Harvest information providing device, harvest information providing method, and computer program

Abstract

Provided is a technique capable of performing harvesting of a crop in a farm field at an appropriate time.　An acquisition unit of the harvest information providing device acquires maturity information indicating the maturity state of objects to be harvested in a farm field, and weather information in the farm field. A prediction unit uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict a yield, which is the amount of the objects to be harvested having a degree of maturity suitable for harvesting at and after a time determined as a reference in the farm field. A calculation unit uses information indicating the predicted yield and information indicating the target yield of the objects to be harvested in the farm field to calculate a harvest limit of the objects to be harvested at which the target yield can be achieved. An output unit outputs harvest limit information indicating the calculated harvest limit.

Description

Harvest Information Providing Device, Harvest Information Providing Method, and Computer Program

[0001] The present invention relates to a technique for providing information related to the harvest time of crops in a field.

[0002] In many cases, the harvest date of crops in a field is scheduled based on the experience and intuition of crop producers and field managers (hereinafter, crop producers and field managers are collectively referred to as field-related persons) who cultivate the crops. That is, field-related persons actually look at the crops and judge the degree of maturity of the crops. Based on this degree of maturity, field-related persons rely on their experience and intuition to judge the number of days required until harvest, and thereby often schedule the harvest date of the crops.

[0003] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-170320) discloses a technique for predicting the harvest time by a computer. That is, Patent Document 1 relates to the prediction of the harvest of young barley leaves. In Patent Document 1, a technique for predicting the harvest time of young barley leaves in a field using a growth model generated by machine learning is shown. The growth model is generated by machine learning using, as teacher data, relationship data between the growth type of young barley leaves, the soil type of the field, and the growth stage of young barley leaves and the accumulated temperature of the field, and is a model for predicting the harvest time of young barley leaves in the field.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-170320

[0005] By the way, the determination of the harvest date of crops is made considering not only the situation of the crops and soil in the field but also arrangements of agricultural machinery and personnel. For this reason, even if a suitable time for harvesting the crops in the field is predicted based on the situation of the crops and soil in the field, and thus a harvest date of the crops is proposed, it may not be possible to harvest the crops in the field on the proposed date. That is, in other words, the proposed harvest date may not be the appropriate harvest date of the crops in the field in some cases.

[0006] The present disclosure has been conceived to solve such problems. That is, the main object of the present disclosure is to propose a technique capable of carrying out the harvest of crops in a field at an appropriate time.

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the harvest information providing device in this disclosure, in one form, comprises: an acquisition unit that acquires maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested products in a field and weather information for the field; a prediction unit that uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvested products that have a maturity level suitable for harvesting after a standard is set in the field; a calculation unit that uses information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvested products in the field to calculate the harvest limit for harvested products that can achieve the target yield; and an output unit that outputs harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit.

[0008] Furthermore, the harvest information provision method in this disclosure, as one form, involves using a computer to acquire maturity information representing the maturity state of the harvested crop in the field and weather information for the field; using the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvested crop that has reached a suitable maturity level for harvesting after a predetermined standard time in the field; using the information representing the predicted yield and the information representing the target yield of the harvested crop in the field to calculate the harvest limit for the crop that can achieve the target yield; and outputting harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit.

[0009] Furthermore, in one aspect, the computer program in this disclosure causes the computer to perform the following processes: acquiring maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in a field and weather information for the field; predicting the yield, which is the amount of harvested crops that have a suitable maturity level for harvesting after a predetermined standard in the field, using the acquired maturity information and weather information; calculating the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield, using information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvested crops in the field; and outputting harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit.

[0010] According to this disclosure, a technology can be provided that enables the harvesting of crops in a field at the appropriate time.

[0011] This is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the harvest information providing device according to this disclosure. This is a diagram showing an example of the maturity rate trend. This is a diagram showing an example of the yield decrease trend. This is a diagram showing an example of the yield trend. This is a diagram showing one example of the display of harvest suggestion information and harvest limit information. This is a diagram showing another example of the display of harvest suggestion information and harvest limit information. This is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation in one embodiment of the harvest information providing device. This is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the harvest information providing device according to this disclosure. This is a diagram showing an example of a display mode for displaying the planned harvest date planned by the planning unit. This is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration for accepting changes to the target yield. This is a diagram illustrating other embodiments of the harvest information providing device. This is a flowchart illustrating other examples of operation of the harvest information providing device.

[0012] Embodiments in this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0013] <First Embodiment> The harvest information providing device of the first embodiment is a computer device and has a configuration (function) that outputs information related to the harvesting time of the harvested products in the field. The harvested products here refer to crops, and for example, they represent individual fruits such as tomatoes, eggplants, and cucumbers, leafy vegetables (stem leaves) of a single plant such as spinach, or flower buds of a single plant such as broccoli. In other words, the harvested products here refer to individual items that can become a single product. Thus, the harvested products here refer to individual items that can become a single product, but the harvesting of the harvested products is assumed to be mass harvesting, not selective harvesting. Selective harvesting is a harvesting method in which harvested products that have reached a state suitable for harvesting (hereinafter also referred to as the harvest maturity state) are selected and harvested. On the other hand, mass harvesting is a harvesting method in which harvested products in the field are harvested all at once. Regarding mass harvesting, depending on the size of the field, the field may be divided into multiple sub-regions, and mass harvesting may be performed for each divided sub-region.

[0014] The harvest information output by the harvest information providing device of the first embodiment includes harvest suggestion information and harvest limit information. The harvest suggestion information represents the harvest suggestion date. Here, the harvest suggestion date is the recommended date for harvesting when harvesting all crops in a field at once. The harvest limit information represents the harvest limit for crops that can achieve the target yield. In the first embodiment, the harvest limit information includes the harvest limit date as the harvest limit. Here, the harvest limit date is the limit for harvesting when harvesting all crops in a field at once and achieving the target yield set for the crops in the field. In other words, the harvest limit date is the end date of the suitable harvest period. Note that yield here refers to the amount of crops that have reached a suitable maturity level for harvesting.

[0015] The harvest information providing device of the first embodiment has a function to calculate a suggested harvest date and a harvest limit date using maturity information representing the maturity state of the harvest target and weather information in the field. Here, the maturity information is represented by a maturity ratio. The maturity ratio represents the proportion of harvest target items that are in a harvest-ready state among the harvest target items per predetermined unit. For example, in the case of tomatoes, the predetermined unit is one plant, and the maturity ratio is the ratio of the number of red tomatoes that are in a harvest-ready state to the total number of tomatoes on one plant. Also, in cases where there is one harvest target item per plant, for example, a predetermined area in the field is used as the unit (unit area), and the maturity ratio is the ratio of the number of harvest target items in a harvest-ready state to the total number of harvest target items in that unit area. The standard unit used to calculate the maturity ratio is determined according to the variety of the harvest target item.

[0016] In the first embodiment, sampling is performed to check the maturity status of harvestable crops in order to obtain the maturity rate of the crops to be harvested in the field. In other words, the maturity status of the harvestable crops is not checked for the entire field, but rather sampling is performed to check the maturity status of harvestable crops selected using a predetermined method. Here, the method for selecting the harvestable crops to be sampled is not limited, so a description of that method is omitted. However, it is preferable that the sampled harvestable crops can be used to estimate the approximate maturity status of all harvestable crops in the field or a sub-area where harvesting is performed in a single batch. In this case, the experience and intuition of those involved in the field may be used as the method for selecting the harvestable crops to be sampled.

[0017] The sampling of the harvested crop's maturity status, as described above, is carried out, for example, at an appropriate time when the crop begins to ripen. Furthermore, the maturity rate of the harvested crop on the day of sampling (hereinafter also referred to as the sampling day) is calculated using the results of the maturity status check obtained from the sampling.

[0018] Field weather information refers to the weather information for the area including the field where the target crop for calculating the proposed harvest date and the harvest limit date is planted (hereinafter also referred to as the target field). This weather information is acquired, for example, on the day when the maturity state of the target crop is sampled as described above, and includes information representing past weather conditions actually observed before the acquisition date and weather conditions after the acquisition date. Weather forecasts are information representing forecast weather conditions after the acquisition date.

[0019] The harvest information providing device of the first embodiment uses the maturity information of the harvest target as described above and weather information in the field to calculate the suggested harvest date and the harvest limit date, respectively, and outputs the suggested harvest information and the harvest limit information, respectively. By receiving the information output from the harvest information providing device, field personnel can obtain information on a suitable suggested harvest date and the harvest limit date in case harvesting is not possible on the suggested harvest date, without relying on experience or intuition.

[0020] The configuration (function) of the harvest information providing device according to the first embodiment will be described below. The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment is a server device and has the configuration shown in Figure 1, and is connected to the information source 3 and the terminal device 5 via an information communication network. Furthermore, the harvest information providing device 1 is connected to an input device 7, and further, if necessary, to a database 4. The input device 7 is a device on which the operator of the harvest information providing device 1 (hereinafter also referred to as the device operator) inputs information into the harvest information providing device 1, and is composed of a keyboard, mouse, etc. The database 4 is a storage device, and the database 4 stores, as necessary, information obtained from the information source 3, information input by the input device 7, and data calculated by the harvest information providing device 1.

[0021] Information source 3 is an information source that provides information to the harvest information providing device 1. In the first embodiment, one of the information sources 3 is an information source that provides weather information, which is connected to the harvest information providing device 1. The harvest information providing device 1 obtains weather information for the area including the target field from the information source 3. Weather information here includes actual observed past weather information as described above, and weather forecast information.

[0022] The number of information sources 3 to which the harvest information provider 1 is connected is not limited to one, and may be multiple as needed. For example, in addition to the weather information sources described above, a weather observation sensor installed in the field to observe the weather conditions of the field may be given as another example of information source 3. Alternatively, a storage device (database) that stores information on the sensor output output from such a field weather observation sensor may be connected to the harvest information provider 1 as information source 3. The information on the sensor output of the weather observation sensor stored in such a storage device (database) may include, for example, information on the time of observation and information on the observation location.

[0023] Furthermore, an example of another information source 3 to which the harvest information providing device 1 connects is a camera installed in the field. This camera is installed in the field, for example, to photograph the harvest target. The images of the harvest target taken by this camera are used to check the maturity state of the harvest target as described above. In other words, the camera is installed in the field to photograph the harvest target selected as the harvest target for sampling to check the maturity state as described above.

[0024] Furthermore, as another example of information source 3 to which the harvest information providing device 1 is connected, a storage device (database) that stores the results of sampling (results of maturity check) performed to check the maturity state of the harvest target is also mentioned. The information of maturity check results stored in this storage device (database) may be the result of checking the maturity state using images captured by the aforementioned imaging device, or it may be the result of checking the maturity state through sampling by field personnel. Sampling by field personnel is a sampling method in which field personnel actually observe the harvest target that they have sampled (extracted) from the harvest target in the field and check its maturity state.

[0025] As described above, the harvest information providing device 1 may be connected to multiple types of information sources, but here, even if they are different types of information sources, the same code will be assigned to the information sources that provide information to the harvest information providing device 1.

[0026] Terminal device 5 is a computer device operated by a user who is involved in the field (such as a field manager or crop producer). Terminal device 5 has communication capabilities and a display control function that controls the display device 8 to display information. The type of terminal device 5 is not limited to any information device that has communication and display control functions, but specific examples include personal computers, tablets, and smartphones. If terminal device 5 is a smartphone or tablet, the display device 8 is integrated with terminal device 5, but if terminal device 5 is a personal computer, the display device 8 may be external. Furthermore, the connection between terminal device 5 and harvest information provision device 1 is performed by an application program (app) that gives terminal device 5 the function to cooperate with harvest information provision device 1. Alternatively, the connection between terminal device 5 and harvest information provision device 1 may be performed by a browser (software for viewing information on the internet). Whether the connection between terminal device 5 and harvest information provision device 1 is performed by an app or a browser is set as appropriate by the system designer, etc., and is not limited here. Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 1, one terminal device 5 is connected to the harvest information providing device 1, but the harvest information providing device 1 can be connected to multiple terminal devices 5 belonging to different users.

[0027] The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment comprises an arithmetic unit 10 and a storage device 20. The storage device 20 has a storage medium for storing data and computer programs (hereinafter also referred to as programs) 22. There are multiple types of storage devices, and computer devices are equipped with multiple types of storage devices depending on their purpose. Here, the types and number of storage devices provided in the harvest information providing device 1 are not limited and will not be explained. Furthermore, the multiple types of storage devices provided in the harvest information providing device 1 will be collectively referred to as the storage device 20. In addition, the harvest information providing device 1 may write information to or read information from the database 4 instead of the storage device 20, but in the following description, explanations related to writing and reading information to the database 4 may be omitted.

[0028] The arithmetic unit 10 is composed of processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The arithmetic unit 10 can have various functions based on the program 22 by reading and executing the program 22 stored in the storage device 20. In the first embodiment, the arithmetic unit 10 has an acquisition unit 11, a prediction unit 12, a proposal unit 13, a calculation unit 14, and an output unit 15 as a functional unit for calculating the proposed harvest date and the harvest limit date of the target crop.

[0029] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information representing the maturity state of the harvested crops in the field. As mentioned above, the information representing the maturity state of the harvested crops in the field is obtained through sampling, and therefore this information is also referred to as sampling information. The acquisition unit 11 acquires such sampling information from the information source 3.

[0030] Incidentally, the form of sampling information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 from the information source 3 varies depending on the sampling method. For example, in the case of sampling by field personnel, the sampling information is information representing the maturity rate observed by the field personnel. In the case of sampling using photographs, the sampling information is, for example, a photograph of the harvested product.

[0031] Furthermore, if the acquisition unit 11 acquires a photograph of the harvest target as sampling information, it obtains the maturity rate of the harvest target (i.e., the rate of harvest target objects per unit that are in a harvest-ready state, as determined according to the variety of the harvest target object) by image analysis of the photograph. In other words, the harvest target object is detected from the photograph by image analysis, and the maturity state of the detected harvest target object is determined, for example, by color. Using this determination result, the maturity rate of the harvest target object is calculated (obtained).

[0032] The acquisition unit 11 further acquires weather information from the weather information source 3. The weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is weather information for the area including the field, and includes, for example, past weather information for the period from when the crop to be harvested is planted in the field (from the planting date) to the sampling date when sampling regarding the maturation state of the crop to be harvested is performed. Past weather information includes, for example, information on solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed that are thought to be involved in the progression of maturation of the crop to be harvested. The weather information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 also includes weather forecast information from the sampling date onward. Weather forecast information includes, for example, forecast information such as temperature, wind speed, and wind direction.

[0033] The information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is stored in the storage device 20 or the database 4. If there are multiple target fields, the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is associated with the identification information of the field related to that information and stored in the storage device 20 or the database 4.

[0034] The information acquisition process by the acquisition unit 11 described above is executed at the following timings, for example. One example of the timing for executing the information acquisition process is when the sampling of the maturity state of the harvest target in the field is input to the harvest information providing device 1 by a field worker using the terminal device 5, or by a device operator using the input device 7. As a result, the information acquisition process by the acquisition unit 11 is executed, for example, on the sampling day when sampling to investigate the maturity state of the harvest target is performed.

[0035] The prediction unit 12 uses the acquired maturity information (sampling information) and meteorological information to predict the yield of the harvested crop in the field from a predetermined point in time. Here, the point in time is, for example, the day on which sampling was performed (sampling day). The prediction unit 12 may also predict the yield of the harvested crop after a predetermined time (days (which may be multiple days)) has elapsed from such a point in time, but here, it predicts the yield trend as the yield of the harvested crop from the point in time. The yield trend refers to the change in the yield of the harvested crop in the field over time. The yield trend prediction process by the prediction unit 12 is executed, for example, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires sampling information and meteorological information.

[0036] One example of a method for predicting yield trends is the following: First, the trend in maturity rate and the trend in yield decline are predicted. The trend in maturity rate refers to the temporal change in the maturity rate of the harvested crop in the field.

[0037] The yield decline trend refers to the trend in yield after the yield of harvested crops in the field begins to decrease. In other words, during the period when the proportion of mature crops in the field is increasing, the amount of harvested crops that are in a harvest-ready state is increasing, so the yield of harvested crops harvested from the field by mass harvesting tends to increase. Subsequently, when the number of harvested crops that have passed the harvest-ready state and have discolored, rotted, or fallen (hereinafter also referred to as deteriorated crops) exceeds the number of harvested crops that are in a harvest-ready state, the yield of harvested crops in the field begins to decrease. The yield decline trend refers to the trend in yield after the yield of such harvested crops begins to decrease.

[0038] Using the predicted information on the changes in maturity rate and yield decrease as described above, along with pre-estimated relationship data between maturity rate and yield, the yield trend of the harvested crop in the field is predicted. This yield trend prediction method will be explained in more detail below.

[0039] One example of a method for predicting the maturity rate trend is as follows: One approach assumes that the maturity rate increases by a predetermined fixed value (e.g., 3%) per day from the maturity rate on the sampling day. In contrast, this method predicts the maturity rate trend based on the assumption that the increasing trend of the maturity rate after the sampling day is not necessarily constant due to factors such as weather. For this prediction of the maturity rate trend, for example, a model using AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology (hereinafter also referred to as a rate prediction model) is used.

[0040] This proportion prediction model predicts the progression of maturity rates. The information input to this proportion prediction model (input data) includes information on the type (variety) of the crop to be harvested, information on the planting date, information on the maturity rate of the crop on the sampling date, and meteorological information for the field. The information output from the proportion prediction model is the progression of maturity rates from the sampling date onward. This proportion prediction model is generated by machine learning using AI technology. This machine learning uses the following data as training data. This training data is relationship data between actual information on the progression of maturity rates during the cultivation period of crops in years prior to the year for which the progression of maturity rates is being predicted (i.e., the previous year or the year before that, etc.) and information related to the maturity of the crop to be harvested. The information related to the maturity of the crop to be harvested here includes past meteorological information related to the actual information on the progression of maturity rates used to generate the proportion prediction model, the type (variety) of the crop, and the soil properties of the field. Furthermore, past meteorological information includes accumulated temperature after planting, accumulated solar radiation, relative humidity, rainfall, and wind speed.

[0041] A ratio prediction model, generated by machine learning using this information, is pre-programmed into the harvest information provider 1. When the aforementioned input data (i.e., information on the type (variety) of the harvested crop, information on the planting date, information on the maturity rate of the harvested crop on the sampling date, weather information in the field, etc.) is input into the ratio prediction model, the model outputs a predicted change in the maturity rate from the sampling date onward. Figure 2 shows an example of this change in the maturity rate. The input data, such as the type of harvested crop and the planting date, is stored in advance in a storage device 20, for example. Alternatively, such information may be input into the harvest information provider 1 when calculating the change in the maturity rate by field personnel operating the terminal device 5, or by a device operator operating the input device 7.

[0042] The data relating maturity rate and yield represents the relationship between the maturity rate of the harvested crop in the field and the yield of the crop when harvested all at once at that maturity rate. This data relating maturity rate and yield can be estimated using, for example, the type of crop, past performance, field area, and the total number of crop plants. The estimated data relating maturity rate and yield is stored in the storage device 20 or database 4, associated with, for example, field identification information and information representing the type of crop. Note that the data relating maturity rate and yield here is from a period when the trend in maturity rate is increasing. In other words, as mentioned above, once the harvested crop has passed the harvest maturity stage, it becomes unsaleable due to discoloration, decay, or falling off the plant. As the amount of such crops increases, the yield of the harvested crop decreases even if the maturity rate remains the same. Considering these circumstances, the data relating maturity rate and yield here is from a period when the trend in maturity rate is increasing.

[0043] As a method for predicting the yield reduction trend, for example, a method using AI technology can be mentioned, similar to the prediction of the ripening rate trend. That is, the yield reduction trend is predicted using a model for predicting the yield reduction trend (also referred to as a deterioration prediction model). The information (input data) input into this deterioration prediction model includes information on the type (variety) of the harvest target, information on the planting date, information on the ripening rate of the harvest target on the sampling date, and meteorological information in the field. The information output from the deterioration prediction model is the time when the yield in the field begins to decrease and the yield reduction trend representing the subsequent yield reduction tendency. Fig. 3 shows an example of the yield reduction trend.

[0044] The teacher data used for generating the deterioration prediction model is the relationship data between the actual performance information of the yield reduction trend during the cultivation period of the crop in the years past (i.e., the previous year, the year before last, etc.) compared to the year for which the yield reduction trend is to be predicted, and the information related to the deterioration of the harvest target. The information related to the deterioration of the harvest target here includes the past meteorological information related to the actual performance information of the yield reduction trend used for generating the deterioration prediction model, the type (variety) of the crop, and the soil properties of the field soil. Furthermore, the past meteorological information includes the accumulated temperature after planting, the accumulated solar radiation, the relative humidity, the rainfall, and the wind speed. That is, also in the deterioration prediction model, similar to the ratio prediction model, the yield reduction trend output from the deterioration prediction model takes into account the meteorological information.

[0045] The prediction unit 12 predicts the yield trend representing the temporal change of the yield from the sampling date until the time when the yield begins to decrease, using the ripening rate trend predicted using the ratio prediction model as described above and the relationship data between the pre-estimated ripening rate and the yield. Then, the prediction unit 12 predicts the yield trend as shown in Fig. 4, for example, using the yield trend predicted in this way and the yield reduction trend predicted using the deterioration prediction model as described above.

[0046] The proposal unit 13 calculates a suggested harvest date for recommending the harvesting of crops in the field. The method for calculating the suggested harvest date is not limited to any method that can be used to calculate the suggested harvest date using sampling information representing the maturity state of the crops, but one example is the following method. For example, the maturity state of the crops is represented by the maturity rate as described above, and the maturity rate increases by a predetermined fixed value (for example, 3%) per day from the maturity rate on the sampling day. Then, the day on which the maturity rate is estimated to reach or exceed the harvest determination threshold (for example, 93%) is calculated as the suggested harvest date.

[0047] The harvest threshold is used to determine whether or not it is appropriate to harvest all the crops in the field at once, using information on the maturity rate. Here, the threshold is set considering not only the maturity state of the crops but also the target yield of the crops in the field. In other words, the target yield of the crops in the field is determined by those involved in the field management. Furthermore, using the relationship data between maturity rate and yield as described above, the maturity rate required to obtain the target yield in the field is determined, and this maturity rate is set as the harvest threshold.

[0048] Also, as another example of the calculation method for the harvest proposal date, a method using the yield trend of the harvest target predicted by the prediction unit 12 can be cited. For example, the yield trend of the harvest target predicted by the prediction unit 12 is referred to, and the day when the yield of the harvest target in the field is equal to or greater than the target yield in the field and the yield of the harvest target in the field is maximized (the day of maximum yield) is calculated as the harvest proposal date. Also, the yield trend is referred to, and the day after a preset waiting period (for example, 4 days) from the day when the yield is predicted to increase and exceed the set target yield may be calculated as the harvest proposal date. Note that it is also assumed that the weather on the harvest proposal date calculated in this way is bad weather that makes the harvest work difficult and the harvest cannot be carried out. Considering such a situation, furthermore, the harvest proposal date may be calculated taking into account the information of the weather forecast. That is, assume that it is detected from the weather forecast information that the weather forecast on the harvest proposal date calculated from the yield trend (hereinafter, also referred to as a provisional proposal date for convenience of explanation) is bad weather that makes the harvest work difficult. In such a case, for example, the day with good weather on which the harvest work can be carried out first from the provisional proposal date is determined as the harvest proposal date so that the harvest is advanced compared to the provisional proposal date. That is, the harvest proposal date considering not only the yield but also the weather is calculated.

[0049] The proposal unit 13 calculates the harvest proposal date using the calculation method adopted from among a plurality of calculation methods including the calculation method as described above. The calculation process of the harvest proposal date by this proposal unit 13 is executed, for example, triggered by the acquisition unit 11 acquiring the sampling information and the weather information, or triggered by the prediction unit 12 calculating the yield trend. Also, the information on the harvest proposal date calculated by the proposal unit 13 is stored, for example, in the storage device 20. In the information on the harvest proposal date stored in this storage device 20, for example, the identification information of the field, the information used for calculating the harvest proposal date, or the link information for connecting to the information is associated.

[0050] The calculation unit 14 calculates the harvest limit for the crops to be harvested. Here, the calculation unit 14 calculates the harvest limit date as the harvest limit for the crops to be harvested. As mentioned above, the harvest limit date is the limit of the harvest period (the end date of the optimal harvesting period) on which the target yield set for the crops to be harvested in the field can be achieved when harvesting the crops in the field all at once. Here, in the process of calculating the harvest limit date, the calculation unit 14 uses the yield trend information (information representing yield) predicted by the prediction unit 12 and the information representing the target yield of the crops to be harvested in the field.

[0051] The calculation unit 14 calculates, for example, the harvest limit date for the period in which the yield trend is decreasing after exceeding the maximum yield day, and the day on which the yield trend shown in Figure 4 reaches the target yield. The calculated harvest limit date is stored in, for example, the storage device 20. The information on the harvest limit date stored in this storage device 20 is associated with, for example, field identification information, related harvest proposal date information, information used to calculate the harvest limit date, or link information to connect to that information.

[0052] Furthermore, when calculating the harvest limit date, weather forecast information may also be taken into consideration, similar to the calculation of the proposed harvest date. In other words, suppose the weather forecast for the harvest limit date calculated from yield trends (hereinafter referred to as the provisional limit date for convenience of explanation) is detected as being unfavorable weather conditions that would make harvesting difficult. In such a case, since the target yield cannot be achieved unless harvesting is brought forward from the provisional limit date, the first day with good weather on which harvesting can be carried out, working backward from the provisional limit date, is determined as the harvest limit date. In other words, the harvest limit date is calculated taking into account not only yield but also weather conditions.

[0053] The output unit 15 outputs information calculated by the proposal unit 13 and the calculation unit 14 (such as harvest proposal information and harvest limit information). Possible output destinations include, for example, the terminal device 5 and the display device 9 to which the harvest information providing device 1 is connected and which the harvest information providing device 1 controls the display of. Examples of output timing include when the terminal device 5 requests information or when the device operator instructs the display of information.

[0054] Information output from the output unit 15 to the terminal device 5 and the display device 9 is displayed on the display screens of the terminal device 5's display device 8 and the display device 9, for example, using a predetermined display template. The display mode is not limited to displaying the information output from the output unit 15, but Figures 5 and 6 show specific examples of display modes. Figure 5 shows an example of a display mode that shows information on the proposed harvest date and harvest limit date (proposed harvest information and harvest limit information) for crops to be harvested in a field. In the example in Figure 5, the display screen shows the name of the crop to be harvested (represented as ○○○ in the example in Figure 5) along with characters representing the proposed harvest date and harvest limit date. In addition, information representing the yield trend used to calculate the proposed harvest date and harvest limit date is displayed on the display screen. When such a screen display is made on the display devices 8 and 9, the output unit 15 outputs information used for screen display, such as yield trends, in addition to the proposed harvest information and harvest limit information. As shown in Figure 5, information such as yield trends is displayed along with the suggested harvest date and harvest limit date. This allows field personnel and others who view the information to understand the basis for calculating the suggested harvest date and harvest limit date. It is expected that displaying such information will give field personnel and others a sense of satisfaction with the calculated suggested harvest date and harvest limit date.

[0055] Figure 6 shows another example of a display showing the proposed harvest date and the harvest limit date for crops in the field. The output unit 15 also outputs weather forecast information for the proposed harvest date and the days before and after it, and in the example in Figure 6, this weather forecast information is also displayed. Furthermore, in the example in Figure 6, the estimated yield for the proposed harvest date and the days before and after it is also displayed on the screen. This estimated yield information is calculated by the proposal unit 13 using, for example, the yield trend information predicted by the prediction unit 12. Although not shown in the figure, the weather forecast information for the harvest limit date and the weather forecast for the day before the harvest limit date may also be displayed using the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11. In addition, information such as wind speed and humidity may be displayed as weather forecast information (meteorological forecast information). Such meteorological forecast information is output by the output unit 15 in association with the proposed harvest information and harvest limit information.

[0056] In the examples shown in Figures 5 and 6, the output unit 15 is shown to output both the suggested harvest date and the harvest deadline date to the output destination. Alternatively, the output unit 15 may be configured as follows: The output unit 15 can output either the suggested harvest date or the harvest deadline date to the output destination, but it may be configured to output one or both of the suggested harvest date and the harvest deadline date, which are selected as the information to be displayed by the field personnel.

[0057] The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment has the configuration described above. Next, an example of the operation of this harvest information providing device 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the harvest information providing device 1.

[0058] For example, suppose the maturity state of the harvested crops in the target field is sampled at a predetermined timing. The acquisition unit 11 of the calculation unit 10 in the harvest information providing device 1 receives information that sampling has been performed, for example, and acquires maturity information obtained from such sampling (step 101). For example, if images of the harvested crops taken on the sampling day by a camera are stored in the information source 3, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the images of the harvested crops taken on the sampling day from the information source 3. Alternatively, if the maturity state of the harvested crops is checked by field personnel or the like and the results of the check are stored in the information source 3 as maturity information, the acquisition unit 11 may acquire the maturity information of the harvested crops from the information source 3. The maturity information (sampling information) of the harvested crops acquired in this way is stored in the storage device 20 or database 4, associated with information such as the date and time of sampling.

[0059] Furthermore, when the acquisition unit 11 obtains information on the sampling date from the information indicating that sampling has been performed, it obtains information on weather conditions in the field from the planting date to the sampling date, and weather forecasts from the sampling date onward, from the weather information source 3 (step 102).

[0060] After acquiring maturity information and weather information, the prediction unit 12 uses the acquired maturity information and weather information, along with information on the type of crop to be harvested, planting date information, etc., to predict the yield trend of the crop (step 103).

[0061] Subsequently, the proposal unit 13 calculates the proposed harvest date using a predetermined calculation method (step 104). The calculation unit 14 then calculates the harvest limit date using the yield trend information predicted by the prediction unit 12 (step 105). After that, the output unit 15 outputs information representing the calculated proposed harvest date and harvest limit date to, for example, the terminal device 5 or display device 9 of the field personnel (step 106). As a result, the information on the proposed harvest date and harvest limit date is displayed on the display device 8 or display device 9 of the terminal device 5 of the field personnel, thereby notifying the field personnel and others of the proposed harvest date and harvest limit date of the target crop.

[0062] The harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment is configured as described above. This harvest information providing device 1 predicts the yield trend in the field, calculates the harvest limit date for the target crops that can achieve the target yield from the predicted yield trend information, and further outputs information representing the calculated harvest limit date as harvest limit information. As a result, the harvest information providing device 1 can provide field personnel and others with information on the harvest limit time (deadline) that takes into account the yield of the crops in the field.

[0063] Furthermore, the harvest information provider 1 can prevent the following problem by also considering weather forecast information when calculating the harvest limit date. In other words, if, for some reason, harvesting was planned for the harvest limit date, but the harvesting work could not be carried out due to bad weather on that date, and the harvest was delayed beyond the harvest limit date, there is a risk that the yield may be less than the target yield. As such a situation is a concern, for example, if the forecast for the limit date on which the target yield can be achieved is bad weather, the harvest information provider 1 can prevent such a situation by calculating the harvest limit date as a day earlier than that limit date but with harvestable weather.

[0064] Furthermore, the harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment also includes a configuration that calculates a recommended harvest date and outputs information representing that recommended harvest date as harvest suggestion information. This allows the harvest information providing device 1 to provide field personnel and others with even more useful information when deciding on a planned harvest date.

[0065] Furthermore, by employing a calculation method that uses information on the progression of maturity, taking weather conditions into account, to calculate the suggested harvest date, the harvest information provider 1 can calculate a suggested harvest date (a recommended harvest date) that takes into account the progression of maturity, which changes depending on weather conditions, and can provide this suggested harvest date information to field personnel. Field personnel who receive this suggested harvest date information can then plan their harvest for a day that is suitable for harvesting, taking yield into consideration, without having to rely on experience or intuition.

[0066] <Second Embodiment> A second embodiment of the present disclosure is described below. In this description of the second embodiment, components with the same names as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations of their common parts are omitted.

[0067] As shown in Figure 8, the harvest information providing device 1 of the second embodiment includes a planning unit 16 as a functional unit of the calculation device 10, in addition to the configuration of the harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment. The planning unit 16 has the function of planning the harvesting of crops in multiple fields that are different from each other. Here, as in the first embodiment, a single harvest is assumed. Furthermore, the multiple fields for which the planning unit 16 creates a harvesting plan (hereinafter also referred to as the scheduled fields) have harvest-related relationships, such as a relationship in which the same agricultural machinery is shared, or a relationship in which the processing plants that process the harvested crops are the same. Multiple fields with such relationships may have constraints on harvesting. For example, there is a constraint that fields that use the same agricultural machinery for harvesting cannot be harvested at the same time. Also, among multiple fields that share the same processing plant, there is a constraint that the sum of the harvested crops harvested in a single batch on the same day exceeds the daily acceptance limit of the processing plant, so harvesting cannot be done on the same day.

[0068] The planning unit 16 creates harvest plans for multiple scheduled fields related to the harvest described above. The information used by the planning unit 16 when creating the harvest plans includes information on the constraints on harvesting for the multiple scheduled fields described above, information on the proposed harvest dates from the proposal unit 13, and information on the harvest limit dates from the calculation unit 14.

[0069] The planning unit 16 creates harvest plans for multiple scheduled fields using methods such as mathematical programming. In mathematical programming, the objective function is, for example, information representing the temporal change in yield harvested from multiple scheduled fields. This information is, for example, the sum of the temporal changes in yield harvested from each scheduled field.

[0070] The planning unit 16 may calculate the timing that maximizes the objective function under constraints, or it may calculate the timing that maximizes the objective function without constraints.

[0071] A constraint may be, for example, a condition indicating that the penalty is greater the more the yield falls below the target yield. A constraint may be, for example, a condition indicating that at a given time, one piece of farm equipment cannot be used in two or more scheduled fields. A constraint may be, for example, a condition indicating that at a given time, one worker cannot work in two or more scheduled fields. A constraint may be, for example, a condition indicating that the total harvest that a processing plant can handle is less than or equal to a predetermined limit. A constraint may be a condition representing weather, a condition representing precipitation, or a condition representing sunshine hours. A constraint is not limited to the examples given above. A constraint may be a combination of all of the constraints described above, or a combination of some of the constraints.

[0072] The planning unit 16 calculates, for example, the timing at which the objective function increases under the constraints described above. Alternatively, the planning unit 16 may calculate the timing at which the objective function is maximized under the constraints described above. In other words, the planning unit 16 calculates the planned harvest date at which the yield increases using methods such as mathematical programming as described above.

[0073] Alternatively, the planning unit 16 may create a harvest plan, for example, by following a pre-defined planning procedure. One example of such a planning procedure is as follows: First, the proposed harvest date for each of the scheduled fields is checked. If, as a result of the check, the proposed harvest date does not overlap with the proposed harvest date of any other scheduled field, harvesting is planned for that field. In other words, the planned harvest date is determined for that field. The proposed harvest date here is one that also takes into account the weather forecast, as described in the first embodiment.

[0074] Subsequently, if the proposed harvest dates for multiple scheduled fields overlap, the constraints regarding harvesting for those fields are checked. If, as a result of this check, it is determined that harvesting for the overlapping fields can be carried out on those proposed dates (without causing problems), then the harvesting for those fields is planned for those dates. In other words, the planned harvest dates are finalized.

[0075] Furthermore, if problems arise when attempting to harvest multiple scheduled fields with overlapping harvest proposal dates on those proposed dates, the harvest dates will be adjusted according to pre-defined adjustment rules. These adjustment rules will at least take into account the harvest limit date. The adjustment rules here are not limited to rules that adjust the harvest date while considering the harvest limit date and other constraints, and their explanation will be omitted. Note that the crops to be harvested in multiple scheduled fields are not limited to the same type; if the types of crops to be harvested differ, for example, the types of crops to be harvested may be taken into consideration in the adjustment rules.

[0076] After the planned harvest dates for the crops to be harvested in multiple scheduled fields have been determined, the planning unit 16 stores information representing these determined harvest dates as harvest plan information in the storage device 20 and the database 4.

[0077] For example, if a field worker in a field subject to a schedule requests information about the planned harvest date from the terminal device 5 via an operation of the planning unit 16, the output unit 15 reads the information about the planned harvest date from, for example, the storage device 20. The output unit 15 then sends the read information about the planned harvest date back to the terminal device 5. The terminal device 5 displays the received information about the planned harvest date on the display device 8, for example, using a pre-defined display template. The display method is not limited, but one example is shown in Figure 9. Even when the information about the planned harvest date is displayed on the display device 9, a predetermined display template is used to display the information about the planned harvest date on the display device 9, and the display method is not limited.

[0078] In the example shown in Figure 9, the display screens of the display devices 8 and 9 show the scheduled harvest date, and also display information representing the estimated yield if the harvest is carried out all at once on that scheduled harvest date. In this case, for example, the estimated yield for the scheduled harvest date is estimated by the planning unit 16 using the yield trend information predicted by the prediction unit 12. This estimated yield information for the scheduled harvest date is stored in the storage device 20, associated with, for example, field identification information and information on the scheduled harvest date.

[0079] Furthermore, in the example in Figure 9, the reason why the harvest date is the displayed date is expressed in text. In this case, for example, a standard phrase explaining the reason and the corresponding relationship data with the conditions for determining the harvest date are pre-provided to the harvest information providing device 1 as explanatory text data. For example, in the example of the planning procedure described above, if the condition that the proposed harvest date does not overlap with the proposed harvest dates of other scheduled fields is met, the proposed harvest date is determined as the harvest date. In such a case, the relationship data between such conditions and information such as a standard phrase explaining the reason, such as "The harvest date is the most suitable harvest date," is provided to the harvest information providing device 1 as explanatory text data. When the planning unit 16 determines the harvest date, it uses the conditions that were met for the harvest date to be determined and the explanatory text data described above to select a sentence that explains the reason for the chosen harvest date. This selected sentence is output by the output unit 15 and further displayed on the display devices 8 and 9.

[0080] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 9, the planned harvest dates and related information for the scheduled fields associated with the terminal device 5 that requested information on the planned harvest dates, from among the multiple scheduled fields for which the planning unit 16 has determined the planned harvest dates, are displayed on the display devices 8 and 9. In contrast, as shown in Figure 10, for example, the information including the planned harvest dates for all or selected scheduled fields for which the planning unit 16 has determined the planned harvest dates may be displayed in a list on the display devices 8 and 9.

[0081] Aside from the above-described configuration, the configuration of the harvest information providing device 1 in the second embodiment is the same as that described in the first embodiment.

[0082] Since the harvest information providing device 1 of the second embodiment has a configuration similar to that of the harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment, it can achieve the same effects as the harvest information providing device 1 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, since the harvest information providing device 1 of the second embodiment is equipped with a planning unit 16, it can create harvest plans for multiple scheduled target fields. Moreover, since the harvest information providing device 1 creates a harvest plan using information on the harvest limit date calculated from the yield trend, it can create a harvest plan that can achieve the target yield while taking into account the constraints of multiple scheduled target fields.

[0083] <Other Embodiments> This disclosure is not limited to the first or second embodiment, and various embodiments are possible. For example, in order to revise at least the harvest limit date among the proposed harvest date and the harvest limit date, the processing of at least the acquisition unit 11, the prediction unit 12, and the calculation unit 14 may be performed at a predetermined number of timings. Specific examples of such timings include, for example, the time when the harvest target begins to mature (for example, a time midway between the planting date and the day when the target yield is expected to be obtained) and the time immediately before the yield is predicted to exceed the target yield.

[0084] In addition to the configurations of the first and second embodiments, the harvest information providing device 1 may also be configured to accept changes to the target yield by displaying a screen as shown in Figure 11 on the display devices 8 and 9. After receiving information on the changed target yield, the proposal unit 13 calculates the proposed harvest date and the calculation unit 14 calculates the harvest limit date using the changed target yield. The output unit 15 then outputs the proposed harvest date information, which includes the changed (updated) proposed harvest date, and the harvest limit date information, which includes the harvest limit date. The harvest information providing device 1 may also include such a configuration for changing the target yield.

[0085] Furthermore, while the calculation unit 14 in the harvest information providing device 1 of the first and second embodiments calculates the harvest limit date as the harvest limit for the target product, the calculation unit 14 may, for example, calculate a period including multiple days as the harvest limit.

[0086] Furthermore, while the harvest information providing device 1 in the first and second embodiments is configured to include a suggestion unit 13, for example, the suggestion unit 13 may be omitted, and the harvest information providing device 1 may be configured to output only the harvest limit date among the suggested harvest date and the harvest limit date. In this case, if it is desired to use the information of the suggested harvest date (scheduled harvest date) for processing, the harvest information providing device 1 may be configured to receive the information of the suggested harvest date from an external source (for example, a configuration that allows field personnel to input it).

[0087] Furthermore, the harvest information providing device in this disclosure may also take the following embodiments. For example, the harvest information providing device as another embodiment is a computer device and has a configuration as shown in Figure 12, which is realized by the execution of a computer program. That is, the harvest information providing device 50 comprises an acquisition unit 51, a prediction unit 52, a calculation unit 53, and an output unit 54. The acquisition unit 51 acquires maturity information representing the maturity state of the harvest target in the field and weather information for the field. The prediction unit 52 uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvest target that has a maturity level suitable for harvesting after a standard is set in the field. The calculation unit 53 uses information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of the harvest target in the field to calculate the harvest limit for the harvest target that can achieve the target yield. The output unit 54 outputs harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit. The acquisition unit 11, prediction unit 12, calculation unit 14, and output unit 15 described above are examples of the acquisition unit 51, prediction unit 52, calculation unit 53, and output unit 54, respectively.

[0088] Next, an example of operation in the harvest information providing device 50 will be explained using Figure 13. Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of operation in the harvest information providing device 50. For example, the acquisition unit 51 acquires maturity information representing the maturity state of the harvest target in the field, and weather information for the field (step 201). Based on this, the prediction unit 52 uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvest target that has a maturity level suitable for harvesting after a standard is set in the field (step 202). The calculation unit 53 uses the information representing the predicted yield and the information representing the target yield of the harvest target in the field to calculate the harvest limit for the harvest target that can achieve the target yield (step 203). The output unit 54 outputs harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit (step 204).

[0089] As described above, the harvest information providing device 50 predicts the yield and uses the information representing the predicted yield and the target yield to calculate and output the harvest limit for the crop to be harvested. As a result, the harvest information providing device 50 can provide a technology that enables the harvesting of crops in the field at the appropriate time.

[0090] Some or all of the above embodiments may also be described as follows, but are not limited to the following: (Note 1) A harvest information providing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in a field and weather information for the field; a prediction unit that uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvested crops that have a maturity level suitable for harvesting after a standard is set in the field; a calculation unit that uses information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvested crops in the field to calculate the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield; and an output unit that outputs harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit. (Note 2) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, wherein the calculation unit also uses weather forecast information included in the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit to calculate the harvest limit for harvested crops. (Note 3) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, further comprising a proposal unit that proposes a suggested harvest date to recommend harvesting the crops to be harvested in the field using the maturity information and weather information acquired by the acquisition unit, and the output unit also outputs information representing the suggested harvest date. (Note 4) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, further comprising a proposal unit that proposes a suggested harvest date to recommend harvesting the crops to be harvested in the field using the maturity information and weather information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a planning unit that plans the harvesting of crops in the field using the harvest limit information for each of the field. (Note 5) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, wherein the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit includes weather forecast information for the field, and the output unit outputs the harvest limit information in association with the weather forecast information related to the harvest limit. (Note 6) The harvest information providing device according to Note 1, wherein the calculation unit, upon receiving information to change the target yield of the harvest target, calculates the changed harvest limit using the information of the changed target yield.(Note 7) The harvest information providing device according to Note 4, wherein the output unit outputs information that displays a list of planned harvests of crops in a plurality of fields planned by the planning unit. (Note 8) A harvest information providing method that uses a computer to acquire maturity information representing the maturity state of crops in a field and weather information for the field, uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of crops that have a maturity suitable for harvesting after a standard is set for the field, uses information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of crops in the field to calculate the harvest limit for crops that can achieve the target yield, and outputs harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit. (Note 9) The harvest information providing method according to Note 8, wherein, in relation to the calculation of the harvest limit, weather forecast information included in the weather information is also used to calculate the harvest limit for crops. (Note 10) The harvest information provision method described in Note 8, further proposing a suggested harvest date to recommend harvesting the crops to be harvested in the field, using maturity information and weather information, and outputting information representing the suggested harvest date. (Note 11) The harvest information provision method described in Note 8, wherein, regarding the acquisition of information, maturity information representing the maturity state of crops to be harvested and weather information are acquired for each of the multiple fields, the yield for each of the multiple fields is predicted using the acquired maturity information and weather information, the harvest limit for crops to be harvested that can achieve the target yield is calculated for each of the multiple fields, and the harvest limit information for each of the multiple fields is further planned for harvesting the crops to be harvested in the multiple fields. (Note 12) The harvest information provision method described in Note 8, wherein the weather information includes weather forecast information for the field, and the weather forecast information related to the harvest limit is associated with the harvest limit information and output. (Note 13) The harvest information provision method described in Note 8, wherein if information is received to change the target yield of the harvested crop, the revised harvest limit is further calculated using the revised target yield information. (Note 14) The harvest information provision method described in Note 11, wherein information is output that displays a list of planned harvests of the harvested crops in multiple planned fields.(Note 15) A computer program that causes a computer to perform the following steps: a process of acquiring maturity information representing the maturity state of harvestable crops in a field and weather information for the field; a process of predicting the yield, which is the amount of harvestable crops that have a suitable maturity level for harvesting after a set standard in the field, using the acquired maturity information and weather information; a process of calculating the harvest limit for harvestable crops that can achieve the target yield, using information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvestable crops in the field; and a process of outputting harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit. (Note 16) The computer program according to Note 15, wherein in the process of calculating the harvest limit, weather forecast information included in the weather information is also used to calculate the harvest limit for harvestable crops. (Note 17) The computer program according to Note 15, which causes a computer to further perform the following steps: a process of further proposing a suggested harvest date that recommends harvesting of harvestable crops in the field, using the maturity information and weather information; and a process of outputting information representing the suggested harvest date. (Note 18) The computer program described in Note 15, which further causes the computer to execute the following processes regarding the acquisition of information: a process to acquire maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in multiple fields that are different from each other, and weather information; a process to predict the yield for each of the multiple fields using the acquired maturity information and weather information; a process to calculate the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield for each of the multiple fields using information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield for harvested crops; and a process to further plan the harvest of harvested crops in the multiple fields using the harvest limit information for each of the multiple fields. (Note 19) The computer program described in Note 15, which further causes the computer to execute the following processes regarding the acquisition of information: a process to acquire maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in multiple fields and weather information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in multiple fields; a process to predict the yield for each of the multiple fields using the harvest limit information. (Note 20) The computer program described in Note 15, which, upon receiving information to change the target yield of the crop to be harvested, further causes the computer to perform a process to calculate the revised harvest limit using the revised target yield information.(Note 21) The computer program described in Note 18, which further causes the computer to execute a process to output information that displays a list of planned harvest dates for crops to be harvested in multiple planned fields.

[0091] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure are possible, as can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0092] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-007517, filed on 20 January 2025, and incorporates all of its disclosures herein.

[0093] 1, 50 Harvest information providing device 11, 51 Acquisition unit 12, 52 Prediction unit 14, 53 Calculation unit 15, 54 Output unit

Claims

1. A harvest information providing device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in a field and weather information for the field; a prediction unit that uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvested crops that have a maturity level suitable for harvesting after a standard is set in the field; a calculation unit that uses information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvested crops in the field to calculate the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield; and an output unit that outputs harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit.

2. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit also uses weather forecast information included in the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit to calculate the harvest limit for the harvest target.

3. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, further comprising a proposal unit that proposes a suggested harvest date for harvesting the crops to be harvested in the field using the maturity information and weather information acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the output unit also outputs information representing the suggested harvest date.

4. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires maturity information representing the maturity status of harvested crops in a plurality of fields that are different from each other, and weather information; a prediction unit that uses the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield for each of the plurality of fields; a calculation unit that uses information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of the harvested crops for each of the plurality of fields to calculate the harvest limit for the harvested crops that can achieve the target yield; and a planning unit that uses the harvest limit information for each of the plurality of fields to plan the harvesting of the harvested crops in the plurality of fields.

5. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, wherein the weather information acquired by the acquisition unit includes weather forecast information for the field, and the output unit outputs the harvest limit information in association with the weather forecast information related to the harvest limit.

6. The harvest information providing device according to claim 1, wherein, when the calculation unit receives information to change the target yield of the harvested product, it calculates the changed harvest limit using the information of the changed target yield.

7. The harvest information providing device according to claim 4, wherein the output unit outputs information that displays a list of planned harvest dates for crops to be harvested in a plurality of fields planned by the planning unit.

8. A harvest information provision method comprising: using a computer to acquire maturity information representing the maturity state of harvestable crops in a field and weather information for the field; using the acquired maturity information and weather information to predict the yield, which is the amount of harvestable crops that have a suitable maturity level for harvesting after a predetermined standard time in the field; using information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvestable crops in the field to calculate the harvest limit for harvestable crops that can achieve the target yield; and outputting harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit.

9. The harvest information provision method according to claim 8, wherein, in relation to the calculation of the harvest limit, weather forecast information included in the weather information is also used to calculate the harvest limit of the target crop.

10. The harvest information provision method according to claim 8, further proposing a suggested harvest date for harvesting the crops to be harvested in the field using maturity information and weather information, and also outputting information representing the suggested harvest date.

11. The harvest information provision method according to claim 8, wherein, with respect to the acquisition of information, maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops and weather information are acquired for each of the multiple fields which are different from each other; the yield for each of the multiple fields is predicted using the acquired maturity information and weather information; the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield is calculated for each of the multiple fields which is predicted using information representing the yield and information representing the target yield of harvested crops; and the harvest limit information for each of the multiple fields is used to further plan the harvest of harvested crops in the multiple fields which are 12. The harvest information provision method according to claim 8, wherein the weather information includes weather forecast information for the field, and the harvest limit information is output in association with the weather forecast information related to the harvest limit.

13. The harvest information provision method according to claim 8, wherein, upon receiving information to change the target yield of the harvested product, the method further calculates the changed harvest limit using the information on the changed target yield.

14. The harvest information provision method according to claim 11, which outputs information that displays a list of planned harvest dates for crops in multiple planned fields.

15. A computer program that causes a computer to perform the following steps: acquiring maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in a field and weather information for the field; predicting the yield, which is the amount of harvested crops that have reached a suitable maturity level for harvesting after a predetermined standard time, using the acquired maturity information and weather information; calculating the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield, using information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield of harvested crops in the field; and outputting harvest limit information representing the calculated harvest limit.

16. The computer program according to claim 15, wherein, in the process of calculating the harvest limit, weather forecast information included in the weather information is also used to calculate the harvest limit of the crop to be harvested.

17. The computer program according to claim 15, which causes the computer to further perform the following processes: using maturity information and weather information, to further suggest a harvest date that recommends harvesting the crops to be harvested in the field, and to output information representing the harvest date.

18. A computer program according to claim 15, which causes the computer to further execute the following processes with respect to the acquisition of information: a process to acquire maturity information representing the maturity state of harvested crops in a plurality of fields that are different from each other, and weather information; a process to predict the yield for each of the plurality of fields using the acquired maturity information and weather information; a process to calculate the harvest limit for harvested crops that can achieve the target yield for each of the plurality of fields using information representing the predicted yield and information representing the target yield for harvested crops; and a process to further plan the harvesting of harvested crops in the plurality of fields using the harvest limit information for each of the plurality of fields.

19. The computer program according to claim 15, wherein the weather information includes weather forecast information for the field, and the computer further causes the computer to perform a process of associating weather forecast information related to the harvest limit with the harvest limit information and outputting it.

20. The computer program according to claim 15, which, upon receiving information to change the target yield of a harvested product, causes the computer to further perform a process to calculate the changed harvest limit using the information on the changed target yield.

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