Mar 30, 2017Reducing input costs with Raptor Maps
Raptor Maps builds software to save time and reduce the cost of farming. The company’s products focus on making farm data increase workforce efficiency and decrease input costs by introducing yield monitoring technology and statistics in for the potato industry.
The Raptor Maps harvest monitor is placed above the harvester’s chain and measures the length and diameter of potatoes going into the truck. This data is then mapped back to the field, and is designed to be a powerful tool for statistical analysis, enabling growers to track their inputs and monitor their effect on production.
For years, corn and soybeans have had this ground truth data in the form of their yield maps. Growers can take these yield maps and determine exactly what yields they are producing. This technology helps compare yields between different fields or between different areas of the same field. By assessing both the quality of the crop and combining this with the quantity of the data, Raptor Maps can produce all of the ground truth data, and unlock all of the same precision ag technology that is being used in corn and soybeans, according to the company.
Raptor Maps also produces software to create geo-tagged imagery that is organized in one location, but is readily accessible on tablets, smartphones and computers. Growers can see the geo-referenced meta-data attached to each image. Having this information readily accessible helps to recognize problems in a timely manner, and make accurate decisions to correct nutrient, weed, pest or disease issues.
By David Fairbourn, managing editor