On the eve of the 2012 Farm Progress Show, the media was invited to Monsanto’s Huxley, Iowa facility for a sneak preview of FieldScripts, the company’s first product from the Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) platform.

Monsanto IFS commercial lead John Raines says FieldScripts will deliver two things for farmers. “A variable rate corn hybrid prescription in that field, as well as the very best hybrid matched with that prescription for that field,” he said. Farmers in four Midwestern states will participate in Monsanto’s Ground Breakers testing program for FieldScripts next year and then it will be launched on a limited basis in 2014. “It will be launched on the DEKALB brand in the initial phase in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana.”

Listen to my interview with John here: Monsanto's John Raines

Monsanto has been testing FieldScripts for over two years with some growers, including Kip Tom of Indiana, who talked about his experience using the product. “They built it so it can be used across multiple equipment platforms very easily,” Kip told me. “This new technology of using the iPad and getting it wirelessly is really going to make it easy for the producer to use.”

“The greatest benefit is the additional yield we get,” Kip said. “We’re trying to get every bushel we can out of an acre. At the end of the day, we need to drive more yield home to benefit global consumers and put more money to our bottom line.”

Listen to my interview with Kip about FieldScripts here: Indiana farmer Kip Tom