Rig technology cuts producer costs

Jeff Williams, an MKC producer in the Marquette area, has been doing his business at the Marquette location since 1981. He remained there when Marquette merged with MKC and in the years since he has seen many changes.

“The biggest thing we’ve noticed is the newer equipment, they are more timely,” said Williams.

MKC strives to provide agronomy services with the latest and best technology, as well as provide a level of service that is unsurpassed by others in the industry. This goal is accomplished by utilizing the best equipment and ensuring excellent customer service is constantly maintained.

“The leading technology we offer by having these newer rigs allows for more accurate and efficient application,” said Nick Mazouch, Agronomy Manager at Lindsborg.  “Rigs are exchanged every three to five years for newer models.”

“By trading them every three years we stay on top with the latest cutting-edge technology and efficiency,” said Dwaine Esau, the Agronomy Manger at Walton.  

The John Deere 4940 sprayers as well as the Case Patriot spray rigs used at MKC’s agronomy centers feature some of the best advances in spray rig technology.

These advances are based largely in mapping and GPS technology. Maps of fields can be directly uploaded to the rig computer to provide a detailed guide of the field, as well as controlling application rates based on soil sampling in the field.

If a rig crosses into an area it has already sprayed, sections of the spray nozzles automatically shut off. This feature is known as “Swath Control” on the 4940 and “Accuboom” on the Patriot. Mazouch and Esau both commented that this feature is especially helpful when spraying along creek beds, waterways, or anywhere a varying route must be driven creating a more accurate application and less waste.

On the 4940 John Deere the accuracy of the sections has increased with eleven sections of nozzles that can be automatically turned on and off, instead of the previous seven, creating fewer areas of overlap.

Another important aspect of the GPS technology is auto steer.

“Auto steer makes for more accurate applications by avoiding overlaps and skips,” said Mazouch. Fewer overlaps help to keep costs down for the producer.

The opening round calculates the area (in acres) of the field, so the application rate and listed acres on a work order can be double checked. Double checking the rate to acres ensures the proper amount of product is applied so producers aren’t paying for additional product. In addition a crop will not be affected by applying too much, or too little, product.

Boom size also plays a vital role in the efficiency of the spray rigs; both the Case and John Deere rigs have 120 foot booms. “The 120 foot booms cover acres faster and with less passes, leaving less compacted tracks in the fields,” said Esau.

“Increased boom size also decreases crop injury in solid plant fields,” said Mazouch. This is especially helpful when applying wheat fungicide he explained, by causing less crop injury there is less yield loss.

Each brand of rig is also equipped with the technology to maintain a constant application rate at a specific constant pressure even as sprayer speeds and field conditions change.

“The operator can drive according to field conditions without worrying about pressure deviations, so average field speed can vary by 1 to 3 mph, increasing efficiency and accurate coverage,” explained Esau. “The technology eliminates unsightly skips in a field.’

The advanced equipment is not the only thing that makes MKC agronomy centers some of the top in the agricultural industry, the individuals behind the equipment are truly what make it successful.

“I can contact MKC and we discuss what we want to use and how we want to use it. I use their expertise to help make my management decisions,” Williams said.

Part of the management decisions every producer faces is determining when the best time to buy products and services is. 

Scott Rolfs, a new customer in the Bushton area, said “MKC allowed me to prepay a specific amount of fertilizer. I had anticipated price increases and MKC allowed me to lock in my fertilizer inputs.”

Serving the producer is the number one goal of the agronomy departments at MKC, and they are constantly looking for ways to improve service.

“MKC has management that listens to suggestions and make changes to improve,” said Williams.