Variable Rate Seeding FAQ
GENERAL
Q: What crops can I build Variable Rate Seeding (VRS) recommendations for?
A: Corn and soybeans (Grain Only)
Q: Can I roll a VRS recommendation from one year to the next in Granular Insights?
A: No, you do not have the capability to roll recommendations from the previous year to the current year. However, you can go back and review last year's recommendations and export it from the year you want it from.
Q: Can I lock my recommendation?
A: Not currently, though we’re continuing to investigate options.
Q: Does VRS support multiple harvest activities?
A: VRS does not support a field with two harvest activities or silage commodity yield goals. A single harvest activity is created, and a grain yield goal is used for VRS.
Q: Can I create a VRS recommendation for an irrigated field?
A: Yes. Learn more on how to add an irrigated layer for a decision zone.
VARIETY INFORMATION
Q: How do I view and edit all economic & agronomic inputs per variety?
A: When an operational variety is added in VRS, edits can be made to the variety settings, including economic and agronomic settings. In the Variety panel, edits can be made to each variety.
To try new settings without making permanent changes to your varieties, edits can be made in the modal that opens when Run VRS is selected. These are single time edits.
Q: If I change the primary product on the VRS page, will that change the previously planned product on the Field Plans page?
A: Yes, if the primary product was changed In the VRS page, you will see that change implemented in the Field Plans tab.
Q: How do I ensure all varieties planned for an operation receive a Variable Rate Seeding recommendation?
A: You must check the “Include Backup Plans” box and either use the default settings or manually adjust settings per variety in the VRS Settings Review page. Learn more about generating a Variable Rate Seeding (VRS) recommendation.
Q: How do we reset varieties to their default values?
A: To reset a variety, delete the variety from the operation and when added back, the original values should be restored.
YIELD INFORMATION
Q: Why are all my recommendation rates showing as flat rate?
A: If the min/max rate range for a variety are too narrow and yield goals are not variable, it will result is a “flat” recommendation.
A: If you are only getting flat rate recommendations, it means that the Only generate flat rate recommendations under Smart Defaults is set to on.
Q: How are the min and max yield goals calculated when adding an operational variety?
A: There are different ways this data is calculated based on crop and available data. For corn varieties where we understand base genetic performance we have data that comes from our research team to inform the min yield goal, max yield goal, minimum rate, and maximum rate for corn. For varieties where base genetics are unknown, we move to a CRM based calculation.
For soybeans, min/max yield goals are not entered. We use min/max seeding rates and a local standard seeding rate that is manually entered. A higher seeding rate will be applied to lower yielding areas in the field. Lower seeding rates will be applied to higher yielding areas.
EDITING
Q: Can I add check blocks (strip trials) to a Variable Rate Seeding zone?
A: Yes. Learn more on how to add check blocks to a VRS zone.
Q: My decision zone boundary is not updated under VRS?
A: We make a conscious decision to not update the Decision Zone Sets for a field until the user makes the update themselves.
Q: What types of edits made in Field Layers will be available in VRS?
A: Currently, cleaning and geospatial edits made to a layer will update a Decision Zone set.
Q: What types of edits to decision zones are supported for VRS?
A: Edits to decision zones using the mapping tools (drawing and modify) are supported and should update the Zone Set. Unsupported workflows include merging the layer with other layers. We will work in the future to integrate these solutions.
Q: If I check the box to rerun VRS across an operation that uses this variety, will that override edits I've made to fields with that variety?
A: Yes, clicking the checkbox next to “Rerun VRS across operation that uses this variety” and then clicking “Save” will rerun that variety across all fields and overwrite any edits that were made.
EXPORTS
Q: Can we export variety locator files with VRS?
A: Currently, we do not support Variety Locator files. Granular Insights can export seeding recommendation files and shapefile boundary files.
Q: Can I export setup cards?
A: Granular Insights does not have a setup card export option. The boundaries from an operation can be exported and your local equipment dealer can help create setup files.
Q: Can I export a recommendation for my air seeders and convert from sds/ac to lb/ac?
A: Yes, a recommendation can be exported from the VRS tab. Learn more on how to export a Variable Rate Seeding (VRS) recommendation.
Q: Can I export primary varieties only?
A: Yes, you can toggle “Only export primary varieties” to “on”. This will make it so that only have the primary product Is exported for each field.
REPORTS
Q: Where does the Summary Report Download too?
A: In the Downloads tab. Click the menu and select Download Summary Report. Note that it may take a few minutes for the reports to be available in the Downloads tab.
Q: Can I generate a Seed Placement Summary, Farm & Field Proposal and/or Map Based Planting Plan using my flat rate field plan after I create a VRS recommendation?
A: No, once a VRS recommendation has been created, the recommendation is the primary planned activity on the field. When you try to run a planning report the report will only show the primary VRS activity, and all reports will be based on that VRS activity. Original flat rate planned products are still attached to the field but will not show on the report.
FIELD LAYERS/DECISION ZONES
Q: What is a Yield Predict Zone?
A: Yield Predict Zones are a zone set created based on remote sensing imagery, terrain, weather, and using a yield prediction model to create productivity zone set for a field for a given crop.
Q: What is a Multi-Year Yield Analysis or MYYA?
A: MYYA uses multiple years of yield data to analyze the overall productivity of a field. The output of this process is a layer with different polygons describing the productivity, with another layer providing a numeric index of how productive each area is relative to the others. Ultimately, this layer is used to help set yield goals and drive seeding rate recommendations in VRS.
Multi-Year Yield Analysis is created by reviewing the variability in yield across a field. That data is two parts, a polygon and under that polygon a raster of numbers. The raster inside the polygon informs the productivity index for the polygon and this information informs the variability of the yield goals for a zone set.
Q: Why is my decision zone not rolling over from the previous year?
A: The requirement to be able to roll decision zones from the previous year is that the fields must have the same crop assignment.
Q: Where is Yield Predict available?
A: Yield Predict is available in the tiled coverage areas in the United States and Canada.
CONNECTIONS
Q: If I have a John Deere Connection, can I send my recommendations to the John Deere Operations Center?
A: Yes. Learn more on how to send a recommendation to the John Deere Operations Center through a connection.
Q: If I have an Ag Leader connection, can I send my recommendations to Agfiniti?
A: No, not at this time. If this would be of value to you, please contact our Granular Support at digitalagsupport@corteva.com to request this enhancement.