WinField, Google to create data management system designed for agriculture

WinField has collaborated with Google Cloud Platform and Cloud Technology Partners (CTP) to build the WinField Data Silo. This cloud-based data-management system helps farmers work with their retail partners to optimize the value of their agronomic tools and make data-driven decisions.

"In order to see revolutionary progress in agriculture technology, we must make it easy for the industry to widely adopt and use it," said Teddy Bekele, vice president of IT, WinField. "We're finding the right people to help us develop advanced technologies that will help our retailers and farmers access the latest technology, readily manage their field data and help them use that data in new ways."

Advanced technology made simple

Combined with Google's public cloud computing and data analytics products, the WinField Data Silo allows farmers to unify and securely store multiple data streams under a single platform. Farmers can now efficiently access their data, gain deeper intelligence on their crops, and quickly make decisions to help optimize their yield potential.

One of the specific capabilities provided by Google was the ability to manage geospatial shape files of farm fields. For example, different agronomic markers - such as applied maps, yield maps and field input prescriptions - typically constitute a different map file with different boundaries for the same field and grower.

However, farmers are able to use the WinField Data Silo to overlay these three pieces of geospatial information and choose which aspect to examine at any given point in time.

The WinField Data Silo also allows farmers to actively move their data between applications and share it with their trusted advisors.

"Google Cloud Platform has specific capabilities that allow us to solve problems we couldn't address before," said Bekele. "In this instance, we're helping farmers use data science without the traditional complexity of information technology. It fits perfectly with WinField's commitment to help farmers get the most out of their data investments."