WO2001052160A1

WO2001052160A1 - Application report and method for creating the same

Info

Publication number: WO2001052160A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/000206
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arnie Sinclair
Original assignee: Ag-Chem Equipment Company, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-01-14
Filing date: 2001-01-04
Publication date: 2001-07-19
Also published as: AU2001227586A1

Abstract

The present invention is a method of creating a product application report (10) automatically using data collected by a crop product applicator controller (54). The controller (54) collects data relating to the amount, type, and location of crop products applied. Other data, such as data relating to weather, the identity of the applicator operator, and vehicle parameters, may likewise be collected. When all the data is collected, the data is used to create a report (10) which meets state, federal, and local regulations. The report (10) can then be printed or electronically stored in a database.

Description

APPLICATION REPORT AND METHOD FOR CREATING THE SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to crop input application reports, and more particularly to automatically generated crop input application reports created on the crop input applicator or created at a mapping center

Modern agriculture requires the application of several types of chemicals and fertilizers With new technology, farmers now use site specific farming to apply chemicals and fertilizers with ever increasing precision Many vehicles now have global positioning systems (GPS) and controllers which allow the vehicle to apply crop inputs at desired locations in the field at variable rates The controllers may use application maps, remote sensing, or real time sensors to apply a desired amount of crop inputs at the desired location in the field The application of crop inputs may be based on soil or crop sampling data, agronomic data, in field data, or any data affecting plant growth Thus, based on a variety of data, a controller can apply crop inputs to areas which most need fertilizer or other crop inputs, while leaving untreated those areas which do not need fertilizer or crop inputs This process is often referred to as site specific farming, and has increased the efficiency and effectiveness of fertilizer and chemical use

With the prevalence of chemicals and fertilizers, state, federal, and local governmental units have begun tracking these chemicals and fertilizers in an attempt to regulate their use As a result, farmers, commercial applicators, and fertilizer and chemical dealers are required to keep detailed records and reports of chemical and fertilizer use for submission to these governmental units Product application reports are used by farmers, commercial applicators, and dealers to comply with such regulations The product application reports in use today are typically mass produced forms which are filled out by hand by either the vehicle operator upon completion of the job, or by other personnel following completion of the job The reports prepared by farmers, dealers, or commercial applicators are required to be submitted to the appropriate regulating body. In addition, the farmers, dealers, or commercial applicators are required to retain copies of the reports for future reference. Completing, filing, and storing these reports is time consuming and requires document managing skills.

These reports often require a sketch or map showing the area to which the chemicals or fertilizer were applied, as well as the rate at which the chemicals or fertilizers were applied. In the past, farmers were limited by technology and machinery to applying one type of crop input at a constant rate. With the advances in technology and the prevalence of site specific farming, it is now possible to apply multiple crop inputs at variable rates. Variable application rate technology has made it much more difficult to sketch a map and fill out the required forms showing application amounts and rates

In addition to controlling the application of crop inputs, the controller can also collect data related to the application for use in further refinement of the application maps Much of this "as applied" data is the same information needed to complete the product application reports In addition, when creating ' as applied" maps the controller or on board computer collects several other types of data, such as the rate of application, machine speed, machine spread path, GPS location, per product dispense delays, product flow rates, the type of product dispensed from each storage bin, time records relating to the application job, operator overrides to the intended rate, machine constraint warnings, and spray log information Though this data is collected, it is not automatically formatted into an application report form which can be submitted to the required regulating body

Thus, there is a need in the art for a crop input application report that shows the variable rate application of multiple crop inputs, yet remains easy enough for a farmer, dealer, or commercial applicator to fill out under field conditions and is easily managed BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a method for generating a crop input application report. The report is created automatically either on- site by a controller located on the vehicle or remotely by a desktop computer Data for the report is collected by the controller and associated sensors and actuators, which control the crop input applicator and provide feedback. Other data may be collected from the operator, either during an application job or upon initialization of the software program on the vehicle's controller Data may likewise be obtained from external databases. Typical data collected for the report includes time and date data, customerdata, location data, field condition data, applicator (dealer and vehicle operator) data, weather data, vehicle configuration data, and crop input data

Once the data is collected, software is used to process the data into the desired report format The data may be processed to merely incorporate it into the report, or may be manipulated in such a way as to make the data appear more suitable for use in the report When all the data has been integrated into the report, it is possible for a hard copy of the completed report to be printed, or for a digital copy to be downloaded or e-mailed to a database off the cab Since the report is digital, document management is greatly simplified BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an example of one embodiment of a crop product application report. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the hardware architecture used in automatically creating an application report

Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of creating an application report on a controller

Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the method of creating an application report at a remote site DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 is a graphical representation of a product application report 10. Product application reports 10 are generated at the end of a crop product application job, i.e. after an applicator applies crop products on an agricultural field. The term "crop products" means, but is not limited to, seeds, fertilizers, including micronutnents, pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, manure, biosolids, waste materials, and any other soil amendment or addition of any kind used to facilitate crop growth. Product application reports 10 are often required by the local, state, or federal government to track and regulate agricultural chemical use. To meet government regulations, the reports 10 must contain certain information.

Figure 1 is an example of a product application report 10 which contains a variety of information typically required by regulations The product application report 10 includes a dealer information field 12, an application time field 14, a customer information field 16, a vehicle information field 18, a field location information field 20, a field condition field 22, a weather information field 24, a field image field 26, an application method field 28, a product information field 30, a comment field 32, and an operator information field 34. A signature block 36 is also provided.

The dealer information field 12 gives the name, address, and phone number of the entity who is applying a product, and thus of the entity who is responsible for submitting the report. The dealer is often either a farmer, fertilizer or chemical retailer, or a commercial applicator. The dealer information field 12 may optionally contain the dealer license number. A governmental unit, such as the state in which the dealer is located, may require that anyone who is applying highly regulated or restricted chemicals have an appropriate license. The corresponding license number may be required to appear on the application reports 10 generated as a result of applying the restricted chemicals The application time field 14 shows the start and stop time as well as the start and stop date for the reported application job. The start date and time of the application corresponds to the first time the controller goes into operation after entering the field. Stop time and date corresponds to the last time the controller goes out of operation before leaving the field. The customer information field 16 contains such information as the customer's name, address, and phone number. The vehicle information field 18 shows both the type of vehicle used to apply the crop inputs, as well as a description of the vehicle. Vehicle type is typically a trade name used to identify the particular vehicle used to apply the crop products. The vehicle description may be an identifier generated by a dealer to distinguish among several vehicles in the dealership fleet which may or may not be the same vehicle type. The field location information field 20 contains either a legal or a longitude/latitude description of the location of the field. The legal description portion of the field 20 contains space for denoting the county, township, range, block, lot number, or section of the field being treated. When not describing the field using a legal description, the field can be described by giving the latitude and longitude of the southwest corner of the field.

The field condition field 22 contains such information as the target crop, whether the crop is in the pre-emergence or post- emergence stage, the crop's stage of growth, and the field's soil conditions and texture. The target crop provides a place to identify the type of crop planted on the field. The growth stage of the crop refers to the maturity of the crop and whether it is in the pre-emergence or post- emergence stage. Soil conditions that may be recorded include whether the soil is wet, dry, normal, cloddy, trashy, compact, or tilled. Soil texture may be described as either fine, medium, or course.

The weatherfield 24 contains current weather information, such as the temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and humidity. The weather information is recorded when the machine is not moving or applying crop products, which results in a more accurate reading. Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and humidity all potentially have an effect on the proper application of crop inputs. Certain chemicals have a temperature and humidity range in which the chemical is approved for application. In addition, an operator may not choose to apply a certain chemical if the wind speed or direction is not optimal due to the potential for the chemicals to drift and be carried by the wind to areas other than those desired. The field image field 26 contains a space for a graphical representation of the agricultural field (a field boundary map) and a depiction of the areas of the field to which crop products have been applied. In the past, an operator had to sketch an approximate field boundary and indicate on it the places where crop products had been applied. With modern technology, controllers are able to collect "as applied" data, which contains not only the location of crop products applied, but also the rate at which the crop products were applied. By using as applied data, a much more accurate depiction of the field image can be included in the report 10. The application method field 28 shows whether the crop products were applied in a conventional manner, or whether the crop products were applied at a variable rate. Conventional application refers to applying a crop product at a constant rate at all points in the field. Variable rate application refers to applying crop product at varying rates and amounts at different points in the field Also shown in the application method field 28 is nozzle information relating to nozzle spacing and pressure.

The product information field 30 provides space for recording the specific types of chemicals or fertilizer applied by the vehicle, the product's EPA registration number, the maximum and minimum rate at which the product was applied, the total amount of crop product applied, and the total number of acres in the treated area. The EPA registration number refers to an Environmental Protection Agency number which has been assigned to the product being applied The maximum and minimum rates of application refer to the rate at which a particular product is to be applied per unit of measurement (e g pounds per acre) The job total provides a space for reporting the total amount of crop product applied (e g pounds) The treated area provides a space for recording the total number of acres treated by a particular crop product

Reporting the total amount of product applied is important in states which require a stamped weight ticket indicating the total amount of product applied This is also beneficial to the customer in that it provides a record of the amount of product applied and thus provides a way to more accurately charge the customer for that product

The comments field 32 is an empty space which allows the operator, farmer, or dealer to make any comments relating to the product application report as are necessary to clarify items Typical comments which may be recorded include whether there were wind gusts during application, or field conditions such as the fact that half of the field had been tilled, while the other half remained unworked The operation information field 34 gives the name and license number of the operator who is driving the vehicle The signature block 36 provides a space for the person completing the report to sign the report

The fields on the application report 10 must comply with various local, state, and federal regulations Since each set of regulations may differ at different locations, different fields may be necessary to ensure the report complies with the applicable regulations Thus, the application report 10 may contain more or less detailed information depending upon the regulations of the state or area in which its being used The report 10 shown in Figure 1 is merely an example illustrating one type of report, other formats are available and different types of templates may be used to display similar information Much of the data contained in the report 10 is "as applied" data which can be collected by a controller. Thus, a product application report can be automatically created using the controller to collect most of the data necessary to complete the application report. Any other data required for the report can be obtained from either the machine, the operator, or a remote database. Once collected, this data can then be processed using software loaded onto the controller into report form so that the report contains all the required information.

Software on the controller begins the report making process by creating a report file for each product application job. Each report file contains a template having several empty report fields, similar to the uncompleted report shown in Figure 1. As data relating to a particular application job is collected, it is placed in the appropriate report field so that the end result is a completed report created entirely by the controller, rather than by an operator filling out the report by hand. While most of the data for the report 10 is collected on site, the report may be completed either on the vehicle, or at a remote location using a desktop computer. At either location, the software places the collected data in the appropriate report field to create the finished product application report.

In addition to the software, certain hardware is necessary to implement the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the hardware architecture used in automatically creating an application report. The report can either be generated on the vehicle or off the vehicle. It follows that there are both on vehicle components 50, and off vehicle components 52. The on board components 50 include a controller 54 with software 56, a display screen 58, data input device 60, and optionally a printer 62, all of which are typically located within the vehicle cab 64. Also on the vehicle 50 are certain components that are located outside the cab 64 of the vehicle, including sensors and actuators 66, a location system 68, and optionally a weather station 70 Off vehicle 52 components include a desktop computer 72 with accompanying software 74, a display 76, a linked database 78, a data input device 80, and optionally a printer 82 Also shown are application maps 84 and a modem 86, which can be used to transport data between the controller 54 and the desktop computer 72

Central in creating the product application report is the controller 54 One example of a suitable controller is the Falcon controller manufactured by AgChem Equipment Co Inc of Minnetonka, Minnesota The Falcon controller includes a 133 megahertz Pentium microcomputer with a 1 3 GB hard drive and 16MB of RAM. Loaded onto the memory of the controller 54 is the report making software 56 which may include databases required to allow the controller 54 to collect data for the application report The controller 54 has a display 58, such as a computer screen, which allows the operator to view the actions of the controller 54 as well as view the report data and any queries asking for data to be entered The controller 54 also has a data input device 60, such as a keyboard, keypad, or mouse, and may optionally have a printer 62 The display 58 and keypad and mouse 60 allow the user interface to be simple and uncomplicated, so that operators with a variety of educational backgrounds can easily use it The optional printer 62 allows an operator to print a completed report from the cab 64 of the vehicle

The software 56 processes the data collected by the controller 54 and incorporates the data in to the appropriate report fields on the report form template Part of the report making software 56 are databases for storing data which will aid in completing certain report fields on the product application reports An example of a database in software 56 is a product database containing product information and EPA number information The product database in software 56 can be updated from either map information, or information that is manually entered and edited by an operator Such a database is advantageous because when the type of product being applied is entered the controller can automatically determine the EPA number, active ingredients, or other information that may optionally be incorporated into the report using the database Other such databases may be necessary to allow the software 56 to store data which will be used in completing the report.

Outside the cab 64 are the location system 68, various sensors and actuators 66, and optionally a weather station 70 The optional weather station 70 is used to collect weather data which may affect the application of crop products, such as the temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction The location system 68 is typically a GPS system which is integrated with the controller 54 The location system 68 provides geographic information which can be used by the controller to not only apply crop products at desired locations, but which can also be used to record the location of variable rate application of crop products In addition, the sensors and actuators 66 are connected to the controller 54 to allow for instructions to be sent to the sensors/actuators 66, as well as for feedback data to be returned to the controller 54.

The controller 54, using the location system 68, the actuators/sensors 66, and optional weather station 70, collects and stores data forthe product application report Specifically, the controller 54 collects and electronically stores "as applied" data As applied data is a record of what was actually applied to the field and is generated after considering several factors, including the rate of crop product actually applied on a site by site basis, machine ground speed at each site, machine spread path width, differentially corrected GPS location, loss of the GPS signal, per product dispense delays, product flow rates, whether different products are dispensed from separate bins, or the same products are dispensed from separate bins, tendering delays, weather delays, or other delays causing a job suspend, operator overrides to the intended rate machine constraint warnings, and spray log information such as wind speed, direction, temperature, and ground conditions.

As applied data which is collected by the controller and is used to complete an application report includes the time and date; field location data when it is recorded in the form of longitude and latitude; product information relating to the rate the product was applied, the total amount of product applied, and the total area which was covered; application rate data relating to whether the application was done at a variable rate or a constant rate; and field image data including a field boundary image with an indication of the area in the field which was treated with a crop product. Though much of the data required for the application report comes from the as applied data collected by the controller, other data may be required to complete the product application report. To supplement the as applied data, data may need to be obtained from the operator. To do so, the software 56 may query the operator and electronically store the resulting inputs as part of the report. Such queries are visually displayed on the display screen 58 and the operator can enter the requested data using the keypad/mouse 60. For ease of use when collecting data from an operator, the software 56 interface may include several drop down menus allowing an operator to easily point and click on the appropriate response The options which the operator can choose from on the drop down menu are stored in an internal database as part of the software 56. To simplify things even further for the operator, it is possible for the software to save all previously entered strings of data. Thus, as the operator begins typing, the software searches the saved strings and displays all those that match in a drop down menu.

Data which may be completed by an operator, and thus may appear in a drop down menu, includes operator data, customer data, vehicle information relating to a description of the vehicle used, field location information when given in the form of a legal description, and the field data relating to the type of crop, its stage of growth, and soil conditions and texture. The operator may also enter weather information relating to wind speed and direction, the temperature, and humidity, may indicate whether the application rate is variable or constant, and may also enter information relating to the types of nozzles used by the applicator machine.

The operator may enter product information, such as the product name, its EPA registration number, and the maximum and minimum rate at which the product should be applied To aid in the process, the software can be programmed to link the EPA number to the product name, so that the operator need not separately enter the EPA number. In addition, the maximum and minimum rates of application can be linked to the product name and thus be filled in automatically by the software. Finally, the operator may enter comments relating to the application job.

Once all the required data has been collected from either the controller or from the operator, the software 56 on controller 54 processes the data and formats it so that it appears in the correct report field on the report template. The finished report is saved to a floppy disk by default, but may also be printed if the cab 64 contains a printer 62. In addition, the report can be sent via a modem 86 to an off vehicle site, such as a mapping center, for more permanent storage. Because there is limited memory space on the controller 54, the report data may be saved on the controller's 54 hard drive in an application record file. This file would input new files and delete the oldest files to maintain an acceptable file size. More specifically, there may be room for fifty files, and once a fifty-first job is performed, the data from the fifty-first job is saved over the data from the oldest file (the first file)

Product application reports may also be created off the vehicle. Off vehicle components 52 used in creating the report are very similar to the on board components 50. Off vehicle components 52 include a desktop computer 72 with associated display 76, typically a computer monitor, and data input devices 80, typically a keyboard and mouse Unlike the cab 64, the desktop computer 72 is very likely to have an attached printer 82 Just as the controller 54 is central to creating a report on the vehicle, the desktop computer 72 is central to creating the report when done off the vehicle

Report making software 74 is loaded on the desktop computer 72, making it possible to process data collected by the controller 54 into report form The majority of data for the report is collected on the vehicle 50 by either the controller 54 or from the operator and is saved, preferably to a floppy disk, by the controller 54 Once collected, the data is transferred from the controller 54 to the desktop computer 72, usually by physically transporting a disk from the vehicle to an off site location with a desktop computer 72 Other options may include using a modem based communication link 86 to email the data from the controller 54 to the computer 72.

Once the data is at the desktop computer 72, a person completing the report is able to view the report template and any data on the display screen 76 using the report software 74 The person can also input data using the keyboard and mouse 80. Data from a remote database 78 may also be used in creating the report The remote database 78 may be linked to the desktop computer 72 so that the data can be automatically linked to the correct report field in the report template. Once all the required data has been obtained, the report is created using the software 74 on the desktop computer 72 In a preferred embodiment, the desktop computer 72 is located at a mapping center which creates the application maps 84 used by the controller 54 Using computers 72 located at mapping centers is particularly convenient because the computers 72 often will already contain some of the data necessary to complete the report as well as compatible software One example of a software package available to mapping centers for creating application maps on a desktop computer 72 is SGIS, which is available from AgChem Equipment Co , Inc of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Desktop computers 72 used for the SGIS mapping package are recommended to be 300 megahertz Pentium computers, running Windows 95 and having 64 megabytes of RAM, and a 3 gigabyte hard drive, at a minimum. The SGIS mapping software converts agricultural data into geo-referenced maps and creates site specific product application maps for use with a Falcon control system. In creating the maps, data from a variety of sources (soil tests, soil surveys, crop yields, as applied maps) is input through the SGIS software. In much the same way, as applied and operator data collected by the controller 54 can be input through SGIS and used in connection with the inventive software 74 to create product application reports.

The report can be printed on the associated printer 80 as well as stored on the desktop computer's 72 hard drive. Since the desktop computer 72 has much more memory than an on board controller 54, more data can be stored on the desktop computer 72 and there are no limits as to the number of application jobs which can be stored. For instance, one option would be to use a file in SGIS to store the completed reports for seven years, while the application data would be saved in a file with limited space.

The operator has the option of editing the report so that certain data appearing in the report fields is not the data collected by the controller 54. Editing can occur both when the report is created on the vehicle and when the report is created at a desktop computer 72 off the vehicle. Should the person creating the report override the data obtained by the controller 54, the report may indicate this fact by marking the affected data field with an asterisk once the report is printed. Data which may need to be entered or edited by the report maker at either the Falcon controller or the mapping center includes weather information, customer information, operator information, vehicle information, nozzle information, product information, the field location information, and any comments made in the comment area. Allowing the report to be made at a mapping center is desirable because it does not require the operator of the vehicle to spend time filling out reports when the operator's time is better spent applying crop products. In addition, it is more convenient and safe for data to be entered or edited at a desktop computer, rather than a cab of a vehicle. The digital copies of the report files can easily be digitally archived by storing them in a database, or even by saving the files to a floppy disk or compact disk. Finally, it is easier to have a printer connected to a desktop computer, than trying to equip a vehicle cab, with limited space and exposure to dirt and other field conditions, with a printer.

To more clearly set out the method of automatically generating a product application report, Figures 3 and 4 illustrate methods for creating a product application report at the controller and at the mapping center, respectively. Figure 3 is a flow diagram 90 illustrating a method for creating a product application report on the vehicle using the controller. The method begins with the first step 92 of loading the software onto the on board computer or controller. When the software is loaded onto the controller, it may be necessary to enter relevant data that will be required by the software to creating the report. Preferably, all vehicle information not available to be pulled up from the Falcon controller should be entered upon initial installation of the software by the customer.

For instance, certain machine parameters may need to be inputted as the software is loaded onto the controller. Machine parameters include such items as the type of vehicle used, the type of crop product applicator equipment carried or towed by the vehicle (spreaders, spray booms, planters, toolbars, etc.), information related to the dispensing points on the vehicle, such as the pressure in an air boom, nozzle size, and spacing of the dispensing points. If not entered upon the initial installation of the report making software, machine parameters may be entered by the operator at each start up of the vehicle.

Also done at each start up of the vehicle, (i e before every application job) is the selection of the desired report layout After the layout is selected, the report is an empty template with several report fields which are ready to be filled with the appropriate data

In the second step 94, the controller collects and electronically stores product application data as the vehicle applies crop products. For instance, as applied data, including time and date data, latitude and longitude of a corner of the field, a field image, and data relating to the amount of products applied and the area to which they are applied, is collected by the controller and associated sensors and actuators and is electronically stored. Data my also be collected from application maps, the locator system, an optional weather station, sensors, or a database housed in the controller (such as one containing machine parameters).

The third step 96 involves collecting data from the vehicle operator. This data collection may be in the form of drop down menus shown on a computer screen allowing the operator to use a mouse to make selections, or by having the operator simply key in the requested information using a standard keyboard or touchpad. Though several types of data can be collected by querying the operator, it is preferred that most data is collected by the controller and only a minimal amount of data be left to be obtained from the operator. The type of information that may be gained by querying the operator includes the operator's name and license number. Other information may be weather information, crop and soil information, a vehicle description, nozzle information, product name and optionally its EPA number, and certain location information (e.g. the type of adjoining crops, the legal description of the plot of land being spread) The operator may likewise be responsible for the entering customer name and address Finally, the operator may enter any comments relating to the application job

The fourth step 98 in completing the report is optionally to query a database for certain other data The database may be a remote database accessible by modem An example of data that may be collected from a remote database is certain weather information Another example of data collected from a remote database may be any restrictions related to the piece of land being spread, such as the correct reentry interval, whether there is any feeding or grazing done on that property, or whether there are wetlands

The fifth step 100 is to process the stored data and place the data into the appropriate report fields on the report template Some report fields may be filled with data which requires little or no processing, while other report fields may use information which is generated based on other collected data For instance, the field image field may be completed with a map that has been generated by the controller using product application rate data and location data collected from the GPS Because the controller functions are needed when the controller is operational, i e when the vehicle is applying crop product, the report is generated only when the controller is in standby mode rather than operate mode

Once the report is created, the sixth step 102 is to save the completed report to disk It may also be possible to print the report, download the report to a floppy disk or send the report to a database located off the vehicle for archival In printing the report, the controller may have an attached printer in the cab in the vehicle When no printer is available the report can be downloaded to a disk for easy transport to a storage site, such as a mapping center, where the report can eventually be printed Or, the controller may be equipped with a modem, which allows the completed report to be e-mailed to a mapping center for printing or storage In an alternate embodiment, the report is generated at a mapping center, or other location remote from the vehicle Figure 4 is a flow diagram 105 illustrating the method of creating an application report at a remote site The first step 110 is to load the necessary software onto both the vehicle s controller and a desktop computer located off the vehicle Loading the software onto the vehicle's controller may also require the operator to enter certain data relating to the vehicle, such as the type of machine, the type of applicator used by the machine to apply products and equipment carried by the vehicle In addition, information relating to the dispensing points, such as the pressure in an air boom, the nozzle size, and the spacing of the nozzles may be entered In short, any vehicle information not available to be pulled up from the controller should be entered upon initial installation of the program onto the controller by the customer Loading the software onto a desktop computer may also require that databases be created or linked to the desktop computer to allow the report making software to extract the necessary data from them

In the second step 112, the controller collects and stores crop product application data This step varies little from the same step in the method described above in conjunction with Figure 3 The controller collects data from several places, application maps, as applied maps, GPS locators, weather stations, sensors/actuators, and databases located on the controller Typically, product application data includes as applied data, including time and date data, latitude and longitude of a comer of the field a field image, and data relating to the amount of products applied and the area to which they are applied, and other such data

The third step 1 14 involves collecting data from the vehicle operator upon the opening and closing of the application job Once again, this is done in a similar manner as that disclosed above To aid the operator, the information requested is preferably in the form of drop down menus from which the operator can select the desired response Or, the operator may be able to simply key in the required data using a keypad or keyboard

Information typically gained from the operator is the operator's name and license number Other information may be weather information, crop and soil information, a vehicle description, nozzle information, product name and optionally its EPA number, and certain location information (e g the type of adjoining crops, the legal description of the plot of land being spread) The operator may likewise be responsible for the entering customer name and address Finally, the operator may enter any comments relating to the application job

The next step 116 is to save the data to a portable medium, such as a floppy disk The disk is then transported to a desktop computer in the fifth step 1 18 Once the disk is at the desktop computer, if the applicator machine operator failed to complete any information, it is possible for that information to be completed by the personnel creating the report at the desktop computer

In the sixth step 120, any remaining data is collected from databases located off the vehicle For instance, weather data may be obtained from a weather database linked to the desktop computer The seventh step 122 is to create the product application report In creating the report, a desired report layout is chosen The collected data is then placed in the appropriate report fields in the template to create the finished product application report The data may be processed at the desktop computer to allow the data to be placed in the report fields in the desired format A minimal amount of data processing may also occur on the controller before the data is transported via disk Finally, in the eighth step 124, the completed product application report is electronically saved and preferably printed to create a hard copy

A major benefit of creating the product application reports using computer software is that a digital copy results Digital copies are much easier to manage and, unlike paper copies, do not require physical storage space or filing expertise One option for archiving the product application reports is to save the reports in the SGIS database for as long as is practical or may be required.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention

Claims

CLAIM(S):

1. A method for collecting, storing, generating field and crop activity reports, the method comprising: collecting and electronically storing associated crop production functions and application data from a controller device affixed to a field machine as it performs any crop product activity, including planting, seeding, crop input application processes, harvesting, and tillage; and creating an operating or application report from any one or more of the products or environmental or machine and application data.

2. A method for collecting, storing, and generating a field and crop activity report, the method comprising: collecting and electronically stoπng associated crop production functions, application data, and machine data via a controller located on a field machine as the machine applies crop products, and creating the field and crop activity report from any one or more of the crop production functions, application data, and machine data.

3. The method of claim 2 and further comprising collecting and storing operator data from a crop product applicator operator, and wherein creating the field and crop activity report includes using the operator data.

4. The method of claim 3 and furthercomprising providing an indication on the field and crop activity report after the operator changes data collected by the controller. 5. The method of claim 2 and further comprising collecting and storing supplemental data, such as environmental and condition data, from a database, and wherein creating the field and crop activity report includes using the supplemental data

6 The method of claim 2 and further comprising printing the field and crop activity report 7 The method of claim 2 and further comprising digitally storing the field and crop activity report

8 The method of claim 2 wherein the crop production functions, application data, and machine data comprise a field image showing a field boundary and a location of crop products applied within the field boundary

9 The method of claim 2 wherein creating the field and crop activity report includes generating a map of a geographic area covered by the field machine

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the map indicates a location, amount, and type of crop product applied over the geographic area covered by the field machine

1 1 The method of claim 2 wherein the crop production functions, application data, and machine data comprises as applied data 12 A method for automatically generating crop product application reports for a crop product applicator, the method comprising collecting and electronically storing crop product application data as the crop product applicator applies crop products, collecting and electronically storing operator data from an operator of the crop product applicator, and formatting the product application data and operator data into an application report

13 The method of claim 12 and furthercomprising printing the application report

14 The method of claim 12 and further comprising digitally storing the application report

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the product application data is collected by a controller on the crop product applicator.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein formatting the product application data and operator data into an application report includes generating a map of a geographic area covered by the applicator.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the map indicates a location, amount, and type of crop product applied over the geographic area covered by the applicator.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the product application report is created on a desktop computer

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the product application data comprises a field image showing a field boundary and a location of crop products applied within the field boundary.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the product application data comprises as applied data.

21 . The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises vehicle information.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises field condition data. 23. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises field location data.

24. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises customer data.

25. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises weather data.

26. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises product information data

27. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises operator data. 28. The method of claim 12 wherein the operator data comprises operator comments.

29. The method of claim 12 and further comprising collectiog and storing supplemental data from a database and creating an application report using the supplemental data.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the supplemental data comprises weather condition data.

31. The method of claim 12 and further comprising indicating report data created after the operator changes product application data collected by the variable rate applicator.

32. A method for automatically generating a crop product application report for a vaoable rate applicator, the method comprising: providing a digitized product application report form having a plurality of report fields; collecting and electronically storing product application data from a crop product applicator controller for use in the report; displaying the form to a crop product applicator operator on a display device; collecting and electronically storing operator data from the operator for use in the report; inserting the product application data and operator data into the report fields; and electronically saving the finished report form.

33. The method of claim 32 and furthercomprising printing the finished report form. 34. The method of claim 32 wherein the product application data comprises a field image showing a field boundary and a location of crop products applied within the field boundary.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein the product application data comprises as applied data. 36. The method of claim 32 and further comprising providing an indication of a change to a report field which is based on product application data