Colorado Agriscience Curriculum
Section: Plant & Soil Science
Unit: Plant Science Technology
Lesson Title: Lesson 5: Field Mapping Technology - John Deere GreenStar
Colorado Agricultural Education Standards:
AGS11/12.6.9 Interpret precision farming technology (satellite mapping).
Student Learning Objectives (Enablers)
As a result of this lesson, the student will …
- Identify why a system like this could be important.
- Identify the components of the John Deer GreenStar System
- Identify the components of the John Deer GreenStar Mapping System.
Time: Instruction time for this lesson: 50 minutes.
Resources:
http://www.deere.com/en_US/ag/servicesupport/ams/yieldmonitor-map.html
Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
Projection system to view power point
PSSPST7 Assessment – 1 for each student
Key Terms.
Mass Flow Sensor
Moisture Sensor
StarFire
Interest Approach
Map field out on the white board (chalkboard). You may use the one designed on the power point. The map should have several of the following: silty or sandy drawl or both, cliché hill, playa lake, etc. You may also use a county plat map if you have access to one. The scenario to set up is for the student to determine by visual means which part of the field will produce higher yields. Then you will lead the student into brainstorming some ideas on how we might use the information if we could determine which parts of the field produced higher yields. Answers you will receive are: fertilization application rates could vary saving money, application of organic matter could be increased or decreased based on yields, crops placement and rotation could vary to receive the best return on the dollar invested, etc.
Display Power Point Slide 2
Looking at the map drawn out before you what can you tell me about how the different parts of the field will yield when the crop is harvested? Discuss
If we new that the different parts of the field yielded more than other parts would it lead us to treat the higher yielding parts of the field differently? Discuss
Consider this scenario…
Your cornfield averaged 130 bushels per acre. But you suspect some areas yielded 180 bu/acre ... others, only 80.
If you could verify which acres brought you higher yields (and which didn't), would you treat them differently? Discuss
A combine yield-monitoring or yield-mapping system allows you to see what each farm is averaging and will allow you the capability to look into each field to see what it is actually yielding.
Summary of Content and Teaching Strategies
Objective 1. Identify why a system like this could be important.
Today we will be talking about the technology John Deer can put on its machinery called the GreenStar Combine Yield System.
Other agricultural equipment manufactures may have something similar to the John Deer equipment, however, the John Deer equipment was chosen in order to give you an idea of how the equipment operates as well as benefits of the equipment and to try and keep things as simple as possible when talking about this type of technology.
It was mentioned earlier that a combine yield-monitoring or yield-mapping system allows you to see what each farm is averaging and will allow you the capability to look into each field to see what it is actually yielding. But how can this help a producer?
The student could work in pairs coming up with answers to this question. As you move around the room you may have to give more help to those students with less knowledge of a farming operation. Answers you will receive are: fertilization application rates could vary saving money, application of organic matter could be increased or decreased based on yields, crops placement and rotation could vary to receive the best return on the dollar invested, etc. After student give answers….
Those were some great ideas on how a system like we are going to talk about today could benefit a producer.
Objective 2. Identify the components of the John Deer GreenStar
You can show the pictures on the power point presentation as you talk about the system.
When talking about the GreenStar system and how it works it is best to first talk about the components that make up the system.
Components such as the Mass Flow Sensor.
The Mass Flow Sensor is a curved impact plate located at the top of the clean grain elevator that measures true mass flow.
As the grain impacts the plate, the sensor measures the slightest movement or impact.
This measurement, along with the clean-grain elevator speed, is used to calculate harvested mass of the crop, calculated instantly and converted to yield.
The design of the sensor provides a high degree of reliability and accuracy compared to other sensing technology.
An automatic zero-update (a process similar to zero-balancing a weight wagon) eliminates the need to stop the combine multiple times to each day.
To increase accuracy of the mass flow sensor, Auto Zeroing software is used.
This system “zero’s” the grain flow to discount any differences in combine circumstances.
In essence, it will zero the flow at each revolution of the clean grain elevator chain.
Display Power Point Slide
The Moisture Sensor the moisture sensor is located on the side of the clean-grain elevator.
It continuously samples the grain for moisture content and temperature.
The system automatically converts the yield to dry bushels.
Display Power Point Slide
The GreenStar Combine Yield Monitoring System allows visibility of the yield and moisture variation on the GreenStar display and a home computer if John Deere’s DataStore Technology is used.
The monitoring system utilizes the GreenStar Display, mass flow sensor, and moisture sensor.
This system is a cost-effective way to determine the variance of yield and moisture within farms and fields.
By verifying which areas of the farm brought high yields and which didn’t, users are able to begin treating fields differently to maximize inputs and overall yields.
Or, conversely, reduce inputs to better match the yield potential of marginal ground.
Objective 3. Identify the components of the John Deer GreenStar Mapping System.
Display Power Point Slide
The GreenStar Combine Mapping System is an extension of the GreenStar Monitory System.
Similar to the yield monitoring system, yield and moisture are displayed on the GreenStar display and simultaneously recorded to a Data Storage Card (PC Card).
The mapping system utilizes the three common components (GreenStar Display, Mobine Processor, and StarFire Position Receiver).
It also uses the PC Card to utilize information from the JDOffice desktop computer software program to the mobile processor in the machine and back again.
The StarFire position receiver (GPS unit)provides positioning information to the mobile processor so when information is downloaded from the PC Card to the JDOffice desktop computer software program, vivid, easy-to-comprehend maps are displayed.
These maps convey the information needed to start seeing greater profits.
The mobile processor records the farm, field, crop, variety, yield, moisture, etc. to the PC Card so the information can be downloaded to the JDOffice desktop computer software program.
With the special “flagging” features operators can mark up to 125 specific observations within the field to return later for closer inspection.
Flags can be turned on and off through the GreenStar display and printed as part of the yield maps.
This system is a cost-effective way to determine the variance of yield and moisture within farms and fields.
By verifying which areas of the farm brought high yields and which didn’t, users are able to begin treating fields differently to maximize inputs and overall yields.
Or, conversely, reduce inputs to better match the yield potential of marginal ground.
Review/Summary.
Use a Me You Us E Moment to begin a class discussion on the impact of this technology on agriculture. Where do the students see agriculture going next?
Application
Extended classroom activity:
Visit a local JD dealership and or Farmer with to see this technology.
FFA activity:
Build a Agriscience Fair project around the use of the GreenStar System.
SAE activity:
Remember to use the field trip experience as an Exploratory SAE.
Evaluation.
PSSPST7 Assessment
Answers to Assessment:
1. GreenStar
2. StarFire
3. Moisture Sensor
4. Mass Flow Sensor
5. Answers will vary.
PSSPST7 Assessment
1. What is the John Deere System called in which farmers can precisely determine the yield of a certain area in the field?
2. What is the GPS unit of the GreenStar System called?
3. What is located on the side of the clean-grain elevator and continuously samples the grain to see how wet or try it is?
4. The curved impact plate located at the top of the clean grain elevator is called the what?
5. One benefit of the GreenStar System to the farmer is …..
.
Unit 8, Lesson 5: Field Mapping Technology - John Deere GreenStar 7