F200 Electronic Rising Plate Meter User Manual
Contents
1. FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 16 10 5 Plate Meter not running freely gt gt Check Resolution Metal shaft is bent Straighten or request a replacement part from Apollo Electronics Ltd Grass or soil build up inside the black tube Clean the Plate Meter Flutes on steel shaft have become filled with grass or soil Clean the Plate Meter 10 6 Counter Readings do not seem accurate gt gt Check Resolution The counter is like a calculator it does not give false readings under normal circumstances Check the equation being used is correct and the calibration has been correctly set zeroed Cover Equations In New Zealand there are a number of standard equations published by DEXCEL and Meat amp Wool These reflect regional pasture types If you wish to change an equation or select alternative species you will need to contact your consultant Traditionally the equation of height X 158 plus 200 was used however there has been a series of equations produced to reflect changes in pasture types and physiological state vegetative flowering seed head which can alter DM levels in the paddock A more accurate calibration can be achieved by taking cuttings or your consultant may be able to advise you on the most appropriate equation for your situation This particularly applies to pastures under irrigation Check what equation you are using2. 2210cccnncceseceverenenseanananes 4 2 Operating the Electronic COUNTED ccccnecccccunsccenneenenarscenenens 4 3 Current New Zealand Dairy EQuations ccccssssscnnceeeeenennnaneeees 7 4 Taking Paddock Readings The Pasture Walk witssccccccsesnnennnnees 9 5 The Battery wasus evodunsnracaconte rri ni En E EERE r Ar Ea Raie 10 6 Using the Correct Measuring Technique cccrcccreseverennnennns 11 7 Caring For Your Plate Metef ssssssnsssnensnrrnsrennnrrssrersnenna 12 Oe Component ParlSauerreitirrisrisrintir iais ii STENENE EREEREER EREEREER a 12 9 Retrofitting an Electronic Counter to a Manual Plate Meter 13 10 Trouble Shooting ssssssssssssnanennnrnsnrrssrrnssrsssrnnsnssssrnsne 15 11 Maximise the value of your Plate Meter by Installing and Running the P Plus PastureCovers Software Program sssseseees 19 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 3 Normally the Plate Meter will come already assembled and will only require two steps to complete ready for use as follows gt Screw the inner tube of the yellow handle onto the threaded top of the graduated shaft gt Screw on the black plastic plate to the lower end of the black tube If you are retro fitting an electronic counter to a Manual Plate Meter then follow the steps outlined in section 9 Retrofitting an Electronic Counter to a Manual Plate Meter 2 1 Switching Unit On and Off The Electronic Plate Counter is switched on and off
3. 10 7 Front Panel membrane problems gt gt Check Resolution Buttons not clicking or activating Service membrane needs replacing Send to Apollo Electronics Ltd for service and repair FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 17 10 8 Battery Retainer keeps falling out gt gt Check Resolution The counter screws have not been tightened Make sure the centre screw is re sufficiently tightened after the battery is replaced or ensure the battery retainer is properly clicked into place 10 9 How do I change a formula gt gt Check Resolution The F200 is switched on Hold down the Formula button until the display changes to F d While the If you wish to select the inbuilt default d is displayed press the Reset formula button The following equation is used Cover kgDM ha 140 x height 500 10 10 How do I enter my own formula gt gt Check Resolution The F200 is switched a Hold down the Formula button until the display on changes to F d Press the Formula button again to change the Note Refer to Section d to a c Now press the Reset button and the 3 for current Dexcel display looks like formula O___ The display will then show you the first of C two numbers you will enter The first number is the equation add number and the second the multiply number Fo
4. and then push the shaft to ground level making sure the plate is vertical when the shaft hits the ground Taking measurements by holding the Plate Meter 10cm or more above the top of the pasture and plunging the plate onto the pasture will give lower incorrect readings This is because the downward force of the plate compresses the pasture more than occurred when the calibrations were down giving a lower average height and cover readings These two techniques are illustrated below 6 1 Incorrect Technique 6 1 1 The Plate Meter is held above the pasture and plunged in one movement onto the pasture 6 1 2 The higher the plate is held and the greater the force applied the lower the reading will be AO 6 2 Correct Technique 6 2 1 Place the plate on top of the pasture with as little pressure as possible 6 2 2 Push the shaft down to ground level with the shaft vertical When using the correct technique no differences have been found in the readings between the FARMWORKS Electronic Plate Meter and any of the mechanical Plate Meters However operators using the incorrect techniq will get lower readings with any Plate Meter than those using the correct technique FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 11 7 Caring For Your Plate Meter 7 1 Avoid getting the counter wet The counter is in a robust case which is splash proof however as it is an electronic device so try to avoid getting the counter saturated 7 2 Kee
5. cropped and shut up paddocks If you require you can adjust the kgDM ha range for example 1700 2300 kgDM ha so you can more easily see the difference between the paddocks To adjust the kgDM ha double click on the graph and another window will appear Set the minimum and maximum value as required The green trend line is configured from the Target Covers Window Section 4 4 Cover Graph Graphs the average farm cover by year Also shows the cover target line as well Can be used to compare different year s average cover on the farm Cover Entry Form Prints a form to write down your paddock covers The paddocks are in your walk order or list order and each paddock has the last two covers available so you can see how each paddock compares to its previous readings while out on the farm HINT Fold the printed form in half long ways and staple onto a piece of hard cardboard The sheet should fit in your pocket while still displaying all the information you need while out on the farm FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 38 4 7 Pasture Cover Equation The cover equations provides a mechanism for taking pasture height measurement e g a rising plate meter or other measures such as the pasture probe and converting these to KgDM ha The range of equations can be extensive and you will need to refer to the relevant operating manual for the given tool There will be different equations for different times of the year to allow for variations in the physi
6. DEXCEL or other consultant for the latest equations You may choose to select your Plate Meter to not calculate the KgDM ha and use the equations This gives you the ability to use a different equation if you feel the monthly equation is not suitable for your pasture To configure the equation A is the add figure B is the multiply figure Examples of Equations No equation A 0 B 1 C 0 Plate Dexcel All Seasons A 500 B 140 C 0 Rapid PM Default A 750 B 18 6 C 0 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 40 i FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH P Plus Farm Management Software Top 14 Questions Here are some of the common questions asked about farming software and what P Plus can do for your management operation 1 What is P Plus P Plus is an integrated paddock pasture covers fertiliser recording farm mapping feed budgeting and planning program It is a modulated software package where each module can be stand alone for a specific area of farming or can be integrated run together with more than one module Thus information entered once is available directly within other modules P Plus suits a full range of farming systems types and sizes There are two packages available P Plus Professional and P Plus Farm e P Plus Professional is recommended for users who wish to manage multiple farms in the one system The licence allows a maximum of 5 farms per licence e P Plus Farm is recommended for users with one farm 2
7. Date Cover Graph and the Cover Entry Form Cover on Date This will provide a cover report for each paddock whose cover was measured on a particular date The Report window has a number of options that can be selected to include extra information This can include items such as paddocks shut up for hay paddocks already grazed or paddocks taken out for crop ping This will have an influence on the total cover or average cover displayed for the property Use the scroll bar to see the lower part of the page The report can be sorted by cover by selecting the Sort Group Data option Note the growth shown is the growth between walks NOT average growth Average Growth will be displayed in a future version BUT you must use the pre grazing and post grazing flags when entering your pasture covers for this new report to work Cover on Date All units Fie I 7 08 2006 1881 kgDM ha Date 7moei20ne Paddock Area Graz Shut Crop Pre Cover Total Last Growth Name ed Up ped Post kgDM ha Cover kgDMha d Flag 3 08 2006 1 1202 2596 1222 1333 3879 1333 1434 3685 1444 P fo assa eral asss 4265 1666 4727 1777 he es tees ages arr7 2778 slop tgp s5x7 1888 2778 12 G16 24 i 4982 2444 13 G17 24 5357 2555 Feed Wedge on Date This report is far more configurable than the default feedwedge that is automatically displayed You can display all paddocks not just the top 20 and exclude
8. Plus software becomes unlicenced when it was licenced before This tends to occur when an external USB hard disk drive is connected which then changes your computer ID and causes the P Plus software to expire The problem can be overcome by removing the extra hard disk drive and restarting the P Plus program If you are going to keep the external drive plugged in all the time then you will need to apply for a new licence file Please contact FARMWORKS for this FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 29 Should you require further information please contact FARMWORKS Precision Farming Systems 56 Stafford Street PO Box 433 Feilding New Zealand Fax 06 323 1371 Email info farmworkspfs co nz www farmworkspfs co nz FARMWORKS Precision Farming Systems Technical Support Email support farmworkspfs co nz Tel 0900 55512 _ FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 30 PastureCovers User Guide Section 4 from the Full Manual The PastureCover module records pasture covers for the farm and will provide information on the individual paddock pasture covers feed availability the feed wedge and in time pasture growth rates This module can be installed separately or in conjunction with the full P Plus program The PastureCover module is a companion to the FARMWORKS platemeter and the Rapid Pasture Meter although it is also useful to complement other pasture measuring devices This Section consi
9. covers on date cover over time the feed wedge and growth rates The software can be used in conjunction with most pasture measuring devices including the manual platemeter The program will also work in combination with the P Plus Mapping and Feed Forecasting Budgeting software For pricing refer to the Top 14 Questions document printed further on in the manual Below is an example of the screen layout of the P Plus Full program This screen displays pasture covers over time a feed wedge TOP 20 paddocks only by default and the covers displayed on the farm map Note the Map is only shown if the Mapping module is also purchased Pricing is shown further on in this manual Full Feed Wedge showing surplus and deficits can be printed along with ranked paddock covers 08 04 2007 J 0270572007 g Stat Jan X Mogt Unit Alunits v an Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Feed Wedge on 02 07 2007 Average Cover 1996 kgDMha Cover Optimum Average 17 10 2007 09 22 Horz 2412325 0m Vert 5736999 0m Grid 25m Off Memory 75 122 Mb Free FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 19 11 2 Entering pasture covers is simple through the data input screen Add Edit Pasture Cover Walks Data entry screen allows either height or pasture cover in KGDM ha to be entered 2900 00 1500 00 Date 2371 2 2005 Select Method FARMWORKS Electronic F Select Equation Height Grazed Shut up Cropped Ar
10. incur a charge of 25 NZ GST When you receive the licence file by email please follow these steps 1 Open this email from FARMWORKS and detach save attachments the PPCover lic into the C PPlus directory browse to my computer then select c drive then select the PPlus directory ensure save to location is C PPlus Overwrite the existing PPcover lic file Start P Plus PastureCover from the ICON on your Desktop P Plus PastureCover should now be licenced and it should not bring up the 30 day trial licence 5 Remember to make a new Farm do not add or edit the demonstration data Only data entered into your own farm database is saved 6 If the trial licence still exists repeat from step 1 7 If the trial licence is still showing then ensure the ICON on your desktop reads P Plus PastureCover if it reads P Plus then reinstall from the CDROM and install the Pasture Cover module only See page 1 B OTO Re Licensing P Plus PastureCover may need to be re licenced on a replacement computer or in the event of significant changes being made to your computer In either case P Plus PastureCover may become unlicenced This will require the generation and issue of a new licence file In this case contact FARMWORKS or print out the licence from the new or modified computer and forward this accordingly On the receipt of this request for a new licence file this will be emailed back to you where possible A small charge 25 will be m
11. order The move up and move down buttons are a quick and easy way to adjust where a paddock appears in the walk order To enable the move up and move down buttons first select one particular property rather than the all properties option Equations Refer section 4 7 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 35 4 4 The Target Covers Window Optimal Grazing Cover Set the desired preferred grazed residual and desired preferred max pasture cover These settings will be used by the trend line and will easily show paddocks above or below your desired pasture cover These values are used on the default feed wedge and the feed wedge displayed from the reports Target covers Target covers can be set so you can see how the farm average cover is trending as compared to how you hoped it would To set the Target Covers click on the Options button and Edit Target Covers Press the Insert button to add a date the date will typically be 14 days ahead of the last date in the list These dates can be changed to give a spacing of one month for example Use the scroll bars to move around the list of dates Once this is completed click on the Close button and the targets will be shown on the middle screen The target covers and preferred trend line will be displayed on the feed wedge Optimal Grazing Covers Pre Grazing Cover 2500 Post Grazing Residual 1500 No paddocks in rotation 70 Enter Cover Targets Insert Delete Date 6 08
12. 2007 gt 1 year Cover 2000 kgDM ha lt 1 year D koDMha 8 01 2007 1900 22 01 2007 1920 5 02 2007 1956 19 02 2007 1840 5 03 2007 1820 19 03 2007 1600 2 04 2007 1600 16 04 2007 1800 30 04 2007 2100 14 05 2007 2300 28 05 2007 2100 11 06 2007 2300 25 06 2007 2400 9 07 2007 2500 23 07 2007 2600 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 36 4 5 Entering First Pasture Cover To enter your set of pasture cover measurements click on the New button and the Add Edit Pasture Cover screen will be displayed Ensure you enter the correct date and method in the right hand window If you are using the F150 FARMWORKS Electronic Platemeter then select the method as FARMWORKS Electronic Rising Plate For the Rapid Pasture Meter select the Pasture Meter method There are two main categories of equation available 1 The first category of equation is when the measurement you wish to enter is already in units of KGDM Ha The cover may have been assessed by eye or the conversion from height to KgDM Ha may have already been performed externally by an electronic rising plate meter or the Rapid Pasture Meter This is normally the first equation that appears in the list and is called Height Eyeball No Equation Actual It is recommended that this equation is used for electronic rising plate meters 2 The second category of equation is used when a raw height measurement in mm or cm is entered and the conversion of height to KgDM Ha is per
13. 64 D35 75 1700 12784 1600 34 0 36 24 2600 6110 2300 103 D37 27 1600 4333 1800 D44 65 1700 10988 2100 1600 8738 24 1700 3570 1600 34 Grand Total 7868 1696 149049 1931 128 Management unit All units In Pasture covers can form the basis of the Feed Forecaster to determine surplus and deficits by configuring the trend line to meet your farming requirements FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 20 Should you require assistance with setting up your Plate Meter or with installing P Plus PastureCovers software please contact FARMWORKS Precision Farming Systems Technical Support Email support farmworkspfs co nz Tel 0900 55512 Fax 06 323 1371 56 Stafford Street PO Box 433 Feilding New Zealand Or visit www farmworkspfs co nz V a FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH A number of papers have been written on various aspects of the use of the Rising Plate Meter The following references may be of interest to users 1 Lincoln University Dairy Farm LUDF Fielday in Dairy Exporter January 2005 2 Rising Plate Meter Ready Reckoner DEXCEL Pasture Growth amp Quality 3 Pasture production of northern dairy farms G J Piggot 1997 Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association 59 103 106 Refer Dexcel Website 4 Talking the same language a New Standardised System of Pasture Assessment Norm Thomson DRC Robyn Hainsworth and Mark Blackwell Livestock Improvement Advisory 5 Same RPM equation all year if irrig
14. In the UK the F200 Platemeter is supplied to you by Agricultural Supply Services pm 01453 860860 www agrisupplyservices co uk FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH F200 Electronic Rising Plate Meter User Manual The F200 Electronic Rising Plate Meter provides farmers with a reliable and accurate method of measuring pasture within a given range It provides a valuable tool for maintaining consistency in the measurement of pasture when undertaken by more than one person by providing a benchmark to reduce variations in visual assessments It has been widely used in the dairy industry for a number of years and more recently in sheep beef and deer enterprises Currently the FARMWORKS Plate Meter is sold in over fourteen countries including Australia Chile Argentina Uruguay Mexico USA Canada United Kingdom South Africa China and Japan In New Zealand it is used by both farmers and consultants to provide pasture height and density for determining feeding regimes for given classes of stock A companion product is the P Plus PastureCover software program which provides a useful tool for recording and reporting pasture covers obtained by the Plate Meter The Electronic Plate Meter is made up of the following components metal shaft handle with inner tube a black tube to which the black plastic plate is attached and one electronic counter The metal shaft is graduated into 0 5cm grooves a click 1 Assembling the Rising Plate M ter
15. P Plus 30 Day Trial Licence Expiry Warning If you are upgrading from a licenced copy of P Plus newer than 1 87 then the screen above will not appear FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 26 3 How to Licence P Plus PastureCover Software This screen will automatically appear after ok button is pressed on the 30 day trial period screen If it does not appear or you want it to reappear then from within P Plus select Help and Enter Licence Details Remember you must request a licence otherwise the software will prevent you from accessing your farm data in 30 days time Also P Plus PastureCover will not allow you to print the reports until your software is licenced PastureCover Licences are free to purchasers of an Electronic Platemeter or a Rapid Pasture Sensor Please ensure that you check the box for PastureCover only DO NOT CHECK ANY OTHER BOXES When you have completed the licence details you can select to either email them directly to FARMWORKS or print them off for faxing or posting Licence Details for Version2 19 Email Print Help P Plus Identification Details Selections Licence Name DML Ltd Business name farm name or your name CD Serial Number E04 Computer ID feaascor OY ARES Purchased From FaR MWORKS nitact Distributor for pricing Purchase Date fi 7 01 42006 al JV Pasture Cover Record Results and view Feed Wedge I Map and Paddock Your Details Basic paddock and croon records Map drawi
16. Plus Please ensure you select Install the P Plus PastureCover Option Install P Plus Farm Professional Version PastureCover the installation will start Simply follow the prompts until the installation Install Pasture Meter Linker Install Pasture Cover Importer is complete Once the installation process is complete your desktop image will appear and you will note a P Plus icon on your desktop P Plus Pasture Cover If you want to trial our financial management software then click on the Install Phoenix Software above You will be able to view demonstration videos and install the financial software for trialling purposes Cash version is 495 GST and it works with all the major NZ Banks FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 24 Installation Trouble Shooting If the CD does not auto run please follow these steps Go to Start gt Windows Goto Run JRun Then type d goppfarm exe and click on OK d goppfarm exe Figure 2 Manually starting P Plus Installation Please note that the letter d refers to the CD Drive letter The CD Drive letter can vary from computer to computer Clicking on OK should bring up the Installation Window Then simply follow the prompts If the Installation Window does not come up please go into Windows Explorer Windows Explorer may be an icon on your desk top Alternatively go to Start then Programs and scroll thro
17. S Plate Meter F200 June 09 2 3 Things to do before you start your walk There are four items to be addressed before starting a new walk This is best done prior to leaving the shed to start a pasture walk 2 3 1 Ensure the P Plus Farm Management Software is Installed Before you can begin using your F300 you will need to ensure that you have P Plus Farm Management software installed on your computer If it is not installed you will need to refer to the section on How to install P Plus Pasture Cover With P Plus Farm Management Software installed on your computer you will need to setup your farm by creating a property paddocks and equations and define the walk order before you can upload Pasture Cover walks from your F300 Platemeter Ensure you are not using the demonstration Farm 2 3 2 Start up Self test Switch On The unit will beep and display F200 It may also beep 3 times and display Lo if the battery needs recharging The current formula in use will be displayed next with the part of the equation first default 500 and then the x part second default 140 The display will then show the kgDM ha calculation based on that formula and any readings stored in memory To clear the readings press and hold the Reset button until the display shows 0 0 There is one default plate equation and one custom user editable equation The former is built into the chip and cannot be replaced or
18. What Farming Types can we use the program for Any farming activity can be accommodated including dairy sheep beef deer goats Dairy farmers find P Plus specifically suits their needs as the Pasture Cover module links very well in with their map thus giving a visible display of the pasture availability The Pasture Cover module includes a feed wedge and grazing round report to simplify your grazing planning Most dairy farmers who have purchased the Map and Paddock modules to begin with later purchase the Feed Forecaster Budget and stock modules to complete their farm management system FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 41 3 How many modules are there and what are they There are four key sales modules and three minor modules The minor modules are incorporated in the key sales modules The modules are Map amp Paddock includes Weather and PastureCover Map this enables you to utilise a GPS map an aerial photo or an existing map You can create maps measure paddocks alter fences plus create a host of layers of information including drainage water supply trees and physical features such as contours soils and productive areas You can load GPS data some conditions apply or images which are in a jpg or bmp file format Paddock monitor fertiliser and pesticide applications plus any activity associated with paddocks including cash inputs and outputs The Crop module is a subset of the Paddock module and allows for Crop pla
19. accrual accounting and budgeting Prices start at 495 GST GPS MAPPING Using state of the art equipment highly accurate farm maps can be drawn with accuracy down to 0 5 metres or less Features mapped can include fencelines tracks shelter troughs drainage or any other asset These maps can provide significant cost savings in terms of fertiliser spray and cultivation inputs as areas measured are not reliant on contractor estimates DIGITISED MAPPING Digitised photography provides an alternative where accuracy is not as critical Farm Maps can be DESIGN SERVICES SUBDIVISION COMMUNICATION WHITEBOARDS Laser etched whiteboards provide a valuable communication tool in a variety of situations With custom designs of farm maps and or grid designs permanently engraved into a hard wearing whiteboard these can form the centre for recording the day to day farm tasks Ideal for the dairy shed workshop or office e NOTE Services available in New Zealand Only Software may be subject to individual Country licencing arrangements Visit our website www farmworkspfs co nz to see more about our products 22 oO FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 0 FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH P Plus PastureCover Installation Guide System Requirements NOTE P Plus PastureCover will run on a Computer laptop running Windows 98 Windows ME Windows XP Home Professional and Vista Before you start the installatio
20. ack of the unit Reset by holding the Reset button until the display changes to 0 This should be accompanied by 2 short beeps Walk across the paddock taking readings every few paces You will hear a beep every time a reading is stored The kgDM ha is immediately recalculated and displayed The number of samples plonks to be taken should range between 20 and 40 per paddock however this will be determined by the variance existing in the cover You will hear 3 short beeps when you have completed 29 plonks and one long beep when you reach 30 This is the recommended number of readings Plonks need to be taken ona regular basis e g every five paces to even out any variations however avoid stock camp areas tracks or uncharacteristic areas The greater the variability the greater the number of plonks you should take If you need to negotiate an obstacle e g fence or creek switch the unit off so that no readings are taken if the plate moves On the other side of the obstacle switch the unit back on and continue taking readings When you have completed the paddock press the Avg button to show the average pasture cover Write down the average height and or the average cover Repeat instructions 2 to 5 until you have completed every paddock Switch the unit off using the toggle switch at the back FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 9 5 The Battery 5 1 Recharging the Battery The Electronic Counter is powered by a
21. ade to cover costs associated with this to ensure all user details can be maintained to allow support and upgrade conditions to be continued FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 28 Solutions to licencing issues The 30 day trial period screen will not go away but I have received my licence from Farmworks There is often more than one problem Firstly you may not be saving the ppcover lic to the C PPlus directory Often users are saving it to their My Documents directory You will need to ensure that your press the browse button and then use the scroll bar to select the PPlus folder on your Local Disk usually Drive C When saving the file to disk ensure that it pops up the question Do you want to over write the existing file By over writing the file you will overwrite the trial licence If the file is going into the PPlus folder and the problem still exists then the possible cause is that you could be starting P Plus PastureCover from the wrong Icon on your desktop e g the PPlus icon instead of the correct Icon the P Plus PastureCover Icon The easy way to check is to look at the ICON on the desktop if it says P Plus then this will be your problem Reinstall from CDROM and select the Pasture Cover option see page 1 If this still is a problem then reapply for a new licence Note that your computer ID will change if you have a portable hard disk drive plugged into your computer We suggest you unplug it and try to start P Plus P
22. arms 300 00 Feed Forecaster Budget Module 460 00 Individual Animal Module Under Development Release 07 450 00 Additional Site Licences 5 farms 60 of purchase price P Plus Farm P Plus Farm is recommended for users who wish to manage one farm in the system PastureCover Module 110 00 Map amp Paddock Module 750 00 Map Module Only Includes PastureCover 250 Stock Module 200 00 Feed Forecaster Budget Module Includes PastureCovers 370 00 Individual Animal Module Under Development Release end 07 350 00 Farmworks map file to P Plus conversion recreates farm map ready to load in P Plus includes paddocks names and all applicable layers 60 00 P Plus Installation and Training Onsite Training 2 hours single user 250 00 Offsite Group Training per person 4hrs 250 00 Travel may be possible we can combine with another job to save on costs 48 per Km All software prices include 60 days free technical support from date of registration FARMWORKS operates a 0900 55512 Support Line for ongoing technical support FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 46 Incl GST 956 25 337 50 506 25 506 25 123 75 843 75 281 25 225 00 393 75 393 75 67 50 281 25 281 25 54 13 Where do I get an Aerial Photo If you choose to draw your farm map you may need an aerial photo There are a number of aerial photo suppliers For a free photo check the LINZ website www l
23. astureCover this may resolve your problem If not then restart your computer with the portable hard disk unplugged and try again Unable to detach the licence from Outlook Express 1 Outlook is preventing the file from been saved by default Microsoft General Read Receipts Send j Compose l Signatures Outlook express will not allow Spelling Security Connection Maintenance attachments to be saved Virus Protection Sd Select the Internet Explorer security zone to use 2 i Of 2 To enable this function open MS B l Outlook Express and select Tools Warn me when other applications try to send mail as me then O ptions then click on the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could i potentially be a virus security ta b Download Images Block images and other external content in HTML e mail 3 Untick the box Do not allow BN aes i attachments to be saved or Digital IDs also called certificates are special Tell m Te x Ra documents that allow you to prove your identity in open ed that could potentia l ly be electronic transactions Digital IDs a virus To digitally sign messages or receive encrypted messages you must have a digital ID Get Digital ID C Encrypt contents and attachments for all outgoing messages 4 Close MS outlook and reopen C Digitally sign all outgoing messages 5 Then follow the instructions that came with the licence file to detach EEEE tee P
24. ated Dairy Exporter January 2005 These papers are available on the DEXCEL website or from the relevant publications Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy neither FARMWORKS Limited nor any employee of the company shall be liable on any ground whatsoever to any party in respect of decisions or actions they may make as a result of using this information FARMWORKS reserves the right to make changes without notice to any product specification to improve reliability function or design E amp OE FARMWORKS P Plus and Ag Hub are registered Trade Marks of FARMWORKS Limited FARMWORKS Precision Farming Systems is a subsidiary of FARMWORKS Ltd Copyright FARMWORKS Limited 2006 All rights reserved FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 21 Other products sold by FARMWORKS In addition to the Electronic Rising Platemeter FARMWORKS provides other tools for the farmer P PLUS FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE A fully functional farm production and mapping program for detailed farm management information P Plus consists of a suite of modules including MAPPING PADDOCK STOCK FEED FORECASTER BUDGET The PASTURECOVERS module is provided free with the purchase of either the electronic counter or the electronic rising platemeter PHOENIX Phoenix Gateway and Phoenix Power Budget is an easy to use financial program developed by AgData Australia Phoenix has been specifically configured for New Zealand conditions for cash based for full
25. ation to be used 2000 00 1 i 1600 00 Paddock Details for entire pasture 2600 00 N Area 1 85 hectare caver 1700 00 900 00 Grazed Shut up Cropped 1700 00 Grazing State 7400 00 Lt Snapshot C Pre Post Grazing state 2400 00 1 Cover Equation 2400 00 Motan E 1600 00 No Equation Equation to be used for a specific paddock Date and Method Date is the date of the PastureCover Select Method is the PastureCover method used e g no equation FarmWorks Electronic Plate Meter etc Select Equation no equation by default When using a manual plate meter with two counters select Rising Plate This will allow you to type the start and end readings from the bottom counter and also the plonk count P Plus PastureCovers will do the maths and work out the average cover Paddock Details Paddocks can be included in the walk or excluded by clicking on these buttons These will record if the paddock has been grazed has been shut up e g for silage or hay or are being cropped As a consequence these can be removed from the average cover You must use the cover reports to exclude these paddocks the default feed wedge and average cover does take these options into account If you are using the FARMWORKS Electronic Platemeter and you are entering Kg s of DM select the no equation equation If you are entering Height select the appropriate equation FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 34 Grazing State e A pre grazi
26. clip from the bottom of the counter Remove the battery and gently remove the battery snap To avoid damage to the battery snap it is recommended you use a screwdriver to flip off the battery clip as damage can occur to the internal connections if grasped by fingers and pulled off Replace the battery with the same type and specification as the one that came with your counter Press the battery snap firmly onto the new battery and insert back into the battery retainer Replace the battery retainer into the counter taking care not to catch the wires in the side wall of the counter Tighten the central screw on the back and refit to the black tube Charge the battery for at least 16 hours before initial use Make sure the counter is re calibrated before you commence your next walk FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 10 6 Using the Correct Measuring Technique Differences in Rising Plate Meter measuring technique can alter pasture covers by as much as 600 kgDM ha This can be the difference between thinking there is adequate or even surplus pasture available and all is well or pasture deficit and urgent action is required All pasture measurement techniques require calibration to convert the actual reading to dry matter The technique that is used when walking around the farm taking the measurements needs to be the same as that used to calibrate the Rising Plate Meter This technique is to place the plate on top of the pasture with no downward force
27. ea 1 00 hectare Cover Equation Height b t 1700 00 1800 00 1300 00 1 2000 00 1 2100 00 2200 00 2300 00 3000 00 SE ai ae a o o a a a a a oO o o o o Similarly reporting functions provide multiple options including cover on date and the all important feed wedge z P Plus Demo gt scan uo cot Cover on Date All units File Demonstration p ji a a a E E Date 30 01 2006 KEE ew a n o li J 04 11 2005 1896 _kgDM ha Peas i Eo ci Tt akas F ji u Paddock Area Graz Shut Crop Cover Total Last Growth no i iil ed Up ped kgDMha Cover _ kgDMhaid eco ree Halla to 4 ia D3 24 1800 3741 2100 wol i Da 24 4165 pei ttt D5 24 1800 3747 DS 20 1700 3366 A D7 24 2300 4740 207 nea D9 20 w 4250 aof D10 19 2200 4290 me D11 10 1900 1877 69 seo D12 23 2000 4660 0 D13 22 1600 3483 fn D14 23 2300 5354 138 m p15 14 345 By D16 14 2400 3456 a DAB 43 1400 6001 f DAS 23 1700 3859 34 hai D2 13 2000 3700 69 b D 18 2000 3690 o z8 EEE ESTE E512 857 SU STAI ST SS Sf EE E8 23 S 13 ESOS HL OHS 9875 BET SS 5E 1 SASH OS D24 26 1900 4878 D25 18 1800 3312 63 D26 32 2200 7002 259 D28 16 2000 3275 D30 F 2000 5629 172 231 4 00 16
28. er Complete for both brackets 9 9 Place a screw and washer in each side of the two clips and half tighten making sure that the Cog is not too close or too far away from the metal shaft tighten the four screws The metal shaft should move FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 13 reese 9 12 freely inside the black tube Turn it to make sure it moves easily in all positions If it sticks then either the black tube or metal shaft may be damaged bent or corroded and may need replacing or it is not correctly aligned on the counter Attach the plastic plate by screwing on to the bulb of the black tube Place the Plate Meter in an upright position on a hard surface to check the plate closes fully IMPORTANT Before attempting your first pasture walk follow the instructions for Zero Calibration under Start up Options in Section 2 3 1 Enhancement In early 2006 the black tube has been modified to accept a single saddle arrangement which will reduce the need for the rubber strips and provide greater binding therefore reducing the chances of the saddle moving on the shaft Servicing 9 13 Should an electronic fault develop with your F200 plate meter then the counter should be removed from the shaft and sent for servicing to Apollo Electronics Ltd 4 Lombard Street Palmerston North 4410 Ph 06 3551497 p sullivan xtra co nz A standard service charge including return freight in NZ applies to all electron
29. er D g ar per hectare LJ 2003 Start date of reporting year to display on graphs along with years used Target Cover green shade Current today s Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sep Oct Nov Cover black vertical Feed Wedge on 9 08 2006 Average Cover 1884 kgDMha line Previous covers by twenty paddocks green and the Feed Wedge of the top 8 et I average cover line red The green line is the trend The New button Brings up the Add Edit Pasture Cover Window see section 4 3 The Add Edit Screen for Pasture Covers This window is the entry screen for recording pasture covers Before recording select the method to be used for recording manual eyeball FARMWORKS Electronic Platemeter etc as well as the Pasture Equation The Options button provides the following Edit Covers edit an existing cover already recorded Delete a cover Show the graph key for the years of colours available Redraw the graph refreshes the graph Edit the Target Covers FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 33 4 3 The Add Edit Screen for Pasture Covers Click the Equations button to add or modify the plate meter or rapid pasture sensor equations AddiEdit Pasture Covers CE mG Adding or modifying Management Unit AII units X Help Cancel equations Date and Method 2000 00 Date 4 11 2005 1900 00 Select Method Patek Pee nier 1800 00 FARMWORKS Electronic F_ 3000 00 i t Select Equation Sat Equ
30. formed internally by P Plus P Plus comes with some pre canned equations relevant to common pasture measurement devices If you wish to enter a personalised equation click on the Equations button at the top of the screen On the left hand side of the screen the readings that you have taken from the electronic rising plate meter or the Rapid Pasture Meter in kilograms of dry matter per hectare If you have only recorded height then you will need to change the equation relevant to the type of measurement device and season e g Pasture Meter Winter After entering all pasture covers for all paddocks you can click on the Close button On the middle screen the red line will be shown along with a black line indicating the current date The feed wedge can be displayed at the bottom of the pasture covers and will provide the top 20 paddocks of the total feed wedge If you wish to see all the paddocks you will need to print this out via Reports Note You can not print until you receive the licence file from our support staff At any time you can edit the pasture covers by double left clicking on the date of the cover that you wish to edit and alter the figures accordingly This also applies to the cover targets which can be edited at any time FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 37 4 6 PastureCover Reports There are a number of different reports that can be selected for reporting your cover The main reports are Cover On Date Feed Wedge On
31. ic repairs No electronic components are sold as spare parts If in NZ Contact Apollo Electronics Ltd to establish the current standard cost and enclose a crossed cheque payable to Apollo with your counter If the complete plate meter is sent for repair any further mechanical parts that need to be replaced there will be at an additional cost All Mechanical components as shown above can be purchased as a Spare part Please contact Apollo Electronics Ltd for pricing If outside New Zealand then contact your local distributor FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 14 10 Trouble Shooting 10 1 There is no visual display gt gt Check Resolution The Counter is turned on The battery is not flat Replace battery If you have just changed a battery you may have damaged the battery snap clip to top of the battery Service send to Apollo Electronics Ltd 10 2 The counter does not beep when taking a reading gt gt If it doesn t beep this means the counter does not know where the bottom is therefore does not record the plonk Check Resolution The counter can Zero calibrate become To do this work through the following steps uncalibrated if it receives a knock and the cog jumps a notch on the metal shaft a Ensure the plate is fully down when holding by the handle and the plate is off the ground and the unit is switched off b Hold down the Count button while turning
32. ing x 120 1000 Plate Meter Reading x 140 1200 Plate Meter Reading x 165 1250 Plate Meter Reading x 185 1200 Plate Meter Reading x 170 1100 Equations may change without notice and are influenced by seasonal differences If you are unsure of the current equation contact Dexcel or your local consultant There are also different equations suited to summer wet and irrigated pasture which are not recorded here Sheep and Beef pastures differ in density to dairy pastures and will therefore require different equations Meat amp Wool are currently researching appropriate equations for their industry If you are unable to obtain a formula we suggest that you use the default Formula that is built into the counter FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 7 3 1 Entering your own formula To enter your own cover equation or one that may have been recommended by a third party such as your consultant Dexcel or Meat amp Wool please do the following 3 1 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 While the F200 is switched on hold down the Formula button The display looks like this F__ d Press the formula button again briefly the change the d default to c custom Now press Reset briefly and the display will look like this O_ _ _ This is the first of two numbers you will enter The first number is the equation add number and the second the multiply number For example in equation 2 above the first numbe
33. inz govt nz be aware they are older photos A lot of councils have new aerial photos available at very good prices Alternatively you can get new colour aerial photos from Terralink or NZ Aerial Mapping prices start from 345 FARMWORKS can assist you in getting the aerial photo we would require your land title information from your rates bill or two GPS points from the two furtherest points on your farm In some areas there are private companies that will fly your farm and provide a digital farm photo 14 Can I buy P Plus locally At this time we have software dealers in Northland Waikato Manawatu Wairarapa South Otago and Southland Give us a call for more information or check our website also more dealers are coming available all the time 15 Can I connect a handheld GPS device to P Plus Yes you can P Plus communicates with the Garmin Etrex Legend Garmin GPS 72 Garmin GPS 76 Garmin GPS 60 and Garmin GPS 60MAPCSx This will allow you to take waypoints on every fence post on your property then simply join the dots in P Plus to create your farm map Farmworks have Garmin Handheld GPS units for sale priced from 350 GST Should you require further information please contact In the UK the F200 Platemeter is supplied to you by Agricultural Supply Services 01453 860860 www agrisupplyservices co uk FARMWORKS TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy neither FARMWORKS Limited n
34. iser applications to minimise over ordering e Plan new fence lines build farm maps water systems drainage systems etc e Provide contractors with property details for fertiliser or pesticide applications e Report stock reconciliations FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 44 8 Does P Plus have a regular upgrade policy and support Support is provided free for the first 60 days with ongoing support available via a 0900 telephone line although email support is currently free for non specific general assistance Alternately contact can be made on the main office number as we can then charge on an incident based support charge We have our own internal software writers with new special features constantly under development New releases are dependent on the completion of development milestones Your input is highly valued in terms of adding new features 9 What special features does P Plus offer e P Plus can directly import GPS maps generated through our GPS mapping service as well as other line features such as soils and contours referred to as shape files e Garmin GPS60 handheld units can be used to create a map of your farm or to draw new features on your farm map e The Feed Forecaster Budget is easy to configure and use with all the complexity behind the scenes e Integration with the C DAX Rapid Pasture Meter is now available via Bluetooth e All modules can be standalone or integrated into one system as required You do n
35. ll display the following details System i e Details of the operating system e g Windows XP Registration i e who the operating system is registered to Jo Blogg Computer the computer specification CPU type size and RAM Memory N If you are not sure about your computer configuration get in touch with the dealer who sold you the computer and ask them to confirm your exact configuration 6 What benefits are there in using the software You have the ability to record daily activities of stock movements pasture feed budgeting plan subdivisions measure pastures fence lines drains etc plus maintain a record of revenues and costs Maps provide an excellent communication medium for staff and contractors which can be printed out for distribution With quality assurance and auditing needs P Plus has significant advantages The Feed Forecaster Budget module allows you to proactively manage your feed situation rather than waiting until you are on top of a feed issue Whiteboards can be engraved with your map on them simply email to our support team and they will assist you 7 What management decisions can we make utilising the software Depending on the module you use you can do a number of regular operations e Pasture cover reporting in conjunction with your plate meter or Rapid Pasture Sensor e Produce grazing rounds for diary farms or intensive beef operations e Prepare feed budgets daily weekly yearly e Plan fertil
36. modified This equation is typically used between April and September in New Zealand In 2001 new research provided new formula options that were more relevant to regions pasture types and management techniques i e irrigated pasture The research also provided equations to more accurately reflect the physiological state of the pastures e g vegetative versus reproductive state Some examples are Cover kgDM ha 158 x height Cover kgDM ha 158 x height 1000 Cover kKgDM ha 158 x height 200 The counter also provides an option for selecting your own equation or those recommended by consultants DEXCEL or Meat amp Wool When you receive your counter it will normally be setup for the DEXCEL recommended equation for the autumn winter months Please refer to Section 3 Current New Zealand Dairy Equations for examples of the DEXCEL equations 2 3 3 Entering the factory default formula While the F200 is switched on hold down the Formula button The display looks like this F_ _ d press the Reset button briefly The display will then show 500 and then 140 The default formula has now been loaded and saved to memory To enter your own formula please refer to section 3 1 Entering your own formula 2 3 4 How to Zero Calibrate your Platemeter To ensure the Plate Meter accurately measures the compressed height of pasture the counter must be calibrated This requires setting a base level of zero so measuremen
37. n of the P Plus PastureCover Software we recommend you to save all current work and exit out of any other windows applications If P Plus is already installed then start your existing version of P Plus and perform a full P Plus backup to your hard disk or USB memory stick This installation will upgrade all versions newer than 1 87 simply continue to follow the instructions below e If your version of P Plus is older than 1 87 or Farmtracker then call FARMWORKS to discuss your upgrade options e If you already have the same version number installed then you do not need to do anything as the latest software is already installed You may still need to apply for another licence if you have purchased Feed Budget separately or if you have purchased a Tier 2 Pasture Sensor To apply for a new licence start P Plus and select Help then select Enter Licence details See section 3 of this document for more details e If you already have P Plus and use the mapping options then install the Farm Professional version You may need to manually create the Rapid Pasture sensor equations manually if you are using a Rapid Pasture Meter Please follow the instructions If you encounter a problem that cannot be resolved please email support farmworkspfs co nz FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 23 1 How to install P Plus PastureCover Take the CD and place it in the CD drive It should automatically boot and the screen below will appear a a P
38. nces should you apply CRC or light oil to the potentiometer It is a dry bearing and any lubricant will render the potentiometer useless Send to Apollo Electronics Ltd for service and repair Check the metal shaft is coming right back into the base of the black tube Ensure there is no grass or soil build up preventing it from doing so Also check the large washer at the bottom of the shaft is not catching on the bottom of the plate Clean the Plate Meter Check the cog is running smoothly on the shaft If the counter is mounted too close to the metal shaft there will be quite a lot of friction when taking a reading If the counter is mounted too far away from the metal shaft the cog is liable to jump a notch easily Re assemble the Plate Meter 10 3 Cog becoming worn gt gt Check Resolution Not aligned correctly on the shaft Re align the cog or replace the cog Order from Apollo Electronics Ltd 10 4 The counter continuously beeps and eventually turns off gt gt Check Resolution This is normally due to a low battery The Recharge the battery counter requires a given level of power to operate correctly If the battery doesn t have Battery may be due for replacement sufficient power it may continuously beep to warn you Remember if you turn the counter Requires electronic service off for a few minutes it may recover slightly but the problem will not go away
39. ng measuring and viewing Initials S urname DM Lingstone Crop Planning QA storage sales and WUE Address Victoria Fall Road Stock Eastern Southland Record Mob activity Feed Forecaster Budget New Calculate animal feed demand and supply T Individual Animal Coming Soon Phonelj03 987 6543 Contact FARMWORKS for availability Fax 03387 6541 Email david myemail co nz Computer Details Optional First Names David Make Del Preference for Licence File Processor Celeron Printer HD5600 f EMail Floppy Disk Windows Version windows xP X Figure 4 P Plus Licence Details FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 27 A licence file will be sent to you once the Licence Details have been received and processed by FARMWORKS Issuing of the Licence file is subject to you complying with the licensing agreement which is attached to the licence email Allow five working days for your licence file to arrive by email Once you have filled out the licence details click on Close you can now start to set up your farm For further assistance you can refer to the PastureCover Manual section 4 which is available from within P Plus PastureCover main screen under the PDF Manuals menu Please note that you can only create one farm if you have more than one farm call FARMWORKS for a price for the Professional Pasture Cover software NOTE Licencing is free using email Licencing via floppy or CDROM will
40. ng measurement is taken just before it is grazed off by a mob of animals e A post grazing measurement is taken just after a mob of animals has been moved off a paddock to determine the residual cover e A snapshot measurement is the normal type of measurement taken during a full farm pasture assessment when the paddock has an intermediate level of cover At this time no decisions are made on this data but in future versions the grass grown and grass growth reports will use this information and thus give far more reliable grass data In the meantime we suggest setting the pre post or snapshot flags correctly so that future reports will have a good history of pre grazing and residual measurements to work with Walk Ride Order The walk order is the order that the paddocks are visited when performing a set of pasture cover measurements over an entire property The walk order is used when the Cover Entry form is printed out to place paddocks in the sequence that they are visited Also in the Add Edit Pasture Covers screen the walk order is used to determine how the paddocks are ordered To configure the Walk Ride order click on the Farm menu then select Setup then choose Paddocks refer to Section 3 7 In the top right corner of the paddock edit window is the walk number adjust this number to modify the walk order You will need to change the shift option to from List order to Walk Number to see the effect of changing the walk
41. nning storage and sales details to also be recorded within P Plus PastureCover for recording pasture covers from plate meters and other measuring devices to provide covers over time growth rates and feed wedges This is provided free with any purchase of the FARMWORKS Electronic Rising Plate Meter or the C DAX Rapid Pasture Meter PastureCover also runs as a standalone module for those only wanting to record their pasture cover details Stock Used in conjunction with the paddock module you can record grazing records also includes stock reconciliation details which link in with the Full Feed Budget Feed Forecaster Budget for dairy sheep beef and deer Enables daily weekly and annual budgeting Farmers can proactively anticipate and therefore more effectively manage their feed plan and requirements Includes Weather and PastureCover modules Individual Animals currently under development ideal for recording commercial operations relating to individual animals such as weight and production records not genetic Suitable for dry stock or bull beef operations where weight recording is important Minor Modules include Farm Records maintain a list and record of your farm assets Weather maintain weather data or import historical records and provides reports FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 42 4 Do I have to buy the full program P Plus is sold based on a minimum package combination that includes Mapping am
42. ological state of the pasture vegetative flowering and seeding and the pasture composition If you are using a FARMWORKS Electronic Rising Plate Meter then this section does not apply as the mathematics is already performed on the plate meter in this case the equation is set to the height or no equation as the multiplied value B 1 It is important to ensure you are using the correct equation to calculate the KgDM ha value given the pasture height the plate meter reads DM Equations Description No Equation Plate December Name Plate Dexcel All Seasons Active IV Plate February Source Dexcel Plate Historical all seasons lanier P Plate March Plate November Plate October A 500 00 B 140 00 C 0 00 Plate winter Rapid PM Canterbury Rapid PM Default Rapid PM Wairarapa kgDM ha 4 B x value C x value2 The F200 Farmworks Electronic Rising Plate Meter default equation is the modern equation 140 height x 500 and is used throughout New Zealand FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 39 A more accurate calibration can be achieved by taking cuttings or your consultant may be able to advice you on the most appropriate equation for you Today DEXCEL are promoting a new range of equations to more accurately reflect the changes in the growth stages of the pasture There may be some modification to these equations depending on the season and the influences of management practices E g irrigation Check with your
43. olon will disappear once it passes 9 and enter clicks mode At full height the display should read 50 which is 50 half centimetres The counter has now been calibrated successfully Switch off when you have finished and then back on again without pressing any buttons Test the zero calibration by raising and lowering the plate several times A beep should sound and the kgDM ha is displayed on the LCD screen as the plate falls If it does not repeat the steps above and retest If the calibration fails to hold then check the black saddle is screwed down firmly and the F300 does not twist easily on the steel shaft Otherwise the potentiometer which the cog drives could be faulty and will need replacing This can occur with excessive wear often compounded by dust and dirt entering the dry bearing of the potentiometer See section 7 Caring For Your Plate Meter oO oO 3 Current New Zealand Dairy Equations For your convenience the following are the equations promoted by Dexcel for dairy pastures since May 2001 Please refer to the section on 2 3 3 Entering the Formula for more information on how to enter the appropriate equation These formulas are in P Plus already and to use them you will need to enter them into your F200 Platemeter Rising Plate Meter Equations Dairy Pastures Winter April Sept Plate Meter Reading x 140 500 Factory Default October Plate Meter Reading x 115 850 Plate Meter Read
44. or any employee of the company Shall be liable on any ground whatsoever to any party in respect of decisions or actions they may make as a result of using this information FARMWORKS reserves the right to make changes without notice to any product specification to improve reliability function or design E amp OE FARMWORKS Ag Hub P Plus and Le Pod are registered Trade Marks of FARMWORKS Limited FARMWORKS Precision Farming Systems Ltd is a subsidiary of FARMWORKS Limited Copyright FARMWORKS Limited 2004 All rights reserved FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 47
45. ot have to purchase the full program 10 What do I have to do to get started with P Plus We can send you a demonstration disk or you can download P Plus from our website All the modules will be enabled for a trial period of 30 days Prior to the end of this period you will need to purchase the relevant modules before you can continue using the software The new modules cannot be registered until Farmworks has received and processed payment for them Any data you have entered during the trial period will be available for you to continue with after registration is complete If Farmworks have drawn a farm map for you for a small fee we can load the map file into the demonstration version so that you can evaluate the software as it relates to your property 11 Can I do my accounts with P Plus Included on the P Plus CDROM is a full featured financial package Phoenix for Cash and accrual accounting specifically designed for farming applications A free 500 transaction trial is included and prices start at 495 GST FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 45 12 What are the purchase options RRP All Prices NZ P Plus Professional Excl GST P Plus Professional is recommended for users who wish to manage multiple farms in the one system The licence allows a maximum of 5 farms per licence Includes 2 licences use with Desktop and Laptop or second desktop Map amp Paddock Module Maximum 5 farms 850 00 Stock Module Maximum 5 f
46. p Paddock as described above Additional modules can be added to your P Plus system at any time and are fully integrated It merely requires a new registration to activate the other modules Let us discuss the best options to suit your needs Pricing depends on the combination of modules you require and is detailed in Question 11 Note that the Individual Animal module is currently under development and is not yet available 5 Computer Specifications 5 1 What size computer will P Plus operate on and what version of Windows do I require We recommend the following computer specification for P Plus e Operating system Windows ME 2000 XP or Vista 32 bit only e CPU 1 00GHz e RAM Memory 256MB minimum recommend 512MB 1GB Vista e CD ROM Drive DVD CD RW combo drive e Monitor SVGA e Windows compatible mouse e Windows compatible printer e Internet and email Access for licensing and support Note that the software will operate on lower specification PCs however processing will be slower and some will struggle to manage the large map or aerial photo files If in doubt contact FARMWORKS to discuss Note P Plus PastureCover will run adequately on Windows 95 release 2 or Windows 98 as a standalone package FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 43 5 2 How do I find out the specification of my current PC Follow these steps 1 Go to Control Panel Select System 3 Select the General tab which wi
47. p the shaft clean The shaft can get a build up of dirt which affects the accuracy of the Plate Meter as the shaft will not run smoothly and more force is required to take a reading Clean the shaft with a poly pad or similar Do not use lubricant as this will build up inside the black outer shaft 7 3 Remember to check the counter is switched off between cover walks The switch is easily left on which will waste the battery 8 Component Parts If your Plate Meter is damaged or you require replacement parts please refer to the diagram below to identify the correct part In general all components are readily replaceable by the user except for the potentiometer membrane or components within the counter Contact APOLLO ELECTRONICS LTD to discuss servicing options M6 X 12 Button Socket Screws Metal Shaft Y x 1 Flat Washer Back case with Handle Inner Tube battery retainer Yellow Handle Black Tube 4 M4 x9 Flat Washer and Pan Head Pozi P k ead Pozi P ks Saddles Cog attached to z Potentiometer on case Clear Front Cover lt 4 Potentiometer KgDM ha memorane Keypad L 7 Charging Socket Battery Retainer Inserted Black Plastic Plate FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 12 9 Retrofitting an Electronic Counter to a Manual Plate Meter An electronic counter can be attached to most manual Plate Meters with little or no modification However it is essential that care is taken to ensure it is co
48. r 115 is the multiply number and the second 850 is the add number The add number is 4 digits long and can range from 0 to 9999 Starting with the first digit press the Formula button to change this digit to a value from 0 to 9 Press the reset button when it is correct NB 850 for example would be entered as 0850 The next digit will change to a zero Repeat this process until all 4 digits have been entered The display then changes to the multiply number The multiply number has 3 digits and can range from O to 199 The first digit will appear as 0 Press the Formula button to change this digit to a value of O or 1 Press the Reset button when it is correct and the next digit will appear The last two digits can have values from O to 9 Repeat this process until all digits are entered and the display returns to its normal state FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 8 4 Taking Paddock Readings The Pasture Walk It is recommended you print off the Pasture Cover Walks Cover Entry Form from your P Plus software program before undertaking a Pasture Walk This will enable you to record each paddock height cover for later inputting into the program It will also provide a copy of the previous two walks if available for comparison 4 1 4 1 1 4 1 2 4 1 3 4 1 4 4 1 5 4 1 6 4 1 7 4 1 8 How to Take Paddock Readings Switch the unit on using the toggle switch at the b
49. r example in equation 1 above the first number 140 is the multiply number and the second 500 is the add number The add number is 4 digits long and can range from 0 to 9999 Press the Formula button to change this digit to a value between 0 and 9 When it is correct press the Reset button Enter the next digits the same way Repeat this process for all 4 digits until the display changes to the multiply number NB 500 would be entered as 0500 The multiply number has 3 digits and can range from O to 255 Enter the first digit by pressing the Formula button to change this digit to either O or 1 Press the Reset button when it is correct and continue to the next digit The last two digits can have values from 0 to 9 Repeat this process until all digits have been entered and the display returns to its normal state FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 18 11 Maximise the value of your Plate Meter by Installing and Running the P Plus PastureCovers Software Program 11 1 What is P Plus PastureCovers This is a computer software program supplied FREE with any purchase of the Electronic Rising Plate or the Electronic Counter Instructions for installation are contained in this manual By entering the pasture covers recorded with the electronic counter it provides the user a number of reporting options often required to meet feed allocations Such reports include pasture
50. rm and click select m bring up the PastureCover Setup screen Please enter your farm name and click on OK This will Properties Record details of the farm name and PastureCover Setup address Preferences No changes required Paddocks Create Paddocks and configure paddock sizes Pasture Equations Growth Rates Setup your own Only used if licenced for pasture equations feed budget Cover Targets Enter targets on half monthly basis The PastureCover Setup screen allows you to e configure your land Preferences see section 3 1 e create and edit properties see section 3 2 e create and edit paddocks see section 3 3 e configure pasture equations see section 4 7 e enter Cover targets see section 4 4 NOTE At a minimum ensure that you have created your paddocks and setup the paddocks sizes Once the task is completed click on the Close button to move on The P Plus PastureCover screen will appear See below P Plus Pasture Covers Highlands FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 32 4 2 The PastureCover Main Screen Click on the pasture covers button and the screen below will appear Your screen will not have as much information on it yet but once you have setup a few things and enter a few months of covers it will begin to look like the screen below List of PastureCover Pasture Covers New d undertaken by date 3 Spc 2006 with average cov
51. rrectly attached and aligned to ensure smooth operation 9 1 Remove all existing mechanical counters from the Plate Meter if applicable 9 2 Check that a cog is attached to the small shank on the back of the counter To attach a cog to the shank of the counter DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE PRESSURE It is best to heat the cog in a hot cup of water prior to pressing onto the shaft 9 3 Lay the Electronic Plate Counter face down on a flat surface so that the cog and the on off switch are to your left 9 4 Turn the cog on the counter anti clockwise to the left until it stops 9 5 Hold the Plate Meter with the handle to the left The slit in the shaft where the cog fits should face toward you 9 6 Make sure the metal shaft is fully closed to the bottom end of the black tube If you have difficulty keeping the plate closed we suggest that you bind some tape around the large washer and the bulb of the black tube 9 7 Take two strips of rubber and lay these on the surface of the counter so that the end of the rubber lies 2 5cm from the edge of the counter Place the black tube with the steel shaft inserted onto the back of the counter fitting the Cog into the slit of the tube The Cog should be situated mid way in the slit in the black tube 9 8 Wrap the rubber strip around the black tube and place the plastic bracket onto the rubber strip aligning the holes in the brackets with the holes in the back of the count
52. single 9V NiMH rechargeable battery which should give 24 26 hours continuous use between charges A low battery warning is built in to the counter and might be displayed when switched on You can continue to take readings however it is recommended the battery is recharged before using the plate meter for an extended period of time The F200 should be switched OFF during recharging Attach the charger to the small socket on the side of the counter that was supplied with you plate meter Switch on the wall socket and the display should show Ch Decimal points will scroll along the bottom of the display This will continue for approx 5 hours after which the display will show FULL The battery is now charged No damage will occur if the charger is left on beyond this For best results occasionally allow the F200 to remain on charge overnight Unplug the charger and switch the F200 ON There should not be any low battery warning The rechargeable battery should give years of service before needing to be replaced 5 2 Replacing the Battery NiMH 8 4V rechargeable The NiMH 9 Volt battery can be recharged hundreds of times but eventually the serviceable time between charges will shorten When this happens a replacement battery should be fitted Before you replace the battery make sure the unit is switched off Remove the counter from the black tube and loosen the screw in the middle of the counter back Pull out the battery retainer
53. sts of the following components e The PastureCover Setup Screen e The PastureCover Main Screen e The Add Edit Screen e The Target Covers Window e Entering First PastureCover e PastureCover Reports PastureCover is free to the purchaser of a FARMWORKS platemeter or Rapid Pasture Meter If you have purchased extra modules you do not need to install the PastureCover module as it is free with any other module purchase Simply install P Plus as per the instructions that came with the CDROM For installation instructions for P Plus PastureCover refer to the P Plus PastureCover installation guide that came with the CDROM or platemeter or Rapid Pasture Meter FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 31 4 1 PastureCover Setup When you have installed P Plus PastureCover and sent the licence request to Farmworks then you can setup your farm Installation and licencing is covered in the P Plus PastureCover installation guide that came with the CDROM Once you have filled in the licence information you are ready to set up your farm Note if licence form is showing then select Close Firstly to create your new Farm click on the Farm menu and select Create New Farm The Enter a Farm File Name prompt will appear Note if P Plus says farm licence already reached then go to the Farm menu and then click on Select Farm There should be two farms in the list one being the Demonstration Farm and the other your own Farm Click on your fa
54. the unit on The display will look like 0 c When correctly calibrated the last digit should flicker between 0 and 1 If it does not do that then turn the b ue shaft which supports the cog at the back of the unit with a screw driver Make sure you turn the shaft within the cog and it is not moving the steel shaft As you turn you will see the numbers increasing or decreasing Adjust the blue shaft until the digit on the display reads 0 d Turn off then on again when you have finished e Test the zero calibration by raising the plate and replacing it several times A beep should sound and the height displayed as the plate falls If it does not repeat the steps above and retest If the calibration fails to hold then the potentiometer which the cog drives through the shaft is probably faulty and will need replacing This can occur with excessive wear often compounded by dust and dirt entering the dry bearing You will need to send the Counter to Apollo Electronics Ltd for service and repair Ensure the cog is not slipping on the blue shaft potentiometer Replace the Potentiometer and Cog Send to Apollo Electronics Ltd for service and repair FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 15 oO June 0 Check Resolution The cog has wound off Replace Request a spare cog from Apollo Electronics Ltd Potentiometer damaged The Potentiometer is the blue part that drives the cog NB Under no circumsta
55. ts can be benchmarked against this If the counter does not return to zero after each plonk it will not record the measurement hence the counter will not beep FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 5 If the counter is removed from the black tube or receives a severe knock it may jump a groove on the steel shaft which will put the counter out of calibration It will need to be recalibrated To make this adjustment you will need a small flat blade screwdriver that will fit into the slot of the blue shaft at the back of the counter To perform the calibration please refer to the following steps 2 3 1 4 2 3 1 b 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 e 2 3 1 f 2 31 FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 0 Ensure the plate is fully down place on a firm flat surface and the unit is switched off Hold down the Count button while switching the unit on The display will change to CAL briefly and display a colon followed by a number Let s assume you see 5 when you switch on Proceed as follows The colon signifies that it is in fine calibration mode Use a flat blade screwdriver and turn the blue plastic shaft within the cog clockwise looking at the display until the display reads 0 NB The cog and steel shaft must remain stationary DO NOT TURN THE SHAFT BEYOND THIS POINT OR YOU MAY DAMAGE THE POTENTIOMETER Once the counter reads zero move the counter up the full length of the shaft The c
56. ugh the list until you find it 1 Open Windows Explorer and go to your CD Drive in the left hand side of the screen 2 Click on the CD Drive and this will bring up four folders in the right hand side of the screen Select the Program Files folder and click on to open 3 Then select and double click on Setup exe 4 This should bring up the Installation Window Then simply follow the prompts Please note that if your CD Drive is over 5 years you may experience problems reading some CDs FARMWORKS Plate Meter F200 June 09 25 2 How to Run P Plus PastureCover Once the installation is complete go to your desktop and double click on your P Plus PastureCover Icon to start the program pP Alternatively From the windows task bar click on select All Programs E al then from the P Plus Program Group select P Plus PastureCover P Plus Pasture Cover On opening P Plus PastureCover the window in Figure 3 will appear This is simply a warning window advising the number of days left in the trial licence to evaluate your P Plus software mije P Plus This screen will disappear when you have registered P Plus PastureCover correctly You haye 30 days Please click on OK to close the screen before your trial licence expires Go to lt Help gt menu amp lt Enter Licence Details gt Fill in your details print the form and fax or e mail it to us in order to obtain your licence Your Computer ID is 249DE1FB Figure 3
57. using the toggle switch at the back of the unit Off is in the up position When the unit is off there are no numbers displayed on the LCD screen 2 2 The Front Display Buttons The various functions of the F200 are accessed by the two buttons on the front of the unit labelled Avg Reset and Count Formula The wordings in bold type are the primary functions These are activated by a short press of the button The secondary functions Reset and Formula are activated by holding the button down until the function operates When the unit is first switched on the display will show the model number the current formula in use and finally the calculated kgDM ha based on that formula and any readings in memory Pressing the Avg button will briefly display the Average pasture height This is often referred to as clicks measured in 0 5cm and will be displayed to one decimal place i e 0 0 or 12 4 Note 1 click 0 5cm lt 0n Off at back geass AAS A TOOLS FOR MAXIMUM GROWTH F200 Avg Count Reset Formuna 2 2 1 The number of readings is displayed when Count button is pressed The display will show a c on the left side and the count on the right The display will return to normal after 2 seconds 2 2 2 All readings can be cleared reset by holding down the Reset button for approximately 2 seconds then the display will change to 0 FARMWORK
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