’t need SF3, one of … Read more
- 2021 Fungicide ResultsThroughout all of the frequent rains we experienced this summer, my catchphrase was “what a time to be a fungus”. If there was ever a year we should see a fungicide response … Read more
- 2021 Corn Plot ResultsTable of Contents Adjusted Dry Yield Results Trait Response Seed Profitability Analysis Fungicide Response Overview Plot Design This plot location is well drained and pretty consistent in soil type (mostly Herrick, some … Read more
- Quick Tip: Dry Erase Markers on Window GlassOne thing I miss about working in an office is the ubiquity of whiteboards for jotting a note or fleshing out an idea. If you’ve seen the algorithm scene from The Social … Read more
- Interactive Checkbox for Wiki Checklist PagesThis is an enhancement to the wiki server I use to document equipment and processes on our farm. Here is the initial article if you haven’t read it yet. On my farm … Read more
- Using Google Forms for Scale Tickets (Plus Custom Functions to Make it Great)Google Forms is one of my favorite data intake tools for its simplicity, ease of multi-device access, and price. I use a Google Form to digitize scale tickets which helps share the … Read more
- Analyzing Square Item Sales in a Matrix SpreadsheetIf you engage in any direct-to-consumer agriculture, you’ll need a point of sale system to process credit card payments, track sales, etc. Square is a popular choice for many small businesses and … Read more
- Tips for Locating Drainage Tile Lines via Google EarthFor several years we’ve had a wet area in a field which we suspect is due to a collapsed clay tile line. My dad had attempted to located the line once before … Read more
- How to Manually Log Partial Coverage Maps in John Deere Operations CenterDespite John Deere’s sincerest wishes, not every piece of equipment that covers our fields has a GreenStar display in it. Not only do we have a mixed fleet of guidance systems, but … Read more
- Loading GreenStar Setup Files from a MacJohn Deere Data Manager is a Windows-only program that simplifies the process of copying setup files to the proper location on a data card or flash drive. Since this is not available … Read more
- Localizing University Basis Data Using Regression AnalysisOne of the first resources I found in my quest to quantify the local basis market was this dataset from the University of Illinois. It provides historical basis and cash price data … Read more
- The Fastest Way to Locate 100 Herbicide LabelsWe recently discovered that the Enlist tank mix we intended to post spray on our beans was not label approved after running into some gumming issues. Of course what does “label approved” … Read more
- Fixing Trimble EZ Guide Plus “Low Accuracy No Corrections” in 2021⚠️This guide is out of date after the 2022 changes to WAAS satellites 135 and 138. Click here for an updated guide. The Trimble EZ Guide Plus was our farm’s first entrance … Read more
- The Hottest (and Coldest) Farm Data Tool: IOT Temperature LoggerThis project started while my wife and I were managing spring frost protection in our strawberry patch and trying to better understand how the temperature experienced at the bloom level compares to … Read more
- Quick Tip: Using a Smartwatch to View a Remote CameraThere are a handful of reasons I enjoy farming with an Apple Watch: viewing notifications and taking phone calls with dirty hands, glancing at the weather forecast with the turn of a … Read more
- Tools for Quantifying Historical BasisEarly in 2020, I was facing my first year of managing my own acreage and subsequently marketing the grain (what a roller coaster I was in for) so I became a sponge … Read more