Everything You Need To Know About Precision Agriculture

We are all aware of how much farming is a control-limited profession; there are only some things that fall under our control. Although, there is always a space for improvements, and this is where precision agriculture technology comes in. It is one of the best ways to yield great results and peace of mind – we run after. 

As defined by The Internation Society of Precision Agriculture in the year 2019:

“Precision Agriculture is a management strategy that gathers, processes and analyzes temporal, spatial and individual data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production.”

The Board of directors has recently recognized this Precision Agriculture (PA) definition as the official definition of the International Society for Precision Agriculture (ISPA).

In simpler words: Precision Agriculture is an approach that uses information technology to manage farming operations that ensures crops and soil receive the exact amount of what they need for their optimum health and productivity. In addition, precision Agriculture provides sustainability, profitability and protection of the environment. 

Precision Agriculture is also known as as-needed farming, satellite agriculture and site-specific crop management (SSCM).

Precision farming requires specialized tools, software, and IT support. The strategy uses real-time data on the state of the crops, soil, and air, as well as other pertinent details like labour prices, equipment availability, and hyper-local weather forecasts. The predictive analytics software then uses the data to advise farmers on crop rotation and the best times to plant, harvest, and manage the land.

SENSOR DATA

Field sensors measure the air and soil’s temperature and moisture content. In addition, real-time photos of specific plants are available to farmers via satellites and unmanned drones. When combined with sensors and other data, the information from those photos can be processed to provide recommendations for both immediate and long-term decisions, such as when and where to plant a specific crop.

Farmers may identify crops that need treatment and determine the best amount of water, fertilizer, and pesticides to apply by using agricultural control centers, which combine sensor data and imagery input with other data. This lowers expenses and lessens the farm’s environmental impact while ensuring that the soil has the ideal amount of additives for maximum health. It also helps the farmer avoid resource waste and reduce run-off.

BENEFITS OF OPTING FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE PRACTICE

Even if you’re content with your current methods, worried about time restrictions, or dubious about the initial expenditures, investing in precision agriculture technology can offer several advantages.

Precision Agriculture technologies are surprisingly adaptable and may update your current machinery, even trucks like the Tata Yodha or other large implements, for a fraction of the price. In addition, most guidance systems can blend with machinery from most brands, so they are simple to bring on-farm and simple to integrate whether you run a small or complicated operation.

If you’ve been hesitant to check out this technology, think about starting with the GFX-350TM Display. It has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with several steering systems.

It can boost ROI.

Better yields, less time, more accuracy, and fewer errors contribute to increased productivity and return on investment. For example, according to a 2019 study, the accuracy of fertilizer application alone resulted in ROI gains of 7.2%. Similar to this, further research discovered that crop row guidance advancements made possible by precision agriculture decreased input waste, avoided soil compaction, and offered some financial benefits.

The Tool Of The Future: Precision Agriculture

Agriculture is a dynamic industry. The playing field is becoming more difficult due to weather changes, commodity market swings, and supply chain challenges. So even if you’re happy with your present tools, precision agriculture equipment will only get more valuable and useful over time.

Precision agriculture benefits businesses of all sizes, as well as the environment. For example, AEM research shows that precision agriculture has reduced global herbicide use by 30 million pounds, fossil fuel consumption by 100 million gallons, and water use by enough to fill 750,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Additionally, precision farming boosts yields for several essential crops and makes better use of the available land, resulting in substantial financial savings for farms worldwide.

Conclusion

Precision farming was previously only available to larger companies that could afford the IT infrastructure and other technological resources needed to properly deploy and reap the rewards of precision farming. But today, farming cooperatives and even tiny family farms may practice precision agriculture thanks to mobile apps, intelligent sensors, drones, and cloud computing. The time has come to implement it, even if you have been unwilling to do so yourself during the past few decades.

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