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Post-emergence operations such as spraying fungicide in July or harvesting corn in October can be stressful for operators. On top of steering the machine, an operator is required to monitor several other areas such as spray rates, ground terrain, grain or forage quality, or managing tender trucks and grain carts. Operating at night, in windy conditions, or while harvesting lodged corn can add even more stress for the operator.
Using feelers that engage the crop rows, AutoTrac RowSense has revolutionized the ability to use AutoTrac for post-emergence applications in later-season corn.
A study using advanced, eye-tracking glasses determined where an operator’s attention is focused while operating a sprayer through tall, standing corn. Without AutoTrac RowSense or Vision, the operator spent about 82.5 percent of the time looking forward. When AutoTrac RowSense or Vision was utilized, the same operators only spent 70 percent of the time looking forward and more time watching sprayer booms and monitoring machine performance on the vehicle display. AutoTrac RowSense focuses on steering so the operator can focus on other value-added tasks.
Hagie is a trademark of Hagie Manufacturing Company, LLC and similar to John Deere branded equipment, John Deere will also support Hagie equipment.
Maximizing productivity is a high priority for progressive producers, ag service providers, and custom spraying operations. One way to increase productivity is to operate at the optimum speed whenever possible.
When operating a self-propelled sprayer, consistent, optimal speeds lead to covering more acres per day. This means more revenue for ag service providers and more timely chemical applications within narrow windows for producers. Additionally, driving at a consistent speed is critical for applying accurate chemical rates across the entire field. With RowSense driving the sprayer through the row, even in varying field conditions, operators of any experience level will be able to the maximize productivity and efficiency of product applications.
AutoTrac RowSense uses sensors to monitor the location of crop rows in relation to the sprayer’s tires. The system guides the machine, keeping tires centered between rows and off the crop. This allows the operator to operate at faster ground speeds with less operator stress, letting you focus on other tasks such as chemical rates and coverage.
Producers cannot afford to leave any potential yield in the field. Unfortunately, when spraying in standing corn, yield-limiting damage or losses can occur.
When spraying, some operators choose to cross crop rows to simplify spraying and reduce stress. However, this method of spraying can damage more the 2 percent of the plants in the field. To improve yields, many operators follow the crop rows, keeping the wheels between the rows to minimize damage.
Even when driving between standing corn rows, a small lapse in attention can result in significant crop damage. For example, an operator spraying at 15 miles per hour who is misaligned with the row for 1 second could damage more than 90 corn plants. During the course of a day, a few minor misalignments could lead to major damage. With AutoTrac RowSense, the operator can be confident that the sprayer is staying in the row, even if they cannot physically see the sprayer wheels.
Corn plants damaged per 1 second of driving misaligned at various speeds
Population (seeds/acre)
19.3 km/h (12 mph)
24.1 km/h (15 mph)
29 km/h (18 mph)
28,000
56 plants
70 plants
85 plants
32,000
64 plants
80 plants
97 plants
36,000
73 plants
91 plants
109 plants
Not all fields are created equal. Some fields have even, clean stands while others have washouts, missing crop, or excessive weeds pressure. In these situations, the system will revert to GPS to keep the vehicle in the row.
Sprayers have the ability to run AutoTrac RowSense in conjunction with AutoTrac Vision when running in late-season corn. As crop begins to canopy, AutoTrac RowSense is able to "feel" the crop rows to provide accurate guidance when the camera’s vision is limited. The system uses Vision for first priority and reverts to RowSense if Vision confidence drops below the optimal range. If confidence drops below the optimal range for both AutoTrac Vision and RowSense, the system defaults to GPS using the operator’s guidance line.
For example, crop stands following a wet spring may have uneven stands and areas where the corn was drowned out. As the machine crosses into the washed-out areas while spraying, the system will detect that crop is missing and will quickly switch to GPS-only mode to guide the machine across the troubled area and into the correct row on the other side. When harvesting and crossing a passable waterway, the system will behave similarly, guiding the combine or self-propelled forage harvester (SPFH) into the proper row on the other side. In either situation, staying on the correct row maximizes efficiency in the field. GPS fusion ensures the operator follows the correct row even when conditions get tough.
AutoTrac RowSense system allows sprayer operators to experience the benefits of AutoTrac while spraying in standing corn rows. The system provides additional input to the AutoTrac system to ensure that the sprayer is accurately following the planted crop rows. By utilizing RowSense, operators can experience reduced crop damage, faster operating speeds, and reduced operator fatigue.
AutoTrac RowSense has been shown to perform well in straight rows whenever the sensor contacts the corn plant on the stalk, rather than the leafy part of the plant. This generally occurs at a plant height of around 1.2 m (4 ft) with many varieties. If a row guidance solution is desired in early crop stages, be sure to check out AutoTrac Vision in the Sales Manual.
The system is compatible with select John Deere and Hagie sprayers.
The RowSense system has been designed for maximum uptime. The kit includes two RowSense sensor assemblies with brackets (one for each front wheel). This design detects separate crop rows for better performance in poor crop stands. The paddles can be removed in less than 10 minutes for trailering or operating in other crops where RowSense is not compatible.
NOTE: It is recommended that RowSense sensor paddles should only be installed on the machine when operators are intending to use them for guidance. This should happen later in the crop stages when the crop rows are starting to shade over, making it harder to see the soil. This will help to ensure maximum crop safety.
For compatible John Deere sprayers, different sensor brackets are available to support varying row widths. The brackets are mounted within the wheel to help protect them in challenging terrain.
Hagie is a trademark of Hagie Manufacturing Company, LLC and similar to John Deere branded equipment, John Deere will also support Hagie equipment.