Employment

How does VRT work?

      1.  Soil samples must be taken of a field using a GPS receiver to mark the points of the sample.       Samples are taken in 2.5 or 5 acre grid samples.

  2.  Soil samples are sent to the lab. Once the results come back, the soil samples are reviewed.  If there is a lot of variance in the field,  the field is eligible to spread using our Variable Rate Spreader.

3.  Once the go ahead has been given to spread variable rate, spreading maps are made.  Spreading maps are a colorful picture of what the field looks like.  It combines the information from the soil test results and the points of where the soil samples were taken to create a map of how to spread the field.

4.  Once the maps have been made, an agronomist checks the information to make sure it is correct and the material is loaded in to the computer on the spreading machine.

5. The spreader truck has a GPS receiver on it, and as the truck drives through the field the information on the card is being read and telling the truck how much fertilizer or lime to put out in an area.

Currently, phosphorus, potassium, and lime are being spread using the variable rate technology.

Below is an example of the Variable Rate Technology.

Potassium Soil Test Results

Red<100ppm, Yellow 100-130ppm, Green 130-165ppm, Blue 165-215ppm, Purple >215ppm

From the maps above we can then make spread recommendations maps.  After reviewing the recommendations we then can create a spreading file that our spreader trucks can read. 

After downloading the spreading file onto a little disk, we insert it into one of our spreader truck GPS system.  The spreader truck reads the file and GPS coordinates as it goes through the field.  As the truck travels the computer automatically changes the spreading rate according to the spreading recommendation file that was inserted into the system.  

Photo of the Viper System in our GVM Truck Spreader  

VRT can save you the producer money in many different forms.  VRT has the potential to apply fertilizer and lime in the exact amounts needed by the soil, thus this could lower your input bill.  Also by placing the amounts in proper amounts in the right spot on your fields you increase your yield potential, thus adding more to your bottom line.