Computer-implemented calculation of corn harvest recommendations

Abstract

A computer system and computer-implemented techniques for determining crop harvest times during a growing season based upon hybrid seed properties, weather conditions, and geo-location of planted fields is provided. In an embodiment, determining crop harvest times for corn fields may be accomplished using a server computer system that receives over a digital communication network, electronic digital data representing hybrid seed properties, including seed type and relative maturity, and weather data for the specific geo-location of the agricultural field. Weather data includes temperature, humidity, and dew point for a specified period of days. Using digitally programmed equilibrium moisture content logic within the computer system to create and store, in computer memory, an equilibrium moisture content time series for the specific geo-location that is based upon weather data. The equilibrium moisture content is used to determine the rate of grain dry down because it gives a basis for how strongly water vapor will dissipate from a kernel to open air. Using digitally programmed grain moisture logic of the computer system to calculate and store in computer memory R6 moisture content for a specific hybrid seed based on a plurality of hybrid seed data. Using digitally programmed grain dry down logic of the computer system to create and store in computer memory a grain dry down time series model for the specific hybrid seed at the specific geo-location that represents the estimated moisture content of the kernel over specified time data points. The grain dry down time series is based upon the equilibrium moisture content time series, the estimated R6 date, the estimated R6 moisture content value, and specific hybrid seed properties. Using digitally programmed harvest recommendation logic of the computer system to determine and display a harvest time recommendation for harvesting crop grown from a specific hybrid seed plant based on the grain dry down time series and the desired moisture level of the grower.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving over a digital data communication network at an agricultural intelligence computer system comprising one or more processors and digital memory, electronic digital data comprising a plurality of values representing crop seed data and weather data for one or more agricultural fields;   using digitally programmed logic in an equilibrium moisture content logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, creating and storing in computer memory an equilibrium moisture content time series for a specific geo-location based, at least in part, on the plurality of values crop seed data and weather data, where the equilibrium moisture content time series represents average daily dry-basis equilibrium moisture content fraction over a series of time data points;   using digitally programmed logic in a grain moisture logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, calculating and storing in computer memory an R6 moisture content for a specific hybrid seed based, at least in part, on the plurality of values representing crop seed data;   using digitally programmed logic in a grain dry down logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, creating and storing in computer memory a grain dry down time series for the specific hybrid seed at the specific geo-location based, at least in part, on the equilibrium moisture content time series, the R6 moisture content for the specific hybrid seed, and a calculated drying coefficient for the specific hybrid seed, where the grain dry down time series represents moisture levels of the specific hybrid seed at given points in time;   and   using digitally programmed logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, displaying a harvest time recommendation for harvesting crop grown on one or more agricultural fields based, at least in part, on the electronic digital data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the crop seed data includes digital data representing estimated relative maturity of the specific hybrid seed and R6 data for the specific hybrid seed that is based upon historical phenology modeling data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weather data comprises digital data representing values for historical average, maximum, and minimum daily temperature, historical daily dewpoint temperatures, historical average relative humidity, and historical saturated vapor pressure for a given temperature for the one or more fields. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creation of the equilibrium moisture content time series by the equilibrium moisture content logic comprises:
 deriving an average daily dry-basis equilibrium moisture content fraction value at a specific time using computer execution of a digital representation of a Chung-Pfost equation;   compiling the equilibrium moisture content time series using derived average daily dry-basis equilibrium moisture content fraction values over a series of time data points.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculation of the R6 moisture content comprises:
 deriving a dry down start date coefficient based, at least in part, on R6 data for the specific hybrid seed;   deriving a dry down adjustment factor based, at least in part, on relative maturity of the specific hybrid seed;   calculating an R6 moisture content for the specific hybrid seed using the dry down start date coefficient, the dry down adjustment factor, the relative maturity of the specific hybrid seed, and a baseline maturity duration timeframe.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dry down start date coefficient is calculated as a median of a posterior distribution of R6 dates for the specific hybrid seed, where the posterior distribution of R6 dates is a compilation of historical R6 dates for the specific hybrid seed measured across one or more fields. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the dry down adjustment factor is calculated as a median of a posterior distribution of variation between observed maturity dates and estimated R6 dates for the specific hybrid seed measured across one or more fields. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the baseline maturity duration timeframe is configured based upon a type of the hybrid seed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creation of the grain dry down time series comprises:
 calculating a rate of change in moisture value for the specific hybrid seed at a specific time, where the rate of change in moisture equals a difference between the moisture content within the specific hybrid seed and the equilibrium moisture content at a specific time, multiplied by a dry down coefficient;   determining the moisture content within the specific hybrid seed based on the R6 moisture content for the specific hybrid seed;   deriving the equilibrium moisture content from the equilibrium moisture content time series at the specific time calculated;   determining the dry down coefficient based upon a function of relative maturity expressed in days;   compiling the calculated rate of change in moisture values to create the grain dry down time series.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the harvest recommendation is based upon selecting a date from the grain dry down time series where the grain moisture equals a target moisture value. 
     
     
         11 . One or more non-transitory storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computing devices, cause performance of a method comprising the steps of:
 receiving over a digital data communication network at an agricultural intelligence computer system comprising one or more processors and digital memory, electronic digital data comprising a plurality of values representing crop seed data and weather data for one or more agricultural fields;   using digitally programmed logic in an equilibrium moisture content logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, creating and storing in computer memory an equilibrium moisture content time series for a specific geo-location based, at least in part, on the plurality of values crop seed data and weather data, where the equilibrium moisture content time series represents average daily dry-basis equilibrium moisture content fraction over a series of time data points;   using digitally programmed logic in a grain moisture logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, calculating and storing in computer memory an R6 moisture content for a specific hybrid seed based, at least in part, on the plurality of values representing crop seed data;   using digitally programmed logic in a grain dry down logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, creating and storing in computer memory a grain dry down time series for the specific hybrid seed at the specific geo-location based, at least in part, on the equilibrium moisture content time series, the R6 moisture content for the specific hybrid seed, and a calculated drying coefficient for the specific hybrid seed, where the grain dry down time series represents moisture levels of the specific hybrid seed at given points in time;   using digitally programmed logic in a harvest recommendation logic of the agricultural intelligence computer system, determining and displaying a harvest time recommendation for harvesting crop grown from the specific hybrid seed planted based, at least in part, on the grain dry down time series.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 11 , wherein the crop seed data includes digital data representing estimated relative maturity of the specific hybrid seed and R6 data for the specific hybrid seed that is based upon historical phenology modeling data. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 11 , wherein the weather data comprises digital data representing values for historical average, maximum, and minimum daily temperature, historical daily dewpoint temperatures, historical average relative humidity, and historical saturated vapor pressure for a given temperature for the one or more fields. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 11 , wherein creation of the equilibrium moisture content time series by the equilibrium moisture content logic comprises:
 deriving an average daily dry-basis equilibrium moisture content fraction value at a specific time using computer execution of a digital representation of a Chung-Pfost equation;   compiling the equilibrium moisture content time series using derived average daily dry-basis equilibrium moisture content fraction values over a series of time data points.   
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 11 , wherein calculation of the R6 moisture content comprises:
 deriving a dry down start date coefficient based, at least in part, on R6 data for the specific hybrid seed;   deriving a dry down adjustment factor based, at least in part, on relative maturity of the specific hybrid seed;   calculating an R6 moisture content for the specific hybrid seed using the dry down start date coefficient, the dry down adjustment factor, the relative maturity of the specific hybrid seed, and a baseline maturity duration timeframe.   
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the dry down start date coefficient is calculated as a median of a posterior distribution of R6 dates for the specific hybrid seed, where the posterior distribution of R6 dates is a compilation of historical R6 dates for the specific hybrid seed measured across one or more fields. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the dry down adjustment factor is calculated as a median of a posterior distribution of variation between observed maturity dates and estimated R6 dates for the specific hybrid seed measured across one or more fields. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the baseline maturity duration timeframe is configured based upon a type of the hybrid seed. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 11 , wherein creation of the grain dry down time series comprises:
 calculating a rate of change in moisture value for the specific hybrid seed at a specific time, where the rate of change in moisture equals a difference between the moisture content within the specific hybrid seed and the equilibrium moisture content at a specific time, multiplied by a dry down coefficient;   determining the moisture content within the specific hybrid seed based on the R6 moisture content for the specific hybrid seed;   deriving the equilibrium moisture content from the equilibrium moisture content time series at the specific time calculated;   determining the dry down coefficient based upon a function of relative maturity expressed in days;   compiling the calculated rate of change in moisture values to create the grain dry down time series.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more non-transitory storage media of  claim 11 , wherein determining the harvest recommendation is based upon selecting a date from the grain dry down time series where the grain moisture equals a target moisture value.