Feb. 18 2019 03:11 PM

New management system allows producers to optimize their operation and make data-driven decisions

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

To meet the remote operation management and technology needs of farmers in North America, Case IH has enhanced the Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) Connect™ farm management system, putting operators in control of their farm from anywhere. Through integrated solutions that link farm, fleet and data, AFS Connect helps optimize time by delivering information to make informed agronomic decisions. Case IH worked with over 220 producers to develop AFS Connect, determining their data management needs and addressing them with cutting-edge technology.

“We created AFS Connect in collaboration with producers because we’re passionate about developing the technology our farmers need most,” says Kirk Wesley, Case IH Advanced Farming Systems marketing manager. “AFS Connect is an advanced data system that allows easy operation management and helps producers make informed decisions.”

AFS Connect features three portals — farm management, fleet management and data management — that users can operate from any desktop, tablet or mobile device: Farm Management, Fleet Management and Data Management. Standard AFS Connect subscriptions include Fleet Management, while advanced subscriptions provide access to additional features in the Farm Management and Data Management portals.

Farm Management

Managing field data can be time-consuming. AFS Connect saves valuable time by offering robust farm management technology, allowing producers to gather and visualize field and application data to obtain better agronomic insights. With AFS Connect, users can remotely monitor their operations using the AFS Connect portal, obtain a bird’s-eye view of their fields, view prescriptions and agronomic data, locate equipment, monitor individual machine performance and more.

At the core, AFS Connect makes field data easier to interpret. Producers can view every field operation, from spring tillage all the way through harvest, bringing together data from multiple machines. Satellite maps help visualize multiple layers of agronomic data, allowing producers to determine solutions to longstanding problems. For instance, yield data across a field can be cross-referenced with its history, which can be used to identify areas for improvement and make better informed agronomic decisions as a result.

AFS Connect field data also can be distributed according to specific producer needs. From a single location, farm managers can provide operators with necessary field information required to get equipment running at optimal performance. Field setup data, such as guidance lines, boundaries and prescriptions, can be shared with multiple pieces of equipment simultaneously for maximum time-saving and ease-of-use.

Fleet Management

Case IH AFS Connect fleet management technology delivers machine-tracking capabilities that producers need to make the most of their time, while enhancing performance for maximum productivity. The Fleet Management portal provides multiple vehicle management options to encourage optimal equipment performance. From field machines to road vehicles, operators can easily monitor everything on the dash in the cab, along with machine hours, service needs and more.

AFS Connect fleet management is optimized for ease-of-use. Intuitive technology allows for information transfer to off-site farm managers, owners and dealers. Equipment parameter notifications can be configured to track and receive mobile equipment data, informing producers about machine speed, fluid temperature and pressure, and more via customizable text alerts if a machine operates outside a preset value. Should problems arise, farm managers can proactively plan and execute maintenance on connected vehicles.

Data Management

With AFS Connect, gone are the days of carrying a USB drive or memory stick to a desktop computer or laptop. Instead, data is gathered in the cloud and displayed back to producers immediately, providing reassurance that operations are running smoothly. Producers can seamlessly transfer two-way data — down to the field level — with trusted partners in the field or away from it, visualizing and sharing insights to make informed decisions about every aspect of your operation.

“In today’s world, nearly everything you operate in your fields generates data,” said Wesley. “It’s important to know the value of that data, and with AFS Connect, you have the freedom to control exactly what happens with yours.”

AFS Connect is compatible with equipment Model Year 2010 and newer.

For more information, visit your local Case IH dealer or www.caseih.com.

Case IH is a global leader in agricultural equipment, committed to collaborating with its customers to develop the most powerful, productive, reliable equipment — designed to meet today’s agricultural challenges. With headquarters in the United States, Case IH has a network of dealers and distributors that operates in over 160 countries. Case IH provides agricultural equipment systems, flexible financial service offerings and parts and service support for professional farmers and commercial operators through a dedicated network of professional dealers and distributors. Productivity-enhancing products include tractors; combines and harvesters; hay and forage equipment; tillage tools; planting and seeding systems; sprayers and applicators; site-specific farming tools; and utility vehicles. Case IH is a brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI). Any trademarks referred to herein, in association with goods and/or services of companies other than CNH Industrial America LLC, are the property of those respective companies.