A new update for Cattle and Crops, Farming Simulator's most direct competitor, has just arrived. It brings functions similar to the Precision Farming mod of the latter, but much more in-depth. With this update, new Joskin hardware, the Cobra ton, and PTO attachments are coming into the game.
With Update 1.3, MasterBrain Bytes introduces a new flooring system. Basically, the fields now have different types of soil and must be worked with the appropriate machinery. (disc harrow, plow, subsoiler, rotary harrow, etc.) for optimal performance. This new function can also be deactivated in the options if necessary, and the same goes for fertilization (NPK). To facilitate the arrival of these functions, new tutorials concerning the soil have been created.
Elements and types of soil
There are up to 31 different types of soil, each made up of different proportions of sand, silt and clay. For each field, you can visualize the soil type and their composition in the field menu using the soil texture triangle (see below), which is also used in reality in agronomy.
Soil condition
There are now a total of four soil attributes that affect plant development: crumbling, clod density, higher density, and lower density. Tools have different effects on the ground. For example, the power harrow tends to increase crumbling, while the subsoiler mainly loosens the lower soil. The plow, on the other hand, mixes the top layers and softens them at the same time - but also increases the density of the subsoil. Depending on the condition of the field and the type of soil, different tillage tools should now be used.
General influences on the floor
Besides tillage, there are two other influencing factors. First, the weather: higher temperatures, for example, dry out the soil. However, a lot of rain can make the soil silty. These effects have a long-term impact on the season. Second, the weight of the vehicle has a direct influence on the compaction - the pressure is exerted on the ground at the level of the tires according to the load of the wheel, which increases the density.
Plant growth and yield
As part of these soil improvements, the plant growth system has been changed. The growing period is now regulated by temperature and hours of sunshine instead of fertilization. Plants have a minimum growth temperature of 5 ° C (41 ° F), and anything below it will cause stunted growth. The hotter it is, the faster the plant grows (calculated in degree days). The sowing date and associated growth time, as well as tillage and fertilization have a significant influence on crop yield. So, in order to achieve the highest yield, optimal growing conditions must be created for the plant.
New calendar
The calendar has been enriched with some information: the temperature and, if there is precipitation, the amount of rain are now displayed for each hour. A bug was also fixed which caused the display of incorrect weather data. Finally, forecasts were limited to a maximum of two weeks. All subsequent days in the future will no longer display any weather information.
New Field Menu
The field menu now allows you to view the potential yield of a field according to current conditions, as well as a theoretical type of crop (under "Fruit reference"). The statistics break down the exact condition of the soil, the fruit and the resulting effect on yield. This allows you to closely monitor your fields and adjust tillage or fertilization.
Tire tracks
The tires now have different tracks on the terrain that match their profile.
Strength gain
Following the hose connection system of the last update, the developers complete the connections with the PTO. All tools requiring a PTO shaft have been fitted accordingly. They are automatically attached when attaching a tool.
New Joskin slurry tanker
The Joskin Cobra 13000ES slurry tanker arrives with three buriers (Terraflex XXL 6375 / 17SHK / 2, Terrasoc 3600/9 SH and 5200/13 SH). They offer the possibility of injecting the slurry and therefore constitutes an alternative to the previous system with a hose line.