A John Deere Publication

Interior of tractor cab with three small monitors and a farmer handling a joystick while harvesting a grain field

Pass by pass, row by row, seed by seed. Precision ag is helping farmers do more with less. See your local John Deere dealer for more information on the Precision Ag Essentials Program.

Ag Tech December 01, 2024

Tech at Work

Enhancing the future of farming efficiency through Precision Ag Essentials.

Most farmers know that effective risk management, strong marketing strategies, and good leadership are all essential for any farm's success. Combine that with a sense of community and a commitment to stewardship, and you have what is now known as I-80 Farms of Colfax, Iowa.

I-80 Farms is a third-generation farm that primarily specializes in grain production. Nellie and Jim Talsma Sr. first started out in the 1920s. Their son Jim Jr. and his wife joined the farm in the late '50s, followed by their sons Bill and Dave in 1979, who still run the farm today—45 years later. Under their leadership, growth persisted alongside advancements in technology, leading to the establishment of I-80 Farms in 2003.

John Deere Operations Center™ is the information hub for the farm, bringing equipment statistics and field and agronomic data together to enable them to manage their operations anytime, anywhere. This gives them a complete and accurate record of historical yield and provides year-over-year guidance for production decisions.

Mike Horan, farm manager of I-80 Farms, knows that the Operations Center makes his job easier. "I used to spend all day making phone calls with our guys in the trucks to see how long the line was and when they were coming back. Ops Center has significantly reduced my calls because I know where everyone is," Mike explains. The technology allows near real-time monitoring of connected equipment, giving him visibility to machine location and progress in the field. "It is a way to check in every day, it is better than being at the farm," he adds.

John Deere is now making it easier with special pricing on bundled Precision Ag Essentials™—core equipment that gives farmers the option to choose the precision tools they need, when they need them. "The company with the greatest tech will win the market," explains Mike. ‡