// ]]>
“We’ve worked hard to build an infrastructure that supports the technology that helps farmers make informed agronomic decisions,” says Wood.

The telematics technology RME supports is both the tech built into equipment that helps operate the machinery and the tech that supports farming activities, collects data and then translates it for activities such as variable rate seeding or spraying. Wood says the ultimate goal is to improve the efficiency of farms and farmers and for them to make a good return on investment.

“This technology will allow customers to make better, more well-informed decisions. The more information and data farmers have, the better quality decisions they are able to make. It’s about managing costs and maximizing the bottom line,” says Wood.

Some of the benefits Wood sees from the technology available today are both environmental and economical. “Because they have this information, they won’t apply chemical where it isn’t needed,” says Wood. “They won’t be over applying fertilizer. This adds a level of efficiency to the farm. By applying product more efficiently, to only the areas where it’s needed, farmers save on input costs allowing investment somewhere else in the operation.”

Just as many people now carry smart phones, such as a Blackberry, Android or iPhone, most farmers are adopting some forms of technology in their day-to-day farming practices. While some may use variable rate seeding on a field-by-field basis, others may be using sectional mapping for further efficiencies.

There are always early adopters and then there are those who want to see the benefits others have realized, before they dive in. “The value equation for customers in using technology is where they can reduce input costs and increase production, and therefore increase their margin,” says Wood.

RME says they play the information supplier role for the most part. All the data from the equipment is transferred to cloud based storage where it can be accessed for things like reviewing yield maps from the combine or building a prescription map for seeding or spraying.

It’s also a tool for RME’s Ag Optimization Specialists (AOS) when they’re working with their customers. “The nice thing is that we can diagnose issues because it’s two-way communication. Before we send a tech out we have already had a look at the issue and if it can’t be resolved remotely, we will get to the farm better prepared with solutions,” says Wood.

“I think this is the future, with more two-way communications. In the future, a farmer will even be able to set his combine from his office at the farm.”

Wood says their AOS’s are available 24/7 and provide a very specialized service. They show farmers how to use the equipment and technology correctly. This ensures the equipment is operating at its optimum performance. They also assist with pulling the data and getting it to the agronomist or other partner for review and translation into farm business decision making.

“The AOS’s have two main goals,” says Wood. “They need to optimize the machinery and support the technology. We’ve seen the need to specialize and the technology is there. We want to show our farmers how to use it and ensure they’re using it to their maximum benefit.”

As machinery gets more and more technical, the opportunities to access and input data and fine-tune their farming practices increases. The partnerships farmers make with agronomists and others will ensure they’re making the most of all that technology can provide.

“We’re focused on supporting our customers and their machines so they can receive the data and make informed decisions with their agronomist,” says Wood. “It’s a partnership.”

RME’s drones

Farmers are seeing a lot of benefits from using drones. This technology is great for checking on cows, scouting fields, checking for wet areas and so on.

RME bought NGF Geomatics in the spring of 2015 and now has a division dedicated to providing drone services to farmers.

RME Geomatics’ services include a wide range of high-resolution direct geo-referenced imagery, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) along with 4K and thermal video capture.

“We’re learning a lot because we’re now building drones,” says Wood. “We’re making improvements on what’s available. For example our drones have 2.5 hours of flight time versus about 15-20 minutes with the standard small drones. They also have a payload capacity up to 30 lb. which enables us to carry multiple sensors at a time. We’ve done jobs where we’ve been able to provide multispectral, thermal, and LIDAR all from one flight for our customers.”

“And it’s all about the imagery – whether it’s a high res image for scouting fields or an NDVI map with one to 5 cm resolution.” As with everything, the better the data, the better the decisions made as a result.

Selling and serving equipment still key for RME

When asked if today’s equipment dealers need to do more than sell and service equipment, Wood’s vision for RME is clear. “We need to be dependable at selling and supporting equipment first,” says Wood. “But we’re always looking for something that can add value and solutions to our customer and our partnership.”

Wood says RME has developed a strong support model for their equipment and the technology within.

This is part-one of a three-part series. The main focus of the series will be on technology in agriculture and the way the collection and use of data is changing farming in Canada and around the world.

Part-two can be found here and part-three here.