Engaging in precision agriculture can become complicated. Over the years the number of services, data tools and other features that have proliferated in the industry can almost be mind-boggling. That's what Trimble discovered as it worked with farmers, and the answer was to create a centralized information source that is designed as a farm.

The Trimble Virtual Farm contains hundreds of informational videos, product references and insights into how tools from the company can be deployed. "This is the place to go for all Trimble does that applies to the farmer," says Jake Ridenour, regional development manager, Trimble.

Designed as a farm, a visitor can go through the "operation" to see the many tools the company offers, but it's also an educational tool regarding new ways these tech products are used. "There are dealers who have seen this that don't know what we offer for water management," Ridenour points out. "They don't often work with that issue, or were unaware. They can learn about it here."

Dealers and farmers can turn to this tool to seek out information about what the company offers, but for a novice to precision ag, it can be an education. Some of the concepts are generic, including how satellite navigation works or ways to increase precision application. There are Trimble-centric videos and information, too.

Farmers and dealers

Dealers can use this Virtual Farm, which Ridenour says works on desktop computers, mobile phones and tablets, to discover and discuss what the company offers. Farmers can venture into the "farm" to check out different areas including data management, new to precision farming, resources management, labor skill level, water management and input management. And there's a link to the company's dealer network.

Digging into those common issues, a site visitor will learn what's happening with the technology. Take the less-skilled laborer on the farm. The virtual farm shows tools for workflow optimization linking a laborer to that day's work, predetermined through the system. There are tools for troubleshooting equipment and more.

Long ago, Trimble branded the name Connected Farm, and it has built on that with tools that track equipment and share data in-field and after the work is done.

Ridenour points to a tool many farmers are unaware of — the Bluetooth tag. "This allows a user to set up details of a machine in the tag and attach it to that implement," Ridenour explains. "When that implement is 'seen' by either the Trimble GFX750 or GFX350 monitor, details of the machine are available."

If you have a 35-foot cultivator with that tag, when you hook up that Bluetooth, information is there to set up your passes using existing A/B lines. The system already knows implement parameters, which helps not only with less-skilled labor but also makes it faster for the pros on your farm.

"The Virtual Farm is way to provide a big-picture look at what we offer," Ridenour says.

You can visit the virtual farm at agriculture.trimble.com/virtualfarm.