Deere launches mobile app for balers

John Deere has unveiled its Bale Mobile app to help hay and forage producers obtain detailed information, improve efficiency, identify bale characteristics and track yields to make decision making easier.

When used in conjunction with a John Deere 1 Series Large Square Baler (L331 or L341 model), equipped with optional moisture and weight sensors, the app processes moisture and weight data into useable information for baling, loading and overall farm management.

“Tractor operators can see their information in near real time while Bale Mobile documents the baling process,” said John Deere senior marketing rep for hay tools, Nick McKelvey.

“Individual bale moisture and weight are tagged to each specific bale (geo-referenced within the app) for improved traceability.

“Operators can also digitally tag specific bales with additional notes in the app that are useful for sorting and enables them to make better informed on-the-go decisions.”

After an operator is finished baling the paddock, a summary provides information such as crop tonnage, number of bales and average moisture readings.

“With this information in hand, it makes it easier for bales to be sorted by moisture, weight and whether or not there was a preservative applied,” McKelvey said.

“If certain bales were wet or weedy, producers can quickly separate them from the hay stack.”

For commercial hay operations, Bale Mobile also makes it possible for producers to remotely view real-time bale weight and moisture readings for each round baler that’s operating in the paddock, simply by using an iPad or tablet computer.

“A field summary shows yield information to help producers make appropriate agronomic decisions when it comes to taking future actions such as fertilising, irrigating or reseeding,” McKelvey said.

For more information on the new John Deere Bale Mobile app, visit JohnDeere.com.au.