News Releases

AutoFarm® and Raven announce FarmPRO™ GPS Steering & Application Control System

AutoFarm^® and Raven Industries announce the upcoming release of FarmPRO™ GPS Steering & Application Control System. This new GPS system is the result of an on-going collaborative product development agreement between two of the leading precision ag companies.

Designed for professional growers and custom applicators, FarmPRO combines the Viper PRO state-of-the-art display and control system from Raven Industries with industry-leading sub-inch accurate RTK AutoSteer™ from AutoFarm.  FarmPRO offers a feature-rich steering and application control system that is all right at the operator’s finger tip through a single large screen display.

“What is currently multiple but separate applications, requiring multiple screens in the cab, is now integrated into a single control stream with just one terminal in the cab,” says Paul Welbig, Business Development Manager for the Flow Control Division at Raven Industries. “This all-in-one system for variable rate control and complete boom management, along with sub-inch accurate RTK steering will really simplify customers’ lives in the field.”

“FarmPRO combines the best-in-class in sub-inch RTK auto-steering with the best-in-class in variable rate spray and boom controls to offer customers a product that takes a back seat to no one,” says Justin Larouche, AutoFarm Director of Product Management.

“Previously, customers have been dazzled by a lot of bells and whistles which often fell short in terms of useability, reliability and steering accuracy. With FarmPRO, that situation has now been rectified in a single, easy-to-use system,” adds Larouche.

FarmPRO offers an impressive complement of automatic steering and application control functions, including:

• WAAS to RTK Steering Accuracy Options
• As-Applied Maps
• Variable Rate Control of up to Five Products
• Automatic Boom Height Control
• Automatic Boom Section Control
• Large 10.4” Color Touchscreen Display
• Windows XP Operating System
• Shape File Format for export to back office software
• Data Transfer via USB Key
• Auto Calibration of Steering and Application Functions

“With its multiple functionality of steering and application controls, FarmPRO will significantly expand the GPS market for both companies domestically and internationally,” says Larouche. “This is an exciting new system that will help satisfy the expanding needs of our customers through real cutting edge technology.”

The FarmPRO system will be marketed mutually and will be available through select dealers in the distribution channels of both AutoFarm and Raven. FarmPRO is scheduled to be released February 29, 2008. 

About Raven Industries

Celebrating 50 years of business innovation, Raven Industries was founded in Sioux Falls, SD in 1956, as a manufacturer of high-altitude research balloons for NASA and the American space program. In 1978, Raven Industries’ Flow Controls Division introduced the first speed compensated control system, the SCS 400, which was quickly followed by the SCS 440 that set the industry standard for fertilizer and chemical application controllers. Since that time, Raven Industries has developed and integrated a wide range of solutions for the agricultural industry. Raven has evolved from a single product line into a successful, diversified manufacturer publicly traded on NASDAQ (RAVN).  From basic flow control components to the Viper PRO, SmarTrax, Envizio Plus and Envizio PRO, Raven remains a leader in precision and flow control products for today’s agricultural market.

About AutoFarm

AutoFarm, a division of Novariant Inc., is the premier solutions provider for precision positioning and intelligent control systems. AutoFarm manufactures and markets Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers and precision agriculture solutions for automatic steering and leveling based on its experience in advanced aviation landing systems. AutoFarm can be found on the web at www.gpsfarm.com or reached at +1-650-644-1400.

For more information, contact:

Raven
Stacy Giddings, Marketing Coordinator
Raven Industries - Flow Controls Division
Ph: 800-243-5435, Fax: 605-331-0426
Email: stacy.giddings@ravenind.com

AutoFarm
Joe Robertson, Manager of Communications
AutoFarm
Ph: 510-933-4849; Fax: 510-933-4801
Email: Joe.Robertson@gpsfarm.com