Precision Farming.

I suppose the title of this month's column sounds a bit like "precision art," at least in the respect that while the words go together and are understandable independently, they paint sort of a puzzling mental image. The fact of the matter is though that farmers are finding applications for many new technologies to find that edge that means the difference between profitability and failure. Today's farm is a common home to microprocessors, software, GPS and satellite technology and biochemistry nearly beyond comprehension.

And sometimes traditionally recognizable tools have changed so much they are barely recognizable at first glance as the descendants of what they have come to replace. In fact I barely recognized this month's feature as a tractor, when at first glance it looks somewhat like a truck! Yet I assure you this is a tractor, or what is technically titled an "All Wheel Steer Variable Load Carrying Tractor Vehicle." The creative work of inventor Alvin E. McQuinn of Edina, Minn., the invention received U.S. Patent no. 6,253,691 on July 3, 2001, and the technology is assigned to Ag-Chem Equipment Co., Inc., in Minnetonka, Minn. Note however, that Ag-Chem Equipment was acquired by AGCO Corporation on April 16 of this year, after the patent application was filed, but before it was granted. Ag-Chem is probably most noted, up until now, for it's "flotation type" application vehicles, which seem to have been at least partially the inspiration for their new tractor.

McQuinn's invention answers the need in the agricultural industry for a tractor vehicle that operates on steep hills or grades without the rear of the vehicle slipping downhill, even when towing one or more implements or crop input storage devices or both. The invention reduces soil compaction and turning radius, and yet is able to apply multiple crop inputs in one pass. It is an all wheel steering variable load carrying tractor vehicle capable of operating with a control system for coordinating application of multiple crop inputs consistent with site specific farming goals.

While some of this isn't exactly news, such as all wheel steering, much of what the patent claims is accomplished by moving much of the normally towed equipment off the field and onto the tractor frame. This configuration is a significant improvement over current tractors. Most tractor vehicles are designed to be heavy enough to achieve the desired traction necessary to tow a large implement through a field. Since the tractor vehicles are already heavy, adding a payload for storing crop inputs would make the tractor too heavy for most farming uses. Thus, the present invention is a significant improvement in the art.

By utilizing this arrangement McQuinn has accomplished another of the goals of the invention, which is a tighter turning radius. Simply put, the collection of equipment is just shorter than having towed equipment. As can be seen in the illustration of a traditional towed setup, not only is the turning radius massively longer, but the number of tires causing soil compaction is several orders of magnitude greater.

The multiple containers carried on the rear section of the towing vehicle are removable and changeable. This increases the flexibility for farmers in that multiple crop inputs can be applied in one pass without needing to tow other implements. Likewise, farmers can choose the type of containers that best meet their needs based on the type of towed implement and the type of crop inputs to be applied. The containers can carry a combination of wet or dry or both crop inputs. The term crop inputs means seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and any other soil amendment or addition of any kind used to facilitate crop growth.

The weight of the containers is greater than the weight of the frame so that the containers contribute the substantial portion of the total vehicle weight. The weight of the containers gives the vehicle enough traction to tow an accompanying applicator, even though the vehicle has a light weight frame. Likewise, since planter loads of seeds, fertilizer, and crop protection chemicals can be carried on the tractor vehicle, the quantity of inputs carried on the planter can be reduced or eliminated. As a result, planters and drills that are easier to fold and easier to transport down roads can be designed because the storage tanks are unnecessary.

Paul Campbell is a technology columnist, author and mechanical designer. His column "Ideas and Innovations" appears each issue here in I&T.