Early and accurate plant estimates help agronomists, crop consultants, and farmers make replant decisions during the critical growth stages. Yet, producing accurate in-field emergence estimates early and efficiently is a challenge many in the industry face.

The Plant Population Analytics solves that problem. The new tool, which is being launched as a closed beta, can assess where plants are and are not growing, calculate an emergence measurement, and visually represent results with a colored heat map. Initially, the technology will focus on V4 to V6 stage corn. Additional crops are in development.

“We want to help our customers take action while in the field, as soon as possible, and this closed beta does just that,” remarks Kris Poulson, vice president of agriculture for Sentera. “Giving growers instant, field-edge insights about which plants have emerged and which have not helps them make informed replant decisions and determine if the best course of action is to dig up, chemically kill, or interseed areas with limited or no plant growth.”

 

HOW IT WORKS

To create an emergence heat map in the field beta testers simply scout a field using a drone-based sensor, upload the data into AgVault, identify crop specifications, select a boundary to analyze and press go. The platform develops a color-coded Plant Population Analysis map of the specified area, which is instantly available in AgVault. All features can be accessed at the edge of the field, and don’t require an internet connection or upload, and to AgVault web and cloud users once the data is uploaded.

“Showing customers where they have plants and where they don’t for every section of a crop — with field-edge immediacy — helps improve forecasting, yield, and accounting models,” says Reid Plumbo, director of product management for Sentera. “The launch of this beta is especially relevant this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, and we are eager to partner with users to prove out our Plant Population Analysis capability, gain insight, receive feedback, and make the tool even more robust.”

If you’re an AgVault customer and are interested in learning more or participating, contact Sentera at [email protected].