When harvest wraps up, most operators take a much-needed breath. But the truth is, the real work for next season starts now. Winter is your best chance to review, clean up, and optimize your data so you’re not leaving valuable insights or dollars on the table.
At Bane-Welker Equipment, we have a dedicated team focused solely on helping you get the most from your data. Our Data Specialists, Whitney and Aleah, are here to support you both in season and out navigating the ups and downs of data management alongside your operation. You’ll see their expert tips throughout this blog, but if you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a consultation with one of them to make your data work harder for you.
Post-Harvest Data: Where the Payoff Starts
Data management isn’t about filling hard drives. It is about driving better agronomic and equipment decisions. After harvest, you have a goldmine of information waiting to be analyzed.
- In the field: Use yield maps, redraw boundaries, and clean up field data to prepare fertilizer recommendations and next year’s plans.
- In the cab: Pull USBs, clear out monitors, and check for software updates. Winter is also the ideal time to plan precision upgrades while equipment downtime is on your side.
Field Ops allows you to track equipment usage, gather field data, and build actionable insights. You can analyze performance metrics for trade-in opportunities, plan upcoming maintenance, and even receive alerts via text when equipment issues arise. This isn’t about having data. It’s about using data.
Field Boundaries & Fleet Tracking: Precision Starts Here
Accurate boundaries aren’t just lines on a map. They’re the foundation of everything you do. A bad boundary skews your data, which means every decision after that is off target. Winter is the perfect time to hook up your side-by-side with a Pro 700 and RTK receiver to drive and capture boundaries.
Inside Field Ops, you can:
- Clean up unbounded data, create boundaries, and enable unbound data preferences.
- Track equipment activity and input applications.
- Connect seamlessly with Raven and FieldView APIs.
- Import prescriptions and retire old product lists.
- Clean swaths, rename the ones you need, and delete duplicates.
Whitney’s Tip: Good boundaries in = good data out.
Aleah’s Tip: Always keep a clean, fresh USB on hand.
Data Coordination Across Machines
One of the biggest challenges operators face is coordinating machines across planting, spraying, and harvest. Field Ops and AccuSync make it possible to share guidance lines and coverage maps between machines.
When the planter creates a line, that same line can guide your sprayer and combine - reducing compaction, eliminating overlap, and improving efficiency.
- AccuSync: Multiple machines in the same field share coverage in real time.
- Coverage Maps: Always make sure your maps are turned on, painting, and in color (and if you’re color blind, don’t skip this check! A Precision Farming Specialist would be happy to help.
- Overlap Control: Raven AccuBoom and Pro1200s take the guesswork out of precision passes.
Whitney’s Tip: Many of our customers rely on planting lines throughout the season to reduce compaction and avoid running over corn.
Aleah’s Tip: AccuSync eliminates the “are you on the right line?” conversations in the cab.
Analyzing Harvest & Field Data
Yield data is only valuable if you use it to make smarter decisions. With Field Ops, you can overlay planting or fertilizer data with yield maps to measure performance. You’ll know which hybrids outperformed, how fertilizer blends influenced yield, and where your field management strategy hit the mark or missed it.
You can also track idle time vs. moving time to better understand engine hours, maintenance needs, and equipment efficiency.
Whitney’s Tip: Agronomists often pull yield data directly from Field Ops to fine-tune fertilizer recs, saving time and increasing accuracy.
Aleah’s Tip: Be diligent about recording varieties in the planter. Without it, you’ll regret not knowing which hybrid delivered at harvest.
Sharing Data for Smarter Decisions
Data is not just for your operation. It is for your partners too. Field Ops makes it simple to link accounts with agronomists, dealers, or consultants, giving them access to exactly what they need, when they need it. Whether you set them up as read-only or read-write, you’re in control.
No more thumb drives or chasing files! Your partners can see what is happening in your fields in real time.
Whitney’s Tip: I’ve seen agronomists push seed and fertilizer recs directly to machines while farmers are in the field planting.
Aleah’s Tip: The Field Ops Mobile App lets you jump between linked accounts, checking everything from fuel levels to fault codes without leaving the truck.
Set the Stage for Next Season
Data management is not a “nice to have.” It is the key to setting up your operation for long-term success. Field Ops is a free platform that delivers machine and agronomic insights, and Bane-Welker has the expertise to help you unlock its full potential.
Be on the lookout for our upcoming November webinar where we’ll share strategies for using Field Ops to sharpen your decision-making for 2026 and beyond.
Don’t wait for spring—set your operation up for success now. Connect with our team today to learn how Bane-Welker can help you manage your data with confidence!
Learn More About Our Data Management Services: https://bane-welker.com/precision-farming-services
Register for November's Webinar: Turning Harvest Data into Decisions - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/da051461-5ea7-4bd4-a5b7-5f117691735f@699a2658-8068-481a-b216-db9ac027d106
