4640

John Deere AutoPath & Farmer Feedback

Use data from the first pass, either strip-till or planting, to automatically create full-field guidance lines for secondary passes such as planting, spraying, and harvest

John Deere introduced AutoPath precision ag technology in the fall of 2020.  We were able to demonstrate this technology to several growers in Northern IL and SW Wisconsin this spring and they were all very impressed with how well it performed especially on fields that curve and angle.  AutoPath works by placing a John Deere GPS receiver, either a SF6000 or SF3000, on the rear implement most likely a planter, and recording this first pass, or source pass  and using this as the baseline for the remaining passes during the growing season and harvest.

There are a few requirements for running AutoPath, like a Gen 4 Display, either a Version 2 4600 armrest display or 4640 monitor, Automation 4.0 Software on the display, SF3 or RTK Guidance on the Tractor, Sprayer, Combine.  SF1 level of accuracy will not work with AutoPath.

The biggest benefit that we saw during our demonstrations was minmized operator fatigue as operators were able to work longer days thanks to the ability of the machine to pick the proper guidance line in the field and maintain the path until the work was done.  This was especially true in passes over standing crops while side dressing or spraying. AutoPath also limited damage to the standing crops during these same applications. 

Sloan Product Support Specialist Joe Brunker explains the benefits of John Deere AutoPath Technology

Watch this video to hear what our customers thought of AutoPath after running it this spring.

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 22 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.  Learn more at www.sloans.com

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ActiveYield Retrofit Kits for John Deere S-Series Combines

ActiveYield Retrofit Kits Available Now
ActiveYield Retrofit Kits Available for this S670

by Matt Sweitzer, Atwood, IL 

Although the first official day of summer is a few days away we are experiencing some very warm temperatures around central Illinois. With highs in the 90’s and considerable amounts of rainfall recently, the crops are growing fast! Harvest will be here before we know it so now is a great time to think about upgrading your S-series combine!

In 2018, John Deere introduced the ActiveYield automatic yield calibration system as a factory option with the ability to retrofit back to 2012 and newer S-series combines. For many years we have had the ability to map our yields however the calibration process is critical for yield accuracy. On all S-series combines in the past, getting accurate yield readings meant collecting multiple calibration loads, manually weighing these loads with scales on a wagon or at the elevator, then inputting these weight values back into the display.  Though this process can be very accurate if completed correctly, it could also prove to be time-consuming and sometimes frustrating for new users.  As crop conditions such as moisture change throughout the season, this process had to be repeated to maintain accuracy.

With the introduction of the ActiveYield system, we no longer have the frustration of the multipoint yield calibration process!  ActiveYield eliminates time-consuming manual calibrations and replaces them with automated sensors that calibrate the machine by measuring the grain as the tank fills. This enables decisions to be made in real-time without leaving the cab while providing more accurate yield mapping data.  These automated sensors are scale pads mounted on the cross auger covers in the grain tank.

Scale Pads Mounted on the Cross Auger Covers

Scale Pads Mounted on the Cross Auger Covers

This exciting new system requires very little user input since it is designed to perform calibrations on the fly while harvesting. There are several precautions built into the software to maintain the accuracy of the system.  Any pitch or roll of the machine over 4 degrees of levelness measured by the Starfire receiver (SF3000 or SF6000) will cancel a calibration load that is in process. This amount of pitch or roll can cause the pile of grain to shift on the sensors resulting in inaccurate readings. The system will also reject a load that has inconsistent grain flow due to waterways and headlands, drastic changes in speed, or inconsistent crop conditions.  If a load is rejected, a new calibration load automatically starts once the grain is below the cross auger sensors.  The operator can monitor the active yield system on the combine’s Greenstar display to see the quality of the calibration, the number of accepted loads, and current status.

Active Yield Calibration Screen

Active Yield Calibration Screen

To sum it up, ActiveYield will save the operator time while improving yield data accuracy. When paired with a JDLink Connect subscription, your ActiveYield maps can be automatically sent to the Operations Center in MyJohnDeere.com and you can access your accurate yield data within minutes of finishing the field.  We had the opportunity to see a few limited production machines in the field with active yield in 2017 and the results were excellent.  See your local Sloan Implement dealer today for more information on compatibility and pricing on a retrofit kit for your machine!

At this time the ActiveYield retrofit kit is compatible with all S670, S770, S680, S780, S690, and S790 combines.  It is not compatible with S550, S650, S660, & S760’s with manual grain tank extension.

If you have an older 60 or 70 series machine, you can trade up to an S-series combine to take advantage of an ActiveYield retrofit kit for the upcoming harvest.

Click to view our used S660 combines

Click to view our used S670 combines

Click to view our used S680 combines

Click to view our used S690 combines

Also ActiveYield supports the following crops:  Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Canola, and Barley.

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.   Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

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Sidedress Simpler with AutoTrac Vision for your John Deere Tractor

AutoTrac Vision Guidance for Tractors

by Jared Wheeler, Assumption, IL

AutoTrac Vision for tractors is a great new product for customers that sidedress and/or row crop cultivate.  John Deere previously released this for sprayers,  but it is now available for 7 and 8 family tractors, 30 series and newer.  The system works in row spacings from 20 up to 40-inch row crops in the early stages between 6 inches tall and 90% canopy.  The camera detects the color difference between the crop and soil and guides the tractor between the rows.

AutoTrac Vision Camera Mounted in front of the SF6000 Receiver

This new technology is ideal for customers that are in fields where they don’t have the original planting guidance lines.  It also works great for customers experiencing GPS drift or customers whose implement width doesn’t match the planter width.  We demoed this unit to a customer who planted with a 24 row planter using RTK signal and then came back and sidedressed with a 15 knife bar.  Even though the customer planted with RTK, the planter would sometimes pull to one side.  Also, the “guess” rows were occasionally off a couple inches and he would have to side shift his guidance line in the sidedress tractor to make up for it.  These additional steps are eliminated with the AutoTrac Vision system because the tractor is now automatically side-shifting for you by using the crop row as the reference point for guidance.

Gen 4 Monitor AutoTrac Vision Run Screen

I think this product would be especially beneficial for ag retailers that are custom applying because they usually don’t have the customers planting guidance lines to go off of when they are applying fertilizer.    The camera will guide them through the field with ease.  Contact us today for more info or to schedule a demo.

 

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.  Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

 

 

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John Deere 4640 Gen 4 Display vs JD 2630 GS3

 

This month, John Deere introduced the new 4640 universal display. The 4640 display incorporates the easy-to-use layout of the 4600 Command Center and the portability of the GreenStar 2630.  With the release of the new 4640 display,  John Deere has moved to a subscription based activation system which is different from the previous approach of a one-time activation purchase.  Now activations for the 4640 are offered in four different configurations shown below:

1-year Autotrac Subscription $850

5-year Autotrac Subscription $4000

1-year Premium Subscription $1700 (Autotrac, Swath Control, Documentation)

5-year Premium Subscription $8000 (Autotrac, Swath Control, Documentation)

The 5-year subscription option is only available at the point of purchase of the new 4640 display. If you choose to go with a one-year subscription, you will not have the option to purchase the five-year subscription down the road.

This price comparison graphic illustrates a customer’s cost of entry for a 4640 Universal Display and a 1-year subscription compared to a similarly activated GS3 2630 display.

The entry price for the 4640 is approximately 1/2 of the GS3 2630.  Over the course of 5 years, a customer who purchased a 4640 display and a 5-year subscription will spend less money than the customer who purchased a GS3 2630 with activations.   Also, in 5 years, there’s certain to be updated technology that will be better suited for the 4640 than the legacy 2630 display.

 

Why the change to subscription-based activations?  Subscription-based precision ag offerings provide the following benefits:

  • Lower cost of entry to get started with display and subscriptions
  • Ability to try new applications for a year without having to commit to a permanent software license
  • Ability to match the cost of use with the revenue generated in the same fiscal year
  • Flexibility in selecting the level and duration of subscription that best fits the needs of the business without the expense of a one-time software license purchase

As previously mentioned, the 4640 display is portable, much like the GreenStar 3 2630 display. One of the things that the 4640 display is capable of over the 2630 display is that the 4640 can be used in conjunction with a Gen 4 extend monitor. This allows you to run the 4640 display with double the screen space.

Gen 4 extend monitor

The 4640 display also has enhanced data capturing abilities making section control and coverage maps more accurate. Setting on/off times is made much easier with the 4640 display. Simply select skip or overlap and enter the distance and speed.  The new operating system on the 4640 functions like a smart phone with swipe and touch integration.

At this time the 4640 display has a few limitations, but John Deere will correct these with upcoming software updates that wwill make the 4640 display even more versatile. Some of the current limitations of the 4640 display are: RowSense in combines, Vision and RowSense in sprayers, Coverage map and A/B line sharing, and Machine sync.  Also, the 4640 display is also not fully compatible with the John Deere Rate Controller 2000 at this time.

Here’s a video from Deere on the features of the new 4640 display.

by Conrad Meyer, Cuba City, WI

Sloan Support is written by the product support team at Sloan Implement, a 20 location John Deere dealer in Illinois and Wisconsin.   Learn more at www.sloans.com

 

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