The Peanut Yield Monitoring System

The most essential component of precision farming is the yield monitor, a sensor or group of sensors installed on harvesting equipment that dynamically measure spatial yield variability. Yield maps, which are produced using data from yield monitors, are extremely useful in providing the farmer a color-coded visual image clearly showing the variability of yield across a field. University of Georgia scientists recently completed development work on PYMS, the Peanut Yield Monitoring System. PYMS uses load cells for instantaneous load measurements of harvested peanuts and has proven to be accurate to between 2% and 3% on a trailer-load basis and to approximately 1% on a field basis when using data collected during combine operation. PYMS data are accurate to around 1% on a basket-load basis when using data collected under static conditions. The instantaneous accuracy of PYMS was calculated to be 700 kg/ha. Basing management decisions on the yield of individual pixels of PYMS yield maps is not realistic. The strength of PYMS is in differentiating yield trends and evaluating management practices. The system was extensively and successfully field-tested over a 3-year period and evaluated by 11 users during 1999, all of whom were able to use the resulting yield maps to evaluate current management practices or to develop future management plans. The University of Georgia has submitted a patent application for PYMS, and the technology has been licensed. A commercially available version of PYMS is now on the market.