Using this solution, growers and harvesters can track the exact location, timing and efficiency of each harvester, as well as the arrival, loading and departure time of crop transport vehicles.

The harvesting of crops is a time-sensitive operation that requires coordination between growers, harvesters and transportation vehicle operators to obtain the maximum yield from each harvest. Reliance on current manual tracking methods can hinder coordination and slow work flows in the field, adversely impacting product quality.

"In the crunch of harvest time, people are focused on the task at hand (i.e. the harvesting of crops), and not the tracking, recording and communications of operational data. As a result, there is often a lack of the information required to ensure the most efficient operation," said Pierre Vidaillac, president of Minds Inc.

"Leveraging our success with Intelleflex in tracking hot mix asphalt for the road construction industry, we were able to develop a solution that is specifically designed to track the harvesting of crops in the field."

"This is a great example of how today's business needs are driving the usage of RFID and complementary technologies. While GPS provided exact location finding capabilities for the harvester, it did not by itself deliver a cost effective, event-driven solution to track the arrival and departure of transport vehicles at the harvester," said Sam Liu, marketing director at Intelleflex.

"By adding our Extended Capability RFID into the solution mix, we fill that need, and deliver significant incremental value."

Using the Intelleflex and Minds' solution, GPS units and RFID readers are mounted on harvesters to track their whereabouts in the field as well as the arrival, loading and departure times of transport vehicles. The information is then transmitted wirelessly for immediate access anywhere, anytime - over the web and mobile phones.

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