October 2, 2024

By Gerelyn Terzo, Global AgInvesting Media

With U.S. farmers busy harvesting their fields while also setting the wheels in motion for next season, Total Acre, a Kentucky-based program that fosters growth among a community of U.S. farmers, is doing its part to make things better for them. Through a partnership with agtech innovator Precision Planting, Total Acre has integrated an application programming interface (API) to improve data delivery for growers. Precision Planting’s API, called Panorama, will be added to Total Acre’s existing lineup of tech capabilities, including API integrations from the likes of Climate FieldView, My John Deere and AGCO’s PTx Trimble.

Total Acre’s latest API increases the capacity to support data transfer from farm equipment to Total Acre’s proprietary software solution, Yield Management System, helping farmers to predict crop performance by harnessing historical data and emerging trends. APIs are rules that make sure data is flowing smoothly between various programs tied to activities such as variable rate applications, yield mapping and equipment tracking to deliver cleaner data in a more efficient way. Total Acre said integrations like this one deliver access to the latest in tech innovation for its 500-plus member growers. Its approach appears to be working, based on recent results.

In August, Alex Harrell, a Smithfield, Georgia, soybean producer, former agronomist and Total Acre member, broke the world record for soybean yield with an impressive 218 bushels per acre, surpassing his previous record of 206 bushels recorded last year and putting the Peach State on the map for soybean yields. According to the announcement, Harrell, who reportedly credits Total Acre for many of the strategies he’s used, was able to do this using “Pioneer P49Z02E variety in 30-inch red clay soil rows with a 110,000-planting population and using advanced techniques like double strip tilling, center pivot irrigation, precise nutrient management and tissue sampling.”

Market research firm SNS Insider predicts the value of the precision planting market will be worth $12.2 billion by 2031, reflecting a CAGR of 10.29 percent from 2024 and compared with a market value of $5.56 billion last year. This growth is being fueled by cost savings, as more precise planting equipment means farmers tend to spend less on inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and fuel.

Total Acre Chief Technology Officer Colin Willis commented on the Precision Planting partnership, saying, “Our API integrations position Total Acre at the forefront of data-driven agriculture. We’re committed to providing our customers with the best tools to increase operational efficiency and make smart, informed decisions. These developments mark a significant advancement in Total Acre’s mission to deliver innovative technology solutions that address the evolving needs of progressive farming leaders.”

Total Acre COO Randy Siever commented on the API integration, stating, “This integration is a vital step toward ensuring that our customers can send/receive real-time, accurate data from their equipment. Simply reducing the manual process eliminates mistakes and allows our members to focus on what they do best — farming — while our technology delivers the precision analytics that help optimize their operations.”

*The content put forth by Global AgInvesting News and its parent company HighQuest Partners is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. All information or other material herein is not to be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Global AgInvesting and HighQuest Partners are not a fiduciary in any manner, and the reader assumes the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content on this site.