Trimble Announces Innovations for Planting and Spreading Operations That Add Seeding Efficiency and Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communications

LOVELAND, Colo., Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) announced today four new innovations designed to assist growers with planting and spreading operations – Vehicle Sync, seed monitoring capability, application management of up to two variable rate products and spinner speed control. These innovations enable enhanced grower efficiency by increasing the quality of seed placement and providing real-time wireless communication between vehicles in the field.

The announcement was made today at the Trimble Agriculture Reseller Conference.

Vehicle Sync on Trimble FmX Integrated Display

Trimble's addition of Vehicle Sync for the Trimble® FmX® integrated display will allow multiple operators working in the same field to wirelessly transfer guidance lines and coverage maps between vehicles, rather than sending the information back and forth between the farm office or manually with a flash drive. Vehicle Sync can be used for overlap detection, guidance line management and point/line/area features. It also provides the ability to track other vehicles operating in the same field in real-time.

Seed monitoring and Variable Rate Control on Trimble CFX-750 Display

Seed monitoring capability in the CFX-750™ display has been added to the Trimble Field-IQ™ crop input control system. The Field-IQ system is compatible with a wide variety of crop and application equipment, providing monitoring for planters or granular strip till systems. Seed monitoring on row crop planting systems allows operators to obtain information related to how their seeding system is performing.

The ability to simultaneously manage up to two variable rate products with the CFX-750 display has also been added to the Field-IQ system. This capability will allow a planter operator to manage both seed control and a starter fertilizer system at the same time, improving efficiency and productivity.

Spinner Speed Control

Spinner speed control for spreaders will allow applicators to control multiple materials as well as the RPM of the spreading system with the Field-IQ system and FmX integrated display. Spinner speed control is critical for applications with wide rate ranges that are applied with a prescription variable rate map.  

"The introduction of Vehicle Sync data communication in the FmX integrated display will save operators time while in the field and provide efficiency during the busy planting season," said Erik Arvesen, vice president for Trimble's Agriculture Division. "And we continue to expand the capabilities of our Field-IQ crop input control system and its integration with our precision ag displays. The added functionality to the CFX-750 display will give growers the tools to accurately monitor their seed and ultimately, lower their input costs."

Vehicle Sync data transfer, and the new seed monitoring, multi-rate capabilities, and spinner speed control for the Field-IQ system, are expected to be available in March 2012.  

About Trimble's Agriculture Division

Trimble's Agriculture Division is a leader in precision agriculture and guidance, operating globally with resellers throughout the world. Trimble's Connected Farm™ solutions help customers operate farm vehicles and implements more efficiently, save on input costs, and can increase yield and productivity. Solutions include vehicle and implement guidance and steering; application control for seed, liquid, and granular products; laser- and GPS-based water management technology; record keeping and seamless field-to-office information management.

For more information, visit: www.trimble.com/agriculture.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location--including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information, visit: www.trimble.com.

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SOURCE Trimble