Greenstar™ Precision Ag System Keeps Perry Farming On-Track

The Perry family have been cotton and grain farming at Brookstead on Queensland’s Darling Downs since 1956 and Stephen Perry is the first to admit that it pays to keep an open mind when it comes to innovative technology and new farming practices.

With 3,000 acres under irrigation, Stephen readily recalls the day they took delivery of a new John Deere 9660 STS Header in 2003 that was fitted with John Deere’s GreenStar™ Precision Agricultural System – as it changed the way they farmed forever.

“We started using John Deere equipment in the late 70’s having used everything and anything prior to that, mainly because of the good feedback we were getting from other farmers about their reliability and product support.

“I’ve got to admit that I’d never given much serious thought to using computer and satellite technology to assist with farming, but as the 9660 came with the GreenStar™ system we used it and it didn’t take long to see the advantages.

“The main benefit of the first GreenStar™ SF1 system was that through sensors on the machine I was able to accurately measure a paddock’s moisture level and yield and then produce a map that pin-pointed the poorly performing areas.

“Armed with this sort of information I was able to take steps to address these poorly performing areas - which usually involved issues like poor water flow, excessive weed population, or soil problems before the next planting. And the results were remarkable with paddock yields increasing by up to 20% in some cases.

“It was around this time that we started to use our harvesting and cotton picking over capacity to contract harvest in the local area and while in the early stages our ability to provide yield mapping data was received sceptically by some customers it soon caught on and helped us to build a business that now has a fleet of trucks, harvesters, planters and cotton pickers servicing customers from Emerald in the north Warren, NSW, in the south that last year harvested over 20,000 tonnes of grain and cotton.

“Now, a few years on and our customers are using the yield mapping data we generate to get the most from their paddocks and in some cases the information has assisted them to make insurance claims for crop damage.

“The next big thing for us was the addition of AutoTrac™ to the GreenStar™ package as it enabled us to steer automatically by satellite far more accurately than an operator could. This meant overlapping was eliminated which resulted in less time in the paddock and less fuel being burnt.

“AutoTrac™ also enabled us to put fairly inexperienced operators behind the wheel knowing that the machine would stay in the right tracks to always get a full cut, while minimising compaction through controlled traffic at the same time. All they had to do was turn it around at the end of a row and press resume – it’s that easy.

“By eliminating overlapping I reckon we are getting a couple of hours a day more productivity, saving over 100 litres of fuel and getting through a lot more work than we used to.

“Another big benefit has been a reduction in driver fatigue. Now with AutoTrac™ our operators get off the machines at night more refreshed than the old days, where to get 12 hours out of them while keeping the machinery in the right lane was a big ask.

“The AutoTrac™ system has probably increased our efficiency by 15 to 20% which means we are getting a lot more work done by getting over the paddock a lot faster.

“And the interesting thing is that the technology is really easy to use and comes with all the training support we need from John Deere and Vanderfield who regularly run training days to instruct our drivers.

“My advice to anyone considering using this type of technology is that John Deere has great stuff that’s not expensive and unlike other systems on the market that are very complicated, John Deere’s GreenStar™ Precision Ag System is designed by John Deere to be simple to use.

“And the beauty of GreenStar™ is that you can keep upgrading it to suit your needs, unlike other systems out there that have to be thrown away when a new model or feature comes out, so we save a lot by being able to upgrade the GreenStar™ common components.

“We’ve always had great support from John Deere and with GreenStar™ it’s no different thanks to their StellarSupport™ service, which means we are never alone.

“With StellarSupport™ we can talk to an expert over the phone and get a solution to any problem while you’re still in the paddock – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and believe me there’s not much that these guys don’t know about their gear.

“Gone are the days of shutting down until you can get someone in an office to help you as the StellarSupport™ guys are there whenever we need them – even in the middle of the night.

“We are currently running four John Deere tractors, two John Deere harvesters and two John Deere pickers because in my experience their total technology, reliability, service and support package is unbeatable,” Stephen said.

Paul Slatter, John Deere Australia’s Precision Agriculture Equipment Specialist, has worked closely with Stephen Perry and other Australian farmers to maximise the full potential of the GreenStar™ Precision Ag System.

According to Paul, the GreenStar™ yield mapping capability has provided farmers with a state-of-the-art tool that, when used and acted upon correctly, can have a dramatic impact on paddock yields.

“The easy to use, in-cab, GreenStar™ 2 colour touch screen uses global positioning information to link the yield points of a paddock to longitude and latitude. This enables the farmer to accurately pinpoint and investigate yield discrepancies within a field and make informed management decisions for potential yield increases in subsequent harvests.

“The other key benefit of the GreenStar™ system is the AutoTrac™ hands free guidance that enables the operator to cover more acreage in less time and centralise field traffic through planned pathways on fields.

“AutoTrac™ can allow faster operating speeds, reduces fuel consumption and eliminates overlapping during harvesting and spraying.

“And with John Deere’s GreenStar™ Precision Ag Systems our customers can rest assured that they’ll get the support they have come to expect from John Deere, as we design and manufacture the GreenStar™ system and train our dealers to support it, so there’s no need to chase third party suppliers for assistance – as is the case with other systems on the market.

“So whether you’re spraying, harvesting or seeding, the mobility of John Deere’s GreenStar™ Precision Ag System makes guidance, data collection and sprayer section control hassle-free,” Paul said

For more information on the John Deere’s GreenStar™ Precision Ag Systems, FREECALL 1800 800 981 in Australia or 0800 303 100 in New Zealand to contact your local John Deere dealer or visit our Web page.

John Deere (Deere & Company - NYSE: DE) is the world's leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.