GPS and fertiliser spreaders

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Hi guys, so I’m looking at getting my own fert spinner and also gps for the first time. I’m just wondering does any auto steer GPS work with any fert spinner? Or do I need to get a certain spinner to suit a certain type of gps? Thanks

 

[benny6910]

You’ll need section control to be activated on tractor or spreader or both depends on what you are getting

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Depends if you want the fert spreader controlled by gps or are you just wanting to drive straight

 

[Phil P]

As above what are you wanting to do, exactly?
There’s a lot of options to think about for example tractor there’s -

Just guidance
Full autotrac
What accuracy? Egnos or full RTK

For the spreader -

Separate control box just taking a gps signal from the tractor system or full Isobus control through you guidance screen, you’d need an iso-bus power harness.
Just auto on/off
Full Section control
Variable rate control

All things to consider before you start as adding things later isn’t always possible on some systems or cost a fortune. Make sure you specify all the relevant activations you want as well.

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Thanks for the replies I’m not that great with tech. I’m looking for something where the gps talks to the spreader to shut it down to stop overlaps is the best way I can describe it. The tractor I have doesn’t come gps ready would have to be a 3rd party option I guess

 

[Phil P]

Thanks for the replies I’m not that great with tech. I’m looking for something where the gps talks to the spreader to shut it down to stop overlaps is the best way I can describe it. The tractor I have doesn’t come gps ready would have to be a 3rd party option I guess

When I bought our first KV geo-spread I bought their full package as was going on a non gps tractor.
I got - spreader, screen, gps receiver and iso-bus wiring harness.
The system does everything except auto track but you do get basic guidance and I’m still using the screen now but have autotrac fitted separately.

If you want it to narrow its self down on the short work you are looking for a section control machine, the KV works in 1 mete sections but remember to spec the activation.

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Great thanks that does make sense to me. I’d prefer auto steer as I do have other jobs I can do with it, but if I can upgrade later to auto that would be fine.

 

[del_boy]

Great thanks that does make sense to me. I’d prefer auto steer as I do have other jobs I can do with it, but if I can upgrade later to auto that would be fine.

Depends how cheaply you want to do it. I use agopengps as a manual section control aid on our amazon fert spreader. It has 3 sections each side and ive got agopengps setup to tell me when to turn each sections on and off, works brilliantly for the bit i do

 

[Bobthebuilder]

What tractor and spreader have you got or getting

 

[ploughman1963]

I am following this as depending on the details of the SFi module for variable rate fert applications to be published in the summer, we are considering buying a suitable spreader

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

What tractor and spreader have you got or getting

Tractor is a new Arion 470. Don’t currently have a spreader, but with the amount I spend a year on getting it spread I could pay it off in 2 years. My current contractor uses gps on his spreader to shut it down and we have a big saving on our fert usage. So I’m looking to have something similar

 

[Andy26]

Depends how cheaply you want to do it. I use agopengps as a manual section control aid on our amazon fert spreader. It has 3 sections each side and ive got agopengps setup to tell me when to turn each sections on and off, works brilliantly for the bit i do

Variable rate is back in action on AOG now (wasn't compatible with v5) , will be using for SFI here:

Brian Tischlers VR map below:

 

[Andy26]

Tractor is a new Arion 470. Don’t currently have a spreader, but with the amount I spend a year on getting it spread I could pay it off in 2 years. My current contractor uses gps on his spreader to shut it down and we have a big saving on our fert usage. So I’m looking to have something similar

Is the Arion autosteer ready?

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Is the Arion autosteer ready?

It’s not

 

[Bobthebuilder]

It’s not

Shouldn't take much to get it autosteer, then it's a case of wether it's isobus or not (probably will be if it's new) if it is if you got an isobus compatible spreader it should pick up signal from tractor GPS to control it as long as you have the right software opened up, our pumas are gps/auto steer but the spreader (older amazone) isn't isobus so we use tractor GPS for the auto steer and the spreader has it's own box and GPS receiver to do the auto shut off and vari rate controls

 

[rookswood]

Not all gps systems will work with all spreaders, I had trouble at work getting an FJDynamics system working with an amazone amatron 4 box. The gps didn’t have the correct correction signals for the box to work. Ended up putting an amazone gps receiver on the tractor.