The only farmer-run data co-op in the USA has unveiled a new suite of ag tech offerings, which it says will help growers improve operations at all levels.
GiSC (Grower Information Services Cooperative) offers a secure platform for member farmers to capture, store and optimise their operational and yield data.
Its repository of anonymous member data from across the country is continually refreshed, aggregated and analysed to produce relevant insights for growers.
The co-op also works with IBM and Main Street Data to give members access to advanced weather and data analytic capabilities, and data tools for benchmarking and operational insights.
GiSC chief executive Billy Tiller said: “Our goal is to provide for growers the obvious benefits of ag technology in a way that protects their interests. Our platform gives them security and control over their intellectual property – farm operation data – while also allowing them to realise the value of operational benchmarks and insights, and the latest in ag data analytics.”
A new series of data tools from Main Street Data includes the Validator, which allows GiSC members to make sure their farming practice decisions meet their production goals. It is the first broadly based independent data tool allows them to see, at subfield-level, any gaps between yield potential and actual yields. It also provides performance comparison to others farming under similar conditions.
This tool is operational in corn and soybeans, with other crops available for benchmarking in the near future.
“The Validator is the first in the set of grower-centric tools we plan to deliver,” said Ron LeMay, chief executive of Main Street Data. “Our goal in this collaboration is to serve as the farmers’ advocate, an independent resource of data and data science solutions to address the issues they face and allow them to leverage opportunities to improve their productivity, profitability and sustainability.”
Mr Tiller added: “The Validator Preview is an additional benefit from Main Street Data that shows its commitment to bring data science to the field with real world examples of the benefits. It’s like a test drive to help a grower understand what is possible.”
Membership in GiSC is available for $500 annually. The annual membership fee carries a prorated money-back guarantee and the MSD Validator carries a full money-back guarantee with the only condition being the member provide the reason for the refund request so the feedback can be used for product or operational improvement.
