GPS in Jeopardy?

One of the most advantageous technological advancements, if not THE most advantageous technological advancement of modern farming, is global positioning systems (GPS).

As stewards of the land, farmers practice sustainable agriculture daily, and GPS technology has dramatically improved agriculture’s ability to provide food, feed, fuel and fiber with less environmental impact.

GPS technology also improves agriculture’s cost and time effectiveness.

A third, unassuming benefit of GPS to the industry is the accessibility it provides to inexperienced farmers who rely on the technology to compensate for lack of instinctive know-how.

GPS Farm Uses (Virginia Tech webpage):

• Mapping yields (GPS + combine yield monitor)
• Variable rate planting (GPS + variable-rate planter drive)
• Variable rate lime and fertilizer application (GPS + variable-rate spreader drive)
• Variable rate pesticide application (GPS + variable-rate applicator)
• Field mapping for records and insurance purposes (GPS + mapping software)
• Parallel swathing (GPS + navigation tool)

GPS Farm Operations Benefits (GPS.gov)

• Precision soil sampling, data collection and data analysis enable localized variation of chemical applications and planting density to suit specific areas of the field
• Accurate field navigation minimizes redundant applications and skipped areas; enables maximum ground coverage in the least possible time
• Ability to work with low-visibility field conditions such as rain, dust, fog and darkness
• Accurately monitors yield data to enable future site-specific field preparation
• Eliminates need for human "flaggers" and increases spray efficiency to minimize “over-spray”

Because of its impressive assistance to the ag industry, several groups are worried about a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval that may disrupt GPS signals, according to a recent study.

LightSquared, America’s first wholesale-only wireless broadband network, plans to invest $15 billion to build a wireless service using 40,000 base radio stations — merging satellite and terrestrial technology, to create a new nationwide, 4G-LTE wireless broadband network. An FCC waiver allows them to repurpose the nation’s existing satellite spectrum to complete its venture, according to a Bloomberg story.

LightSquared contends that it has developed and submitted a three-part plan to the FCC that addresses the expressed interference concerns its work will cause to the country’s GPS signals.

“This issue will be resolved by good data, smart engineers and good faith problem solving dialog. The end-result will be continuity for the reliable and safe GPS system we have come to depend on along with a new high speed wireless network that will provide huge benefits to consumers,’’ said Sanjiv Ahuja, LightSquared Chairman and CEO.

John Deere is spearheading the “Coalition to Save Our GPS,” a movement to advocate for the demise of LightSquared’s plans.

According to a coalition news release:

“More than 3.3 million U.S. jobs in agriculture and industries rely heavily on Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and the disruption of interference with GPS posed by LightSquared’s planned deployment of 40,000 ground stations threatens direct economic costs of up to $96 billion to U.S. commercial GPS users and manufacturers, according to an economic study.”

The coalition includes package shippers FedEx Corp. and United Parcel Service Inc., GPS-unit makers Trimble and Garmin Ltd. and the Air Transport Association with members Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp.’s American Airlines.

Ken Golden, director of global public relations at John Deere:

“The use of GPS technology is vital to thousands of people who make their living with agricultural and construction equipment. It is simply not acceptable to allow this new network to interfere with these important industries when all indications are that there is no practical solution to mitigate this interference. In agriculture, the loss of a stable GPS system could have an impact of anywhere from $14 to $30 billion each year. That could significantly erode the strong competitive global position of U.S. farmers in the world agricultural economy. Serious impacts to the productivity of those in the construction business also will be apparent.”

LightSquared asserts that its effort will “bring world-class Internet service to the United States, including rural areas and other underserved communities and injects new competition in an increasingly consolidating wireless market.”

To listen to an audio clip of one of the coalition members expressing his concern for the agriculture industry, visit http://agwired.com/2011/07/05/save-our-gps-coalition-expands/

How often do you use/rely on GPS? If you farm, has your operation improved as a result of GPS? Do you think that LightSquared can develop a non-obtrusive system?

Photo obtained from: titanoutletstore.com

Rural Tour: Renewing America’s Promise

Concerts, comedians and a variety of shows regularly travel the nation to educate and entertain. Most recently, the president’s Rural Tour has been making pit stops throughout the U.S. to elicit feedback about and support for government involvement in programs to better rural America.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is spearheading the awareness initiative that began June 30. The tour, designed to facilitate conversation via a blend of education outreach and community forum feedback, is part of the Obama Administration’s plan to “renew America’s promise.”

According to the USDA, “The variety of topics that will be addressed reflects the array of issues facing rural America, including broad-based rural health, economic development, infrastructure, education, energy, natural resources and agriculture.”

At each stop, Vilsack, alongside local elected officials, discusses how the USDA and other federal agencies are working to strengthen rural America by means of current and proposed government programs. Attendees then have an opportunity to voice opinions, suggestions and concerns in efforts to promote a dialogue between government and constituents.

“Government does not have all the answers, but it can help share innovative ideas and problem-solving techniques from communities with the rest of the country,” Vilsack said. “Building a foundation for success and prosperity for the new 21st-century economy will take a collective and collaborative effort with all of us talking, debating and solving together.”

Vilsack encourages citizens to “call, e-mail, write, videotape, photograph, you name it,” to offer input about the state of rural America.

Highlighted agricultural topics include rural broadband access, climate-change legislation and forest management, with emphasis on localized concerns.

Discussions involved ag-debt restructuring in Iowa, obstacles facing the dairy industry in California, carbon sequestration in Virginia and creating business-relationship opportunities among food industry entities in Ohio.

Scottsbluff, Neb., will welcome the tour this week to discuss production agriculture, and Las Cruces, N.M., will conclude the nine-stop circuit with a discussion aimed at rural infrastructure.

You can get more information and updates about the Rural Tour at RuralTour.gov or at Twitter or Facebook.

A summary of the tour can be viewed in a YouTube video created by the USDA.

Is the Rural Tour a success? Should other states/topics have been included for discussion? Can members of the agricultural industry model a similar tour for industry-specific topics in the future?