Welcome back to another season with FarmTRX!
If you’re getting ramped up for harvest, you may be scratching your head trying to remember what you need to get the FarmTRX yield monitor and moisture sensor up and running for the year. This checklist will guide existing FarmTRX customers through a complete setup of the system so you’re harvest-ready. Fortunately, over-the-air software updates have ensured that the latest operation and mapping advancements are available to you with an update of the mobile app, so you can take advantage of our latest features and capabilities.
To get the most out of the system, follow this 10 step checklist. Doing so will ensure you get accurate live yield and moisture readings in the cab during harvest. Important to note: if you’re tight on time and need to just get out there and get the crop off, that’s OK. You’re still able to get accurate yield maps for your fields by post-harvest calibrating the data in the Web App. Just confirm the system is powered up and go confidently – you’ll still get precision maps.
The 10 Step Checklist to Harvest-Ready:
- Renew your FarmTRX Web App account (if you want automated map processing and other features)
- Review your field boundaries and make sure they are accurate
- Update the FarmTRX mobile app to the latest version
- Connect to the yield monitor and update to the latest firmware
- Double check installation with a visual inspection
- Perform a sensor calibration in the yard
- Review and edit your headers and crop types
- Set header and crop type and begin harvesting
- Perform a crop calibration in the field once per crop type per year
- Sync yield data to the Web App
1) Renew your FarmTRX Web App account
Renewing full features of the FarmTRX Web App requires a yearly payment based on harvested acres in your account. While all users, free or paid, are able to view and export their raw yield data in the Web App, automated yield data correction and processing into yield and moisture maps, integration features and post-harvest calibration tools are only accessible with a renewed, Premium web app account.
Cost to renew the account ranges from 50 cents an acre down to 10 cents an acre, as the number of acres increases. Check the status of your Web App account using these steps:
- Log in to your account by visiting web.farmtrx.app
- Click the Admin tab
- Click FarmTRX Premium
- Verify your subscription period and pay the annual fee if it is due
2) Review field boundaries from previous season and make sure they’re accurate
Farmers can draw/import field boundaries and select crop types after harvesting, but if you want to see the data processed into maps sooner throughout harvest, make sure the field boundaries are setup in the web app account and select crop types for each field prior to harvest. As part of FarmTRX’s commitment to your data integrity, your boundaries must be set in the web app for any uploaded data to be processed and viewable.
Take the time to review your previous field boundaries each year for accuracy. Make sure there is no harvested area being missed.
3) Update the FarmTRX Mobile App
Through the FarmTRX Mobile App farmers will edit headers and crop types, connect to the yield monitor and perform sensor and crop calibrations. With a proper calibration, accurate live and average yield and moisture readings will display on your mobile device or the FarmTRX Display during harvest. Be sure to update the app to the latest available version on the App Store or Google Play store.
4) Connect to your yield monitor and update to newest firmware
Your phone or tablet uses Bluetooth connectivity to connect to the yield monitor. Make sure your Bluetooth is toggled on in order to connect. You will be prompted to update to the latest firmware (if required) as part of the most recent FarmTRX Mobile App update.
5) Double check installation
Look over the installation of the yield monitor and moisture sensor. Ensure they are installed correctly by turning over the machine while the key is in the on– position. The LEDs on the optical sensor receiver installed on the combine elevator should be flashing as the paddles go past. Perform a visual inspection of all cables and connectors and verify that the sensors are mounted securely in place.
Now is a good time to check your Moisture Sensor installation by opening the hatch door. Is there any crop buildup or mud? Take the time to remove debris and clean the sensor face. If you’re harvesting soybeans, check the door for buildup on the sensor semi-regularly through harvest.
6) Perform a sensor calibration/tare
To calibrate the optical sensors, engage your separator clutch and run the combine at full throttle while stationary, with no grain running through the elevator. Navigate to the Device Calibration page on the FarmTRX Mobile App to run a sensor calibration. Hit the “Start” button once the elevator is running at full throttle. The yield monitor will record the elevator and determine the width of the empty paddles.
7) Review headers and crop types
Confirm and edit the headers you will be using during harvest. Adjust or set the header width in the FarmTRX Mobile App by navigating to the Add/Edit Headers page of the main app menu.
Want to create custom crop types? You can! Follow these instructions to do so.
8) Set header and crop type and begin harvesting
Heading out to the field? Select the combine header and the crop type and get started! Remember, it can be fixed after the fact in the web app, but this ensures accuracy in the cab.
9) Perform a crop calibration in the field once per crop type per year
To get accurate readings in the cab, calibrate during harvest by volume, by weight or by a combination of both. We recommend calibrating once per crop type per year. The crop calibration should be based on a representative portion of the field, avoid weedy or drowned out areas.
Navigate to the main menu of the FarmTRX Mobile App and select Crop Calibration to begin a calibration run. Press “Start Calibration” and hit the checkmark icon. After the representative amount has been harvested, enter the measured weight and/or volume along with measured moisture if using the FarmTRX Moisture Sensor. If you left your smartphone or tablet behind, or didn’t have time to calibrate before harvesting, you can still get accurate yield maps for the field by performing a post-harvest calibration.
10) Sync collected yield data to the web app
Yield data can be synced to the web app for processing at any time during harvest over WiFi or using mobile data. The data will be automatically sorted into field boundaries and yield and moisture maps will begin processing immediately. Yield data and maps can be exported as as ESRI shapefile, AgLeader, Google Earth and Climate FieldView formats.
Upload yield data at intervals that work for you. To check that calibration settings are appropriate and get a sense how you’re progressing, upload sooner than later to see the yield maps. If you prefer uploading less frequently in bigger data chunks, you can do that too!
We hope these steps help get you setup for another harvest with the FarmTRX system. Don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have any questions.
Happy harvesting!
