PTx Trimble Launches WM-Fieldform Water Management System

PTx Trimble has introduced WM-FieldForm, a system designed to help farmers control water movement into, out of, and within fields. 

WM-FieldForm provides single-scraper control for landforming, grading, leveling, and terracing projects to form field surfaces into optimal shapes, with the goal of increasing crop yield benefits. This will allow farmers the capability to form and maintain fields on their own, minimize topsoil disturbance, and adopt sustainable farming practices with their water resources. 

This system is designed to work regardless of the farmer’s local climate. For farmers struggling with excessive moisture, WM-Fieldform can help reduce soil erosion, save on inputs by limiting nutrient leaching, and prevent yield losses from ponding. For farmers in dryer climates, the system can help improve irrigation and reduce water runoff.  

“We know farmers are looking for products and tools that can help them do more with less, which is why we’ve invested in WM-FieldForm to continue our legacy of water management innovation and development,” said Andrew Sunderman, general manager of PTx Trimble. “We’re excited to share new features, updated functionality, and even more importantly, to advance our water management technologies and make them more accessible for farmers to improve the accuracy and impact of land forming projects and optimize water distribution across their fields.”

How WM-FieldForm Works

WM-FieldForm is designed to simplify each step of the landforming process from surveying and design to execution and verification. 

First, farmers will need to create a topographic survey of their fields using RTK measurements. They will need to create boundaries, interior points, and calculations to report true acreage of survey areas using tools like the WM-Survey II app. 

The data then needs to be imported into the WM-Form design software to create optimized field surface drainage designs by defining primary and cross slopes, prescribed orientation, and preferred grades for more complex field requirements. The software uses dirt-balancing algorithms to minimize topsoil disturbance, and straightforward workflows that are designed to be easy to learn. 

Hardware and Software Requirements

The WM-FieldForm system provides visualization and auto-design features by taking advantage of the Precision-IQ field application available on PTx Trimble’s GFX-1260 in-cab display. Farmers will need a tractor with a NAV-900 guidance controller for GNSS accuracy, as well as a RTK base station for sub-inch vertical accuracy.

Availability

The WM-Fieldform water management system is available to order now. For more information, contact your local PTx Trimble dealer, or visit ptxtrimble.com.