FIELD OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present description relates to agricultural operations. More specifically, the present description relates to controlling a machine to automatically perform check strip operations in an agricultural field.

BACKGROUND

There are a wide variety of different types of agricultural machines that perform different types of agricultural operations. For example, there are a variety of different types of planting machines that plant crops. There are also post-planting machines that perform post-planting operations, such as spraying or applying materials to the field, after it is planted, and harvesting machines that perform harvesting operations. Similarly, there are post-harvest machines that perform post-harvest operations, such as tillage operations, etc.

These machines often operate in a prescribed manner over an entire field. However, in some current systems, the machine operation is changed over specific areas of an agricultural field in order to compare the results of the prescribed operation with the results of the changed operation. These areas are often referred to as check strips.

By way of example, a planter may operate over an agricultural field planting seeds at a prescribed (or default) variable seed rate. However, at certain, pre-defined locations (in check strips), the planter may be controlled to change the seed rate to a second seed rate that is higher or lower (or otherwise different) than the prescribed or default seed rate. Then, during harvest, the yield in the check strips can be compared to the yield in the remainder of the field to determine whether a different prescribed seed rate should be used in later planting operations. This is just one example of how a check strip can be used.

The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

SUMMARY

An agricultural machine performs a prescribed agricultural operation in a field. The machine is controlled to change the agricultural operation to a check strip operation. A location where the check strip operation is commenced is sensed and a location where the check strip operation ceases is also sensed. A dimension of the check strip, and its location, are stored.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.

