Soil Solution
May 19, 2011 
As the world population increases, grower-customers are faced with trying every possible means to grow their yields accordingly. In many cases, this involves keeping an accurate tab on soil types through soil sampling and how these can impact crop growth.
But for many users, soil sampling can involve hours of manual labor and long waits from labs for results to be delivered. A solution for this dilemma comes from GVM Inc. and its AgriProbe unit. Built on a specially-designed 5600 Bobcat Toolcat all-purpose chassis, the AgriProbe consists of a 14-inch slide rack and cylinder steel probe, a silo-vacuum and a mini-belt conveyor. The system is managed wirelessly working with GVM’s AgJunction mobile software.
In Operation
To start probing, the operator engages the auto operation switch. This lowers the Toolcat mast and the probe to collect the sample. Once the probe is in the full up position, the silo vacuum and the front probe vibrator will run for five to eight seconds, turning off automatically.
The sample is then vacuumed from the front probe through a clear collection hose and is deposited into the silo vacuum chamber. Next, the operator will engage the bagging switch. The silo vibrator and electronic filter shaker will run for 10 seconds. According to GVM, this will ensure that 99% of the waste is discharged from the soil sample.
The 8-inch belt conveyor will turn on and the sample will be discharged via an 8-inch air gate and travel up the conveyor, discharge into a stainless steel funnel, and down into the bag located inside the cab.
Using this unit, operators can sample from 40 to 100 acres per hour, depending on the sampling intensity and depth.
According to GVM Owner Mark Anderson, AgriProbe streamlines the soil sampling process.
“AgriProbe can pull a sample on Monday, get the results back from a quality lab, and have a Prowler spreader in the field Thursday morning spreading from variable-rate maps,” says Anderson.
For more information on AgriProbe, visit www.gvminc.com.
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