Test Isobus systems part 2: seeding with a prescription map, too difficult

As part of a big tractortest, we have tested the Isobus-systems on 7 tractor brands. We tested all functions: from loading screens, programming AUX-buttons and after that we went seeding sugar beets based on an IsoXML-prescription map. In the first part (part 1) we wrote about the basic functions. Now, in part 2, we jump to the prescription maps.

The seven brands participating in this test (see also box: about this test)

• Claas
• Deutz-Fahr
• John Deere
• Massey Ferguson
• McCormick
• New Holland
• Valtra

Taskdata or Agdata

Our goal was to seed (non-germinating) sugar beets based on an IsoXML-prescription map. As it turns out, that is not as easy as it sounds. Because first of all: you need to make sure you follow the correct folder structure. There is mainly two extensions possible: ISOXML and Shape. According to the manufacturers, they all can read both extensions – we choose for ISOXML. This should be a folder called ‘TASKDATA’ wherein the prescription data are placed. In Deutz-Fahr, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, McCormick, New Holland, and Valtra, we could import the folder when it was ‘unzipped’.

In Claas (Trimble), we could not find our prescription map in the library to import, so we went with a Shapefile-version. Then the folder should be named ‘Agdata’, and in that folder should be a folder named ‘Prescriptions’, wherein the 4 files should be placed. To add some more struggles to this: John Deere can only import the IsoXML if you first tick a bit hidden switch saying ‘Isobus Documentation Mode’ in the Advanced-work setup-menu – otherwise it works in ‘John Deere language’ instead of ‘Isobus language’. And only in New Holland, somehow the AB-lines did not come with the imported data. New Holland says that this issue will be solved in the next software update.

Room for improvement

We are aware that many modern farmers will skip the part where you transfer the prescription maps via an ‘old fashioned’ USB-stick and transfer the data wireless. But for this test, to have the same procedure for each tractor, we went with USB-sticks. Note that all tractors are capable of wireless data transfer.

In the ideal situation, you would plug in the USB-stick and then there would be a pop-up asking you whether you want to import or export data – and directly leads you to the right place. Only Massey Ferguson and Valtra has made this properly. In New Holland, it shows a pop up saying that there is an USB-stick recognized, but you need to find the page by yourself. In for example Deutz-Fahr, there is no pop up and you need to know that you should not go the button which actually shows the USB-stick in the symbol – which is a bit confusing. You import the data via the GPS-screen and via the button ‘Tasks’ and then in the bottom of the column.

Map layer not automatically

That being said: you would expect that you now simply open the task, press ‘start’, and that the implement should follow the prescription map now. When it comes to easiness: John Deere and Massey Ferguson/Valtra has the best solution. You basically go to Work Set up (Deere) or tasks (MF/Valtra) where you select the task, and optionally also farm, client and field. And in or just below ‘task’ you select the prescription map. Don’t forget to actually start the task, because it will not work if the tasks hasn’t been started. When that is done, you go to the GPS-screen and search for the button with map layers and select the map here too – this didn’t go automatically in any of the tractors. In both Massey Ferguson and John Deere (after finding this earlier mentioned ‘Isobus Documentation Mode’), it took about 30 minutes to figure the system out and get it working.

Note, that John Deere has a function called ‘one-click-auto-set-up’, in which you basically prepare all this info per task in the office and then, when the tractor enters the field, the driver accepts the import of the data and can start. We did not try this function in this test.

Topcon is next

Then we got the Topcon-systems (Deutz-Fahr and McCormick), which offer a kind of same solutions as the above mentioned. You search for the button about the ‘tasks’, and select the farm, client, field, etc. Then you select the prescription map and do the same in the map layer which Topcon calls ‘VRC’ and then under that ‘prescription map’. McCormick came with a Topcon X25-terminal and should work the same as the Deutz-Fahr which has the bigger X35-terminal from Topcon, and calls this iMonitor.

New Holland and Trimble: too difficult

We experienced that the Claas tractor with Trimble-terminal, together with the New Holland-system, are the most difficult ones to get going with a prescription map. Because with the struggles we already went through (no AB-line in import data in New Holland, and no ISOXML-files able to find in Claas), and the earlier described steps (selecting layers and tasks), there is more. In these two systems you have to actually select the applied product in a separate menu and put in different values.

New Holland is the most difficult. Here you need to go to ‘Product Library’ which is in the Data-menu (this is called ‘Materials’ in Trimble). For a new product, you need to fill if it’s a seed, a plant, or what else form. But also a ‘Application Rate 1’, ‘Application Rate 2’, Min Application Rate’ and a ‘Max Application Rate’ and a ‘Step Size’ (or ‘Rate Increment’ in Claas). While all the data is in the prescription map, you still have to fill in these manually – but note, that if you do not fill in any data, it will not seed according to the map. There is no info-button what these number exactly stands for, but after calling the product specialists we learn that this is meant for when you override the applied product.

In Trimble, you have to assign the filled in Materials to ‘Channel 1’. Also, why New Holland is the most difficult one: you do not only have to select the map layer called ‘prescription map’. You also need to go into the settings of this particular layer where you can select the colors shown and the amount of different values, but here you need to tap the below box called ‘background’ and change ‘none’ into ‘prescription map’ and then it actually works. According to New Holland, this is because there could be two prescription maps at the same time (two products).

Not all do perfect

We had prepared 7 small fields (0,24 ha) which we seeded sugar beets and some passes had multiple different seeding spaces within in the working width (the Grimme can handle 18 different values). John Deere, Deutz-Fahr and New Holland worked exactly how we wanted. That means that it switched on and off sections one by one, and that it actually seeded different spacing in different rows within the working width.

Massey Ferguson did switch sections one by one, but it calculated an average amount of seeds per hectare based on the prescription map and seeded all elements the same value.

Claas (Trimble) did seed according to the map with different seed spacing, but while the Isobus-screen showed that the section are switching one by one, the seeder switched the section per 3 – that means that you would have more doubles/gaps (depending on your settings).

We could not test the Valtra because of the screens that went rebooting each time we started driving (software issue) and we could not test the McCormick because of corroded Isobus-fuses (non-waterproof fuse box). Note, that Valtra has the same software as Massey Ferguson so it would have worked the same as Massey Ferguson and McCormick has the same software supplier as Deutz-Fahr.

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