Family farms have been at the heart of rural France for generations, nourishing communities with healthy food while safeguarding agricultural traditions and local identity. As the agricultural landscape evolves with technological advancements and market uncertainties, these family farms face unique challenges in maintaining their viability and profitability. With the advent of autosteering technologies like those from FJDynamics, they are changing their age-old farming practices and thriving in today's agricultural world.
The Inheritance of Family Farm
Antonin Bonnart, a 19-year-old farmer, works alongside his father on their family farm in the scenic Marne region of France. This beautiful area, known for its rolling hills and lush vineyards, serves as the perfect backdrop for their farming endeavors generation after generation.After completing his studies at an agricultural high school, Annotin joined his father in managing the family's farming business. Trained in agricultural sciences and mentored by his father, he began his agricultural career, which was not just a continuation of a legacy but also a chance for him to contribute new ideas and modern techniques to improve their operations.
"I enjoy this job because it allows me to touch the land and always be outside. Working with family, our boss is the sky, it's what guides us," said Antonin, talking about why he chose to engage in farming. "I love my job, and if I had to change, I don't know what I would do."
At their 93-hectare family farm, they grow typical crops found in the famous Champagne region. Among these are spring barley, wheat, rapeseed, sugar beets, corn, and alfalfa. These crops represent the essence of their farming operations and reflect the agricultural heritage of the Champagne region.
Progress Over Time
Antonin has been following the development of technology for several years. When considering purchasing a guidance system, he wants to make it a long-term investment. He envisions the guidance system being utilized in every aspect of his family farms, enhancing efficiency and productivity across the board.He gets to know the brand of FJDynamics through Alex de la Vienne, an internet influencer who always shares his farming ideas on social media platforms. Antonin reached out to the FJD's authorized distributor in his region and decided to give its autosteering systems a try.
"I had already used an auto-guidance system before buying one from FJDynamics. Because at the place where I worked before, they had one. So I already knew the principle of how an auto-guidance system works, it is not a completely new experience for me." explained Antonin. "For me, it's just a matter of getting used to a new brand and software."
"But the main reason for our purchase is the comfort of work, I must say so. It's much less tiring at the end of the day," Antonin continued. They purchased the FJD AT1 Autosteering Kits previously and were pleased with the systems' efficiency. To ensure compatibility with their old Fiat 100-90 and Deutz-Fahr 6150 tractors, they have upgraded the two AT1 systems to the more advanced AT2 systems.
"The family farm has been around for many generations. I couldn't tell you the name, but it's been a very long time. And from father to son each time, the evolution is still huge," said Antonin excitedly. "Because in just a few decades or more, we went from working with horses to now having air-conditioned tractors with auto-guidance. If my great-grandfather saw this, he wouldn't believe us."
Why Choose FJD Autosteering Systems?
Antonin understood that choosing the right technology is crucial; it should not only solve the immediate needs of the farm but also adapt to meet future demands. The FJD autosteering technology represents a breakthrough in precision agriculture, offering them transformative tools to enhance their farming practices.No Signal Loss
Antonin found that both the FJD AT1 and AT2 systems could guide tractors with almost the same accuracy as they all utilize advanced GNSS (including GPS) satellite technology for precise navigation. "But the AT2 has a more comfortable terminal, the software is much easier to use. And the AT2 only requires one antenna instead of two, greatly reducing the complexity of wiring. Overall, the AT2 is much better than the AT1," said Antonin, referring to the difference of the AT1 and AT2.In a large plain of the great Champagne region, there are no large obstacles like trees and big hills on Antonin's farm. However, they still have some small fields in the woods that may affect the satellite signal of an autosteering system. "But this is not a problem with the AT2, we never lose the signal even when we pass along the trees. The navigation accuracy has always been perfect even with trees, so we never worry about this signal problem."
Consistent Accuracy
When Antonin talked about his experience regarding the system's accuracy, he gave a specific example that showed the technology's effectiveness. He pointed towards a field of rapeseed that had been planted with a 12-row Monosem planter one week ago. The FJD AT2 ensured that the seeds were sown with remarkable consistency, helping the planter maintain an even spacing of 45 centimeters between each row.As for diagonal plowing, Antonin was also impressed by AT2's reliable precision in lines. "Since the field has already been plowed once, diagonally in the other direction there. So it makes a cross, the tractor takes a few bumps and vibrations. But even with that, we only had 0.001 sometimes 0.002 in deviation within the range of 2cm. It's tolerable, especially for work like this. Precision maintaining in line is great, there's nothing to say about it."