SureFire Ag Systems, an industry-leading agricultural manufacturer based in Atwood, Kansas, is pleased to announce the release of a new product line, known as Sentinel Row Control. This unique technology allows producers to control the application rate of each row. Sentinel Row Control makes it possible to optimize yields, reduce waste, and save money by reducing over applying.
“We are ecstatic to offer the benefits of Sentinel Row Control to our dealers and their customers,” says Matt Micek, Sentinel Products Manager. “The Sentinel product line has continued to evolve over time, starting with Row Monitoring by itself, then expanding into Rate Control, and now into full individual Row Control. It gives us lots of options to help a producer decide how sophisticated and precise they want their system to be.”
Sentinel Row Control is the most advanced offering among SureFire’s liquid fertilizer application systems, combining Sentinel Row Monitor (row-by-row flow monitoring available since 2016) with flow control valves to control the flow and rate of each row. This technology allows every row of the planter to be its own section capable of controlling a unique rate, with monitoring of the as-applied rate in the cab. “This is the perfect solution for high-speed, prescription rates, or any advanced application scenario. It is ISO compatible with most major displays,” Micek says.
For all its cutting-edge functionality, the plumbing for Sentinel Row Control is actually quite simple. A Sentinel flow meter module contains flow meters for four rows. A tube or hose runs from the flow meter of each module to the row control valve mounted on or near the row unit. A tube runs from the flow control valve to the placement device. The flow control valves control the rate and act as on/off valves for section control.
“Sentinel Row Control has more flexibility in terms of rate and product as there is no orifice or metering tube. The limiting factor is simply the flow range of the pump, rather than the row plumbing,” Micek says. “Like any premium solution, the price point is higher, but the savings in terms of time, headache, and product utilization make Sentinel Row Control a profitable solution for precision fertilizer application.”
Sentinel Row Control is on a limited release for the 2022 planting season. The SureFire team plans to offer it for full release for the 2023 planting season. “With all the innovations we are excited about offering in the Sentinel product line, we do want to remind our dealers that we are still eager to work with all the major rate controllers to provide systems compatible with their platforms as well,” Micek says. “After all, compatibility and reliability are our specialties.”
SureFire Ag has configured complete systems for thousands of farmers since they launched nearly 15 years ago. Their goal with every order is to delight the customer with a system that is complete, custom, and compatible. For more information about SureFire Ag Systems or SureFire Electronics, visit www.surefireag.com, or find the companies on social media.