John Deere simplifies guidance setup with Data Sync

Setting up precision farming technologies should be quicker and easier with Data Sync, a new resource for users of John Deere’s Operations Center cloud-based management system.

When multiple tractors are working the same fields, Data Sync enables settings established on one tractor to be shared wirelessly with others in pretty much real time.

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Normally, this involves setting up each tractor’s precision farming system individually or sharing data between them using a memory stick.

But this carries the risk of creating duplicate records and introducing errors during manual data entry.

With the new facility, field names, boundary changes, guidance tracks and flags can be changed in the cab or office and then shared across the fleet at the press of a button, saving time and ensuring accuracy.

John Deere Gen4 AutoTrac display

© John Deere

The data-sharing resource is available to Operations Center users with a JDLink modem and Gen4 in-cab display.

It will also be part of the new G5 and G5 Plus display package coming on 2024 model year 6R, 7, 8 and 9 Series tractors.

Data Sync is free to activate and can be enabled or disabled on selected tractors and harvesters.

To safeguard data, team members can be allowed different levels of access.

The new facility joins Auto-Setup, a one-click means of wirelessly receiving work plans drawn up in Operations Center into a tractor or harvester display, and other resources designed to simplify the use of precision farming technologies.

Tractors sync in seconds

Pea and bean grower East Coast Viners, based in Montrose, north-east Scotland, has used the new Data Sync facility across half a dozen John Deere 6R tractors since March this year.

“With peas, we are going into new, rented fields every year operating two cultivators and two drills working together,” says arable manager Peter Richardson.

“The first tractor maps the field and within seconds, using Data Sync, the other machines are all working off the same boundaries and A-B lines.

“It has reduced down-time, soil compaction and overlaps, making everything so much simpler and straightforward for us.”

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