Method and system of evaluating performance of a crop

• US 6,999,877 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Muehlbach, George Bailey, Halterman, Jerry Ray, Hunner, Gerhard Josef, Dyer, James Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): MCELHENY JR, DONALD E
• Application Number:
  US10/744,418
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 702/2, 702/3, 702/5, 701/50, 705/1, 705 7- 10
• US Class Current: 702/5
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining

Abstract

A method and system for evaluating crop performance obtains weather data for defined geographic locations within a geographic area. Historic soil data is obtained for the defined geographic locations within a geographic area. Historic yield data is obtained for the defined geographic area for a representative crop. Predictive data nodes are determined based on at least one of the obtained weather data, the historic soil data, and the historic yield data. Each node is associated with a certain range of average yields for a particular crop.

Claims

1. A method for determining a performance of a crop, the method comprising:

obtaining weather data based on weather sensor measurements for defined geographic locations within a geographic area;

obtaining historic soil data based on soil characteristic sensor measurements for the defined geographic locations within a geographic area;

obtaining historic yield data based on performance sensor measurements for the defined geographic area for a representative crop;

generating predictive data nodes based on at least one of the obtained weather data, the historic soil data, and the historic yield data;

each node being associated with a certain range of average yields for a particular crop; and

establishing, for presentation to a user, a defined zone or defined contour associated with the certain range of average yields for the particular crop within the geographic area.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the weather data comprises historical weather data.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the weather data comprises historical weather data from National Oceanic Agency and Administration (NOAA).

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the soil data comprises a plurality of soil factors associated with the Soil Rating for Plant Growth (SRPG) soil model.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the soil data comprises soil measurements associated with defined geographic locations.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the nodes are generated based on yield data for a derivative product of the crop.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the nodes are generated based on yield data for a baked good derived from the crop.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

milling the crop to produce a flour wherein the composition of the flour is selected to maximize a yield of a baked good derived from the crop.

9. A method of marketing a product, the method comprising the step of:

obtaining at least one of weather data, soil data, and yield data based on sensor measurements in different corresponding geographic regions;

establishing a database of performance data versus location data on an agricultural crop or a precursor thereof based on the obtained weather data, soil data, and yield data, the performance data versus location data expressed as a defined zone or defined contour associated with a respective range of average yields for the agricultural crop within at least one of the geographic regions;

associating marketing data with the database, wherein the marketing data comprises at least one of demographic data, customer data, historic sales data, census data, and publicly available governmental data; and

defining a marketing plan for the product based on integrated data of the database and the marketing data.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the database contains the performance data, the location data, and environmental data associated with an agricultural crop.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the database contains performance data, location data, environmental data, and genetic data associated with the agricultural crop.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the associating comprises integrating the database and the marketing data to form integrated data, the marketing data having corresponding geographic information being correlated to, or matched with, the location data to align and integrate the marketing data and the performance data.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein the defining comprises defining a market by a preferential list of one or more customers selected based on the integrated data.

14. The method according to claim 9 wherein the defining comprises defining a market size and/or market location selected based on the integrated data.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein the defining comprises identifying a market plan by a product identifier associated with a preferential crop variety for a corresponding geographic location based on the integrated data.

16. The method according to claim 9 wherein the defining comprises defining a product identifier associated with a preferential genetically modified crop for a corresponding geographic location based on the integrated data.

17. The method according to claim 9 wherein defining the marketing plan comprises compiling a list of customer data based on a defined geographic area in which the product possesses or exceeds a target level of performance.

18. The method according to claim 9 wherein defining the marketing plan comprises providing an image of fields wherein spatial areas or points of the image are associated with a list of one or more preferential products that are suited to the environmental characteristics associated with the spatial areas or points.