It is hard to believe that the AgWired App has been out for over a year! And the company staking an immediate sponsorship claim was and still is Raven, Precision Simplified. In this week’s program we’re going to learn that Raven has just “Simplified” their website and sees social media as a great opportunity to engage with their customers.
I spoke with Paul Welbig, Director of Marketing and Slingshot Operations this morning. He says that as it relates to information, reaching customers and new technology, the sponsorship of our smartphone application fit right in with Raven’s strategy moving forward, “We thought it was a great avenue to communicate with customers through that venue because a lot of those customers using those types of tools are also going to be customers using Raven and the Slingshot solution in the future.” When it comes to social media Paul says Raven has ample evidence that it is helping them engage with their customers, “That’s what it’s all about is making those connections and really helping support those folks as well.” He says Raven actively watches their social media channels and responds quickly to their customers.
When it comes to the new Raven website Paul says they’ve included a brand new section that provides technical help which you can find at RavenHelp.com. The company is also running a promotion right now where farmers can enter to win a complete RTK system that includes: Cruizer II™ guidance with sub-inch RTK accuracy — delivered by Slingshot® via wireless networks. The company will be exhibiting at a majority of the winter farm shows if you need to see them in person. You can find their schedule here.
Listen to my conversation with Paul in this week’s ZimmCast and learn more about what’s going on with Raven: Raven Simplified
Thanks to our ZimmCast sponsor, GROWMARK, locally owned, globally strong, for their support.
This week’s program ends with a song called “Raven” by Mark Shepard from Music Alley. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for listening.
The ZimmCast is the official weekly podcast of AgWired. Subscribe so you can listen when and where you want. Just go to our Subscribe page.
Raven Industries is already getting great response from growers with the new OmniSeed Advanced Air Seeder Control System they just introduced last week.
Raven’s Ryan Molitor says the system provides growers with more reliability, efficiency and control. “OmniSeed allows for variable rate technology, it’s a very scalable system with a lot of unique features on it that we think are going to be pretty popular in the air seeder market,” Ryan told me in an interview. The system consists of various components, including the Viper Pro Field Computer which Ryan says is the brains of the system, and Run Blockage powered by AgTron.
Ryan says the system is surprisingly simple to set up and easy to use. “And we have a vast dealer network throughout the world that is trained up and ready to service and support at point of sale and after,” he said.
Listen to my interview with Ryan here: Raven OmniSeed System
Raven Industries is a proud supporter of the Agwired app for iPhone and Droid. Don’t have it yet? Join the hundreds who do today and get Agwired, PrecisionPays, WorldDairyDiary and DomesticFuel news fast and easy on your smart phone! Click here.
NovAtel Inc., and Raven Industries are pleased to announce a new strategic partnership that will see NovAtel’s industry leading Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning technology integrated into Raven’s comprehensive line of precision agriculture products. The convergence of these two industry innovators is expected to drive new growth opportunities for both companies, and benefit customers by achieving further efficiencies in their agricultural operations.
Our AgWired iPhone App (soon to be Android too), Raven Industries, was on location at the National Farm Machinery Show. I visited with Paul Welbig to find out what’s new.
It looks like what’s new is an addition to their Cruizer product. This year farmers will have RTK available with the system. With this capability you can do high accuracy steering. He says the price point makes it very attractive. It also ties into their Slingshot system. It adds more precision to an already simple system.
You can listen to my interview with Paul here: Paul Welbig Interview
2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
During the Western Farm Show AgWired along with iPhone App sponsor Raven Industries held a drawing for an iPod Touch. I’d like to thank everyone who stopped by to enter.
So now that the show is over we have picked our winner. And the winner is:
Jerry Trautman a farmer from the Kansas City area. Congrats Jerry. Your new iPod Touch will be delivered to you as soon as we can get it there.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s Western Farm Show. The attendance was strong even with challenging weather conditions at times but that’s what you expect and farmers showed they were quite capable to manage.
2011 Western Farm Show Photo Album
ZimmComm is happy to announce Raven Industries as our newest sponsor. Raven is taking a big leap into the support of cutting edge information distribution by becoming our first AgWired iPhone App sponsor! Don’t have the AgWired App on your iPhone yet? Then what are you waiting for? If you’ve already got the AgWired App then make sure you get our latest update when you sync with iTunes next! And for you Android fans, we’re working on that right now and will be announcing availability in the Android Market soon.
At the recent AG CONNECT Expo I spoke with Ryan Molitor, Raven Applied Technologies Marketing Supervisor (pictured left). This is the precision ag division of the company. Here’s what Ryan says about their sponsorship.
“As a cutting edge technology provider, we’re very excited to be a part of the AgWired app. News and information is more and more readily available, and we are happy to be part of the leading edge of delivering it.”
I asked him what’s new. He says they recently introduced eight new products. One that he highlights is their Envizio Pro II field computer. It controls all functions of the tractor through one console.
Ryan says all their field computers are internet ready and points to their Slingshot field hub product. This is a product that would get my attention in today’s connected world. Benefits include:
* Wireless RTK correction signals via cellular networks for universal access to sub-inch accuracy
* ZERO line-of-site RTK signal limitations provide uninterrupted operation and convenience
* Real-time communications and data sharing with any computer anywhere ensures better data, better decisions and more productivity in the field
* Seamless data transfer from the field to secure online accounts
* Remote capabilities for changing settings and profiles from distant locations
* Remote live support via high-speed Internet slashes downtime and operator error
* Compatible with both Raven and non-Raven precision ag equipment.
Listen to my interview with Ryan here: Interview With Ryan Molitor
In this week's program you can listen in to my conversation with Bill Howard, Fastline, about their new mobile game app, AgRacer.
