CA2218642A1 - Method of generating and using a grid recipe for use in a control system - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-product applicating system and control are provided for the dispensing of liquid or granular products for agricultural use. Three or more separate products can be dispensed simultaneously and constant control and monitoring of all products is provided for at the control console. The present invention further provides a grid recipe system for creating a recipe which defines the amounts of each type of product to be applied to specific areas of the field. The grid recipe system utilizes the GPS and a data card having the recipe stored thereon for controlling a computer which communicates with the control console of the present invention. The recipe is created by the farmer based on personal knowledge and experience.

Description

SEIE ClElCA_lO N
T I T L E

"METHOD OF GENERATING AND USING A GRID RECIPE
FOR USE IN A CONTROL SYSTEM"

CROSS-REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING PATENT APPLICATION
The present application is a continuation-in-part of a co-pending patent application Serial No. 08/331,795 which is a continuation-in-part of patent application Serial No.
08/098,621 filed July 29,1993, now abandoned.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to product dispensing systems and more particularly to a grid recipe control system for chemical injection systems utilized in agricultural environments.
In many agricultural applications it is necessary to inject or spray chemicals either onto the soil or onto the plants growing on the soil, such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, fumigants, etc. The chemicals may be applied in liquid form or granular form. Typically what has been provided is a chemical container either in the form of a liquid tank or a granular bin in which the chemical is carried until it is metered out and dispensed through one or more spray nozles carried on booms.
Raven Industries of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the assignee of the present applicalion, has previously sold a sprayer control system referred to as the SCS 440 in which a single chemical could be controlled to be dispensed at one of two pre-programmed flow rates and dispensed through up to six booms. Various data displays could be selected at the control console. A later control console known as the SCS 700 allowed for pre-programming one or two chemicals at a speed compensated application rate.
In addition, different amounts of multiple fertilizers, herbicides and other agricultural chemicals are desired in different areas of a field. the amount of a particular chemical to be applied is based upon the soil type, crop type, and week infestation of a certain area of a field. The application of multiple fertilizers by use of a control system is disclosed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,630,773 and 5,220,876. However, the control systems disclosed in U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,630,773 and 5,220,876 require numerous hardware components and elaborate software or computer programs in order to implement the control systems with the pe-existing farm equipment. The elaborate and expensive control systems provided by U.S.
Patent Nos. 4,630,773 and 5,220,876 normally cannot be utilized by the individual farmer due to their high cost and, consequently, are almost exclusively purchase by large farming cooperatives and corporations.
While the control systems disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos.4,630,773 and 5,220,876 are accurate and enable substantially higher yields to be obtained, many individual farmers and small farming operations are desirous of obtaining a higher crop yield by improving current farming practices without incurring the expense of purchasing a control system similar to those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos.4,630,773 and 5,220,876 and the diffficulties encountered in ret,ufilli"g existing equipment to accommodate such systems. Simply put, the more expensive control systems, while providing adequate results, are simply too expensive to ~ CA 02218642 1997-10-20 implement for the individual farmer or small farming operation.
Specifically, U.S. Patent No. 5,220,876 is directed toward a variable rate fertilizer spreading apparatus and control system that utilizes detailed fertilizer maps and detailed on-board soil mapping systems that incorporate data obtained from analyzing the soil using soil analysis apparatus that is provided with the system. Thus, U.S. Patent No. 5,220,876 discloses a fully automatic system in which manual overrides by the equipment operator is not desired, nor provided for. Similarly, U.S. Patent No. 4,630,773 incorporates a digitized soil map which is generated from an aerial photograph of the field. The method disclosed by U.S. Patent No.4,630,773 also includes steps for testing the various soil types in the field and adjusting the fertilizer types accordingly.
However, as noted above, individual farmers and small farm operations such as family-owned farms are not desirous of such a sophisticated or such an expensive system.
Further, such elaborate and expensive systems are not necessary because individual farmers know from their experience over many seasons specifically which areas of their fields may require more or less fertilizer or more or less herbicide. Specifically, by way of prior testing of the soil through years of farming his fields, a farmer is familiar with the different conditions in the field such as lower areas which accumulate water and, thus, have a greater weed infestation problem. The farmer is also familiar with other areas of the field where the soil is lacking nutrients and, consequently, additional fertilizer is required.
The problem faced by these experienced individual farmers is how to convey this information to their equipment operators in an inexpensive and emcient manner without ~ CA 02218642 1997-10-20 resorting to the elaborate systems discussed above. A solution to this problem would preferably involve reliance upon the farmers knowledge and experience and therefore would be a heuristic procedure. A solution to this problem would also preferably enable the farmer to input the date in the form of a grid recipe from a location remote from the field, i.e. from his home or office and which would eliminate entirely the requirement that a fertilizer and soil map be generated as required by the more expensive and elaborate prior art control systems.
It is, therefore, desirable to have a multiple chemical injection system for agriculture use which is capable of providing different amounts of multiple types of fertilizers or chemicals to be dispensed in different parts of a field whereby the amounts dispensed are determined and co,l~lulled by data generated by the farmer based on the farmer's personal knowledge and experience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved control system for chemical application in the agricultural area. This control system allows for the application of multiple products which may be fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, fumigants, carriers, or other similar materials. These materials can be applied in either liquid or granular form. The control system can operate either electric or hydraulic control valves or pumps for the various products.
The control system includes a visual display which displays various information relating to all five products simultaneously such as the rate of application for each product, the volume of each product applied, the amount remaining in each product tank, etc. Other information is also available to be displayed on the control panel including current speed, field area covered, etc. Thus, the number of products handled is greatly increased, the information display is greatly increased and the product dispensing capabilities are greatly increased.
The present invention further provides a grid recipe system having a data card which contains a desired recipe for zoned areas of a field defined by longitude and latitude and the amounts of the multiple products desired to be dispensed over these particular areas. The control system utilizes a Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide the location (longitude and latitude) of the product applicator. Further, the data card provides a medium which can store data received from the control system for further processing by a computer.
In addition, the computer performs two main functions. The first function is to output to the control system the recipe that is defined for the particular gridded zone. Second, the computer stores information transmitted by the control system into defined files. Thus, the present invention cooperatively combines the grid recipe system with the control system.
The resulting grid recipe control system (GRCS) is capable of controlling the application of the liquid and/or granular products at a programmed rate and the applicator rate is controlled relative to the width and speed of the applicator. The GRCS determines in which gridded area the applicator is located and by using this location (which is determined by the GPS), the recipe is downloaded from the data card to the control system to provide the proper application of multiple products to a particular gridded zone in the field based upon the grid ~ CA 02218642 1997-10-20 recipe created by a farmer as discussed below.
The data card provides an electronic media storage device that contains the desired recipe information which is defined by the farmer. The recipe is delineated by the latitude and longitude in all the zoned areas of the field. The farmer creates the recipe by establishing a grid for the field to be fertilized. The farmer also determines the locations in the field requiring different amounts of different products based upon various factors such as the soil type, the weed infestation and the crop type. Thus, a gridded field is used to make a "checker board" of the field in which the farmer may determine how much of each product to apply in each square of the checker board. Because the farmer is familiar with his soil type in his field by prior testing of the soil and years of farming, the creation of the grid recipe is greatly simplified. No aerial photographs are required; no digitized soil maps are needed; no testing and analysis of soil samples is necessary. The method is heuristic in its approach and depends upon the farmer's personal knowledge of the field and its characteristics. For example, the farmer is also familiar with different conditions in the field such as low areas which accumulate water and, thus, have a greater weed infestation problem. Further, the farmer is also familiar with other areas that are lacking in nutrients in the soil, etc. In addition, the farmer plans which type of crop to plant and can base the product needs upon such information.
As a result of the farme~s knowledge, it is possible for the farmer to create the grid recipe desired in the farme~s home or offfice. The farmer does not have to be in the field to do this. For example, the farmer can generate the grid recipe in his offfice on a home . CA 02218642 1997-10-20 computer. The farmer can then transfer this information onto the data card which stores data. The data card is also capable of storing data which is received by the computer in the grid recipe system and the information received from the control system via the computer for further processing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a chemical dispensing vehicle which can be utilized in combination with the present invention.
Figure 2 is an elevational view of the control panel for the chemical injection system of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the various components of the system of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a block diagram illustrating the various components of the system of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the gridded field as could be used in the present invention.
Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of generating and using a grid recipe in a control system in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In Figure 1 there is illustrated an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor generally at 10.
The vehicle 10 may be provided with one or more booms 12 carrying spray or injection conduits 14 through which liquid or granular materials may be dispersed. The vehicle 10 is . CA 02218642 1997-10-20 provided with one or more storage reservoirs 16 for holding the products to be dispensed.
The reservoirs 16 may be contained on separate vehicles and towed like a trailer, or can be incorporated into the vehicle itself in the form of tanks or bins. Carried within the driver's compartment is a console 18 through which control of the dispensing system can be made.
The dispensing system is shown in greater detail in Figure 2 where five separate product containers 16 are illustrated. In the system shown, up to five different types of products can be applied simultaneously. The schematic diagram illustrates that each of the product containers 16 has a controllable output valve 20 leading to a pump 22 which in turn has a controllable output valve 24. The five output flows are then connected by conduits 25 to a single manifold 26 after passing through check valves 28. An in line mixing device 30 may be used to assure that all of the products are thoroughly mixed and from the mixing device the flow is directed out through controlled valves 32 to the booms 12 and dispensing nozles 14.
The system control is operated through the console 18 to provide the appropriate control to the various valves and pumps and to receive information from various sensors.
Sensors such as a flow meter 34, a dispensing tip monitor 36 and a vehicle speed sensor 38 can be used.
The console 18 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. Along the top edge of the console are five switch areas 40a,40b,40c,40d and 40e relating to each of the five products to be dispensed. Each of the switch areas has a first switch 42 for controlling a product dispensing mode, whether that is an automatic mode, a manual mode or off. Also, each area . CA 02218642 1997-10-20 has a second switch 44 for increasing or decreasing the dispensing rate of product when the first switch 42 is in the manual mode.
Below the switch areas is a display screen 45, preferably a liquid crystal display, which, as shown, provides at least four lines of display information. The display is divided into five lateral sections by vertical bars 46 so that information relating to each of the five products can be displayed simultaneously. A top line 48 of the information identifies each of the five product categories. A second line displays specific information relating to each of the five products such as a continuous display of the actual current rate of application of each product. The third line 52 and fourth line 54 display various information as selected by operation of the selector switches positioned below the display.
A first switch 60 is utilized to tum on or turn off the console power. Switch 62, in one mode, is used to move a position cursor to the right, and in a second mode to input the numeral 1. Switch 64 operates in a first mode to move the position cursor to the left and in a second mode to input the numeral 2.
Switch 66 is used in a first mode to enter in boom widths and in a second mode to enter the numeral 3. Thus, by utilizing switch 66 the width of each boom, in inches or centimeters can be input into the console memory for up to ten booms. Key 68 is used in a first mode to enter in wheel size for calculating speed when using a wheel drive speed sensor and in a second mode to enter the numeral 4. By using switch 68 the wheel drive speed sensor can be calibrated to provide appropriate speed input signals when utilizing such a wheel drive speed sensor. Such sensors are known and utilize hall effect switches, . CA 02218642 1997-10-20 magnetic switches or other similar arrangements on a non-driven wheel such that the number of rotations are counted and, given the diameter of the wheel, distance and thus speed can be calculated and displayed.
Switch 70 is used to enter meter calibration constants in a first mode and in a second mode to enter the numeral 5. By utilizing switch 70 the flow meter may be calibrated to provide accurate flow information of product being dispensed. Switch 72 is used to control the valve system response time in a first mode and in a second mode to enter the numeral 6. By utilizing switch 72 the valve control and/or pump control can be modified.
Switch 74 is used in a first mode to input the rate of production application for each product and in a second mode to enter the numeral 7. By utilizing switch 74 a target application rate can be input for each of the products.
Switch 76 is used in a first mode to display the remaining chemical amounts in each tank in a first mode and to enter the numeral 8 in a second mode. Switch 78 is used in a first mode to adjust contrast of the display for better viewing and in a second mode to enter the numeral 9. Switch 80 is used in a first mode to turn on a display light for night viewing and in a second mode to enter the numeral 0.
Switch 82 is used to clear an entry to delete any unwanted input. Switch 84 is used to display the total area to which each of the products has been applied. Switch 86 is used to display the total volume of product which has been applied for each of the five products.
Switch 88 is used to display the volume of each product which has been applied to a current field. Switch 90 is used to display the volume of each product which has been applied to the current field.
Switch 92 is used to display vehicle speed and distance and also allows for entry of a self test speed. Switch 94 displays the volume per minute for each product.
Switch 96 is used to display tip faults at each spray tip to designate if any tips are clogged, and thus not spraying. Switch 98 is used to display data not accessible from the keyboard and switch 100 is used to enter data into the console.
The console 18, upon initial powering up, will display various area units of measurement, such as U.S. acres, International System units (Hectares) or a turf unit of 1,000 square feet. By utilizing switches 62 and 64 the cursor can be moved to highlight an appropriate unit of measurement and switch 100 can be used to enter that desired unit for future display purposes.
Next, a speed sensor type is to be selected which can be either magnetic sensors, sonar, speedometer input, drive shaft input or radar input. Again switches 62 and 64 can be used to move the cursor to highlight the appropriate speed sensor type and switch 100 can be used to enter that for calculations and display.
For each of switches 66, 68, 70, 72 and 74, a five step programming method must be undertaken for each of the products to be dispensed. First, the appropriate key 66-74 is depressed. Then the arrow keys 62 and 64 are used to position the cursor over the appropriate area into which data is to be entered. Then switch 100 is depressed to signify that the appropriate area has been selected. This causes switches 62-80 to move into the second mode to allow for numeric input. Once the appropriate numerals have been entered . CA 02218642 1997-10-20 (also utilizing switch 82 to erase any improper entries) switch 100 is again depressed to enter that number into the area highlighted by the cursor.
The above description of the control system and its components is further defined by the overall system block diagram illustrated in Figure 4. For example, an interface between a Grid Recipe System (GRS) and the control system is shown.
The control system described above is shown on the right half of Figure 4. The blocks shown include the multiple controlled metering systems. Five such systems are illustrated in Figure 4. The controlled metering system may be mechanically, electrically or hydraulically driven. The rate of application is controlled by varying the speed or restricting the output of the delivery system. The volumetric output of the metering system is converted to a pulse train that can be recognized by the console. The co"l~olled metering systems are connected to and communicate with the console. The console consists of a display to present data to the operator. The console also has a keyboard by which the operator can recall specific data, enter system parameters or program the console to gather specific data. Switches, as described above, are also provided to activate the co,ll~ulled metering systems. In addition, microprocessors that control the application rate of the products are provided.
Boom switches are also connected to the console. The boom switches control the flow/no-flow to the boom sections. The stage of the switches is monitored to determine the width of the applicator (i.e., the greater the number of boom switches in the flow position, the greater the width of the applicator area). In addition, a ground speed sensor is connected to the console. The ground speed sensor converts distance to a pulse that is recognized by the console.
In addition, auxiliary sensors are provided as inputs to the console which monitor parameters that are critical to proper functioning of the applicator such as: system pressure, product level, critical connections, etc. Thus, the right half side of Figure 4 illustrates the control system of the present invention.
The left half side of Figure 4 consists of the grid recipe system (GRS) which has a computer that utilizes GPS. The GPS uses satellites and a base tower to determine the locations of specific areas in the gridded field. For example, the field is laid out in latitude and longitude coordinates so that zones may be created in the field by the farmer to delineate different regions of the field that need different applications of different products.
An example of a gridded field is illustrated in Figure 5.
In addition, the computer performs two main functions. The first function is to output the recipe that is defined for the particular gridded zone to the control system. Second, the computer stores information transmitted by the control system into defined files. Thus, the present invention cooperatively combines the grid recipe system with the control system.
The resulting grid recipe control system (GRCS) is capable of controlling the application of the liquid and/or granular products at a proyrdn ,med rate and the applicator rate is controlled relative to the width and speed of the applicator. The grid recipe system determines in which gridded area the applicator is located and by using this location (which is determined by the GPS), the recipe is downloaded from the data card to the control system to provide the proper application of multiple products to a particular gridded zone in the field based upon the grid recipe created by the farmer.
Also shown in Figure 4 is a data card. The data card is an electronic media storage device that contains the desired recipe information which is defined by the farmer. The recipe is delineated by the latitude and longitude in all the zoned areas of the field. Thus, a gridded field is used to make a "checkerboard" of the field in which the farmer may determine how much of each product to apply in each square of the checkerboard.
The farmer is familiar with his soil type in his field by prior testing of the soil and years of farming. In addition, the farmer is familiar with different conditions in the field such as low areas which accumulate water and, thus, have a greater weed infestation problem and other areas that are lacking in nutrients in the soil, etc. The farmer is also familiar with the crop to be planted and can base the product needs upon such information.
As a result, it is possible for the farmer to create the grid recipe desired at home or at the office. The farmer does not have to be in the field to do this. Instead, the farmer can generate the grid recipe in the offfice on a personal computer, for example. The farmer can then transfer this information onto the data card which stores the data defining the grid recipe. The data card is also capable of storing data which is received by the computer in the grid recipe system and the information received from the control system via the computer for further processing. Thus, the recipe is a listing of the application rates desired for the multiple products to be applied in the defined zones of the gridded field.
As mentioned above, Figure 5 illustrates a gridded field. The field is delineated by latitude and longitude so that zones may be created for use with a desired grid recipe. The zone consists of one or more squares, for example, or units. The squares or units preferably have a width dimension that is a multiple of the boom width to simplify the method of the invention. For example, the unit shown in Figure 5 has a width "a" and a length "b". The zones need not be regular geometric shapes however. For example, zone 1 is shown as a 3 x 3 square and zone 3 is a 2 x 7 rectangle whereas zone 2 has an irregular shape. The type of product and the application rate for each different type of product is set in the grid recipe for each zone.
For example, with reference to Figure 5, if a farmer begins at the northwest corner (NW) of the field shown in zone 1, the present invention would dispense known amounts of the various products as defined in the grid recipe for zone 1. For example, product 1 may have a dispensing rate of 10, product 2 may have a dispensing rate of 0, product 3 may have a dispensing rate of 100, etc. Then, as the farmer proceeds south through three units of zone 1 until reaching the southwest corner (SW) of zone 1, the grid recipe for zone 1 is dispensed. Upon coming to the southwest comer (SW) of zone 1 which borders zone 2, the recipe changes to that of the grid recipe for zone 2. The zone 2 grid recipe has product application rates for the products which vary from those of the grid recipe for zone 1. In addition, after proceeding through one unit of zone 2 the southward-bound farmer proceeds into zone 3. As a result, the present invention will convert to the application rates for each of the products for the grid recipe for zone 3, and these amounts will be dispensed in the two remaining units of zone 3 before the farmer reverses direction of the vehicle and proceeds north up the second column of units of the gridded field. This process continues until the entire field has been covered by the various grid recipes of products. Thus, the control system and the grid recipe work together to provide the different product application rates for different products in each of the zones traveled by vehicle.
the method of generating a grid recipe and using said grid recipe is illustrated in Figure 6. First, as shown at the top of Figure 6, the farmer divides the field into a plurality of sections. The farmer may use a pre-existing survey or pre-existing map of the field to do this.
Generally, an aerial photograph is not required unless a pre-existing n~ap or survey is unavailable. After dividing the field into a plurality of sections, the farmer generates a prescribed recipe for each section. In most cases, the farmer already knows what and how much to apply to each particular section based on personal experience. The recipe can cover one or more chemical applications. The farmer then stores all of the recipes on a data card, diskette or other portable data storage means which enables the farmer to deliver the date to the on-board computer of the tractor. As opposed to physically delivering the data card or disk to the tractor, it is foreseeable that such data could be transmitted by way of radio waves or other suitable transmission means. After the data has been delivered to the tractor and communicated to the computer, the tractor is ready to go out into the field and apply the recipes to the sections of the field. During this process, the location of the tractor is transmitted to the computer by way of the GPS system discussed above. Accordingly, the location of the tractor, i.e. which section the tractor is in, is constantly communicated to the computer so that the computer will communicate the proper recipe to the application system.
Thus, two sets of information are used by the controller to control the application system.

Specifically, the controller uses the recipe for each section which is transmitted to the computer by way of the data card, and the computer uses the location of the tractor to identify the section which the tractor is in. When the tractor moves from one section to another which has a different recipe than the previous section, the computer then alters the recipe which is being applied by the application system.
As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. It should be understood that we wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of our contribution to the art.

Claims (17)

1. A method for generating a grid recipe and applying at least one product to a field using the grid recipe, a data processing means and a product application system transported by a vehicle through the field, the product application system including a product applicator having a defined width, the method comprising the steps of:
dividing the field into a plurality of sections, each of the sections having a width equal to a multiple of the defined width of the product applicator;
creating a plurality of recipes for applying at least one product to at least one section of the field, each of the recipes having at least a dispense rate of the product to be dispensed and an identification of the section or sections to which the recipe pertains;
storing the recipes in a mobile data storage means;
delivering the data storage means to a data processing means located at the product application system, the data processing means for communicating the recipe to a product application system;
communicating the location of the product application system to the data processing means; and controlling the product application system based upon the location of the product application system and the recipe pertaining to the section encompassing the location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of dividing the field into a plurality of sections is conducted at a location remote from the field.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a plurality of recipes is conducted at a location remote from the field.

4. The method of claim 1 herein the step of creating a plurality of recipes is conducted using only personal knowledge of a farmer.

5. A product applicating system for agricultural use comprising:
at least three reservoirs for holding supplies of products to be dispensed;
at least one dispensing applicator;
conduit means for directing products simultaneously from said reservoirs to said dispensing applicator;
valve means in said conduit means for simultaneously controlling a flow of said products from each of said reservoirs to said dispensing applicator;
programmable control means for controlling said valve means for each of said products;
display means for displaying information relating to each of said products simultaneously;
location sensing means for determining a location of said at least one dispensing applicator and for communicating said location to said programmable control means;
data storage means for storing a plurality of recipes, each recipe containing amounts of said products to be dispensed for at least one particular section of a field, said field divided into a plurality of sections, the date storage means including at least one recipe per sections, each section having a width equal to a multiple of said defined width of said at least one dispensing applicator; and computer means for processing said recipe obtained from said data storage means and for communicating with said programmable control means to provide said recipe defined amounts of said products at said locations of sections in a field.

6. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said at least three reservoirs comprises at least five reservoirs.

7. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said at least one dispensing applicator comprises more than six booms carrying dispensing applicators.

8. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein among said at least three reservoirs are reservoirs for carrying liquid product and for carrying solid granular product.

9. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said valve means are controllable electrically.

10. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said valve means are controllable hydraulically.

11. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said programmable control means includes means for programming a separate flow rate for each of said products.

12. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes a continuous display of the actual current rate of application of each product in addition to other information.

13. A product applicating system according to claim 5, wherein said display means includes a liquid crystal display having at least three lines of information.

14. A control means for a dispensing system having at least three reservoirs of products to be dispensed through conduits controlled by valves, the dispensing system having a defined width, the control means comprising:
programmable control means for controlling said valves for each of said products including means for programming a separate flow rate for each of said products;
display means for displaying information relating to each of said products simultaneously;

said display means including a continuous display of the actual current rate of application of each product in addition to other information;
location sensing means for determining a location of said at least one dispensing applicator and for communicating said location to said programmable control means;
data storage means for storing a recipe containing amounts of said products to be dispensed and locations of sections in a field on which said products are to be dispensed, said field divided into a plurality of units, each unit having a width equal to a multiple of said defined width as said dispensing applicator; and computer means for processing and said recipe obtained from said data storage means and for communicating with said programmable control means to provide said recipe defined amounts of said products at said locations of sections in a field.

15. A control means according to claim 14, wherein said display means includes a liquid crystal display having at least three lines of information.

16. A control means according to claim 14, wherein said flow rate for each of said products is continuously displayed as one of said at least three lines of information.

17. A control means according to claim 14, wherein said display means includes a liquid crystal display having at least four lines of information.