Method of optimally producing and harvesting agricultural products

• US 20060025927A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: Hoskinson, Reed L., Hess, J. Richard, Rope, Ronald C., Lee, Randy D., Fink, Raymond K.
• Application Number:
  US10/901,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20060025927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture

Abstract

A method of optimally producing and harvesting agricultural products is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method may include identifying a first crop component, such as grain, and at least a second crop component, which may include a biomass component such as straw. At least one fact is obtained for each of the identified crop components and the facts are analyzed to determine a recipe for application to the agricultural crop. The recipe may include a fertilizing recipe, an irrigation recipe, a recipe for the application of pesticide, or for some other activity. The recipe may be devised to enhance one or all of the identified plant components depending, for example, on current or economical markets associated with each identified plant component.

Claims

1. A method of producing and harvesting an agricultural crop, the method comprising:

identifying a first crop component for potential production and harvesting;

identifying at least a second crop component for potential production and harvesting;

analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component; and

selectively optimizing the production of the first crop component and the at least a second crop component based on the analysis by determining a recipe for application to the agricultural crop.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identifying a first crop component includes identifying a grain component of the crop and wherein the identifying at least a second crop component includes identifying a biomass component of the crop.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component includes analyzing a current market price of the grain component and a current market price of the biomass component.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component includes analyzing a predicted market price of the grain component and a predicted market price of the biomass component.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein determining a recipe includes determining a fertilizer recipe for application to the agricultural crop.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the determining includes determining an irrigation recipe for application to the agricultural crop.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

updating the at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component;

updating the at least one fact related to the production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component;

analyzing the at least one update fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and the at least one updated fact related to the production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component; and

updating the recipe for application to the agricultural crop.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component includes generating the at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component from at least one historical statement.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component further includes generating the at least one fact related to the production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component from the at least one historical statement.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component further includes generating the at least one fact related to the production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component from at least one other historical statement.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one historical statement includes information relating to a specific site of an agricultural field associated with the agricultural crop.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component further includes generating the at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component from at least one current statement in conjunction with the at least one historical statement.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component includes generating the at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component from at least one current statement.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component further includes generating the at least one fact related to the production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component from the at least one current statement.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the analyzing at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the first crop component and at least one fact related to production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component further includes generating the at least one fact related to the production and harvesting of the at least a second crop component from at least one other current statement.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one historical statement includes information relating to a specific site of an agricultural field associated with the agricultural crop.

17. A method of producing and harvesting an agricultural crop, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one fact related to a first component of the crop;

preparing a first analysis regarding whether a defined action associated with the at least one fact related to the first component may be executed;

obtaining at least one fact related to a second component of the crop;

preparing a second analysis regarding whether a defined action associated with the at least one fact related to the second component may be executed;

comparing the first analysis with the second analysis; and

determining an action to be taken with respect to the agricultural crop based on the comparing the first analysis with the second analysis.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the obtaining at least one fact related to a first component of the crop includes obtaining at least one fact related to a grain component of the crop and wherein the obtaining at least one fact related to a second component of the crop includes obtaining at least one fact related to a biomass component of the crop.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the determining an action to be taken with respect to the agricultural crop based on the comparing the first analysis with the second analysis includes providing a recipe to enhance production of the first component of the crop.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the providing a recipe includes providing a fertilizer recipe.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the providing a recipe includes providing an irrigation recipe.

22. A method of producing and harvesting an agricultural crop, the method comprising:

obtaining at least one fact related to a grain component of the crop;

obtaining at least one fact related to a biomass component of the crop;

determining a fertilizing recipe based on a comparison of the at least one fact related to the grain component of the crop and the at least one fact related to the biomass component of the crop; and

executing the fertilizing recipe.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

updating the at least one fact related to a grain component of the crop;

updating the at least one fact related to a biomass component of the crop;

updating the fertilizing recipe based on a comparison of the at least one updated fact related to the grain component of the crop and the at least one updated fact related to the biomass component of the crop; and

executing the updated fertilizing recipe.

24. The method according to claim 22, further comprising determining an irrigation recipe based on a comparison of the at least one fact related to the grain component of the crop and the at least one fact related to the biomass component of the crop and executing the irrigation recipe.