This document provides an overview of precision farming and its key components. It explains that precision farming utilizes technologies like GPS, GIS, yield monitors, and variable rate equipment to more precisely manage farms. This allows farmers to customize their activities based on detailed data collection and analysis of field characteristics. The benefits of precision farming include more accurate production management, analysis of varietal performance in different areas, and evaluation of strategies over multiple years.

1. 1
Precision AgriculturePrecision Agriculture
ConceptionsConceptions
By:By:
Dr AKBAR SANAEIDr AKBAR SANAEI
Assistant Professor & Specialist of PrecisionAssistant Professor & Specialist of Precision
Farming TechnologiesFarming Technologies
Mechanical Engineering of AgriculturalMechanical Engineering of Agricultural
Machinery DepartmentMachinery Department
ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITYISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY
EGHLID BRANCHEGHLID BRANCH
AUTUMN 1387AUTUMN 1387

2. 22
What Is PrecisionWhat Is Precision
Farming?Farming?
11--Electronics revolution of the last several decades has spawned twoElectronics revolution of the last several decades has spawned two
technologies that will impact agriculture in the next decadetechnologies that will impact agriculture in the next decade..
22--These technologies are Geographic Information Systems (GIS) andThese technologies are Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and
Global Positioning System (GPSGlobal Positioning System (GPS).).
33--Along with GIS and GPS there have appeared a wide range ofAlong with GIS and GPS there have appeared a wide range of
sensors, monitors and controllers for agricultural equipment such assensors, monitors and controllers for agricultural equipment such as
shaft monitors, pressure transducers and servo motorsshaft monitors, pressure transducers and servo motors..
44--Together they will enable farmers to use electronic guidance aids toTogether they will enable farmers to use electronic guidance aids to
direct equipment movements more accurately, provide precisedirect equipment movements more accurately, provide precise
positioning for all equipment actions and chemical applications and,positioning for all equipment actions and chemical applications and,
analyze all of that data in association with other sources of dataanalyze all of that data in association with other sources of data
(agronomic, climatic, etc(agronomic, climatic, etc).).
55--This will add up to a new and powerful toolbox of managementThis will add up to a new and powerful toolbox of management
tools for the progressive farm managertools for the progressive farm manager..

3. 3
PRECISION FARMINGPRECISION FARMING
COMPONENTS!COMPONENTS!
 Precision farming should not be thought of asPrecision farming should not be thought of as
only yield mapping and variable rate fertilizeronly yield mapping and variable rate fertilizer
application and evaluated on only one or theapplication and evaluated on only one or the
other.other.
 Precision farming technologies will affect thePrecision farming technologies will affect the
entire production function (and by extension,entire production function (and by extension,
the management function) of the farm.the management function) of the farm.
 A brief overview of the components in precisionA brief overview of the components in precision
farming is presented in Figure 1 and listedfarming is presented in Figure 1 and listed
belowbelow

4. 4
YIELD MONITORINGYIELD MONITORING
 Instantaneous yield monitors are currently availableInstantaneous yield monitors are currently available
from several manufacturers for all recent models offrom several manufacturers for all recent models of
combines.combines.
 They provide a crop yield by time or distance (e.g.They provide a crop yield by time or distance (e.g.
every second or every few meters).every second or every few meters).
 They also track other data such as distance andThey also track other data such as distance and
bushels per load, number of loads and fields.bushels per load, number of loads and fields.

5. 5
YIELD MAPPINGYIELD MAPPING
 GPS receivers coupled with yieldGPS receivers coupled with yield
monitors provide spatial coordinates formonitors provide spatial coordinates for
the yield monitor data.the yield monitor data.
 This can be made into yield maps ofThis can be made into yield maps of
each field.each field.

6. 6
VARIABLE RATEVARIABLE RATE
FERTILIZERFERTILIZER
 Variable rate controllers are available forVariable rate controllers are available for
granular, liquid and gaseous fertilizer materials.granular, liquid and gaseous fertilizer materials.
 Variable rates can either be manuallyVariable rates can either be manually
controlled by the driver or automaticallycontrolled by the driver or automatically
controlled by an on board computer with ancontrolled by an on board computer with an
electronic prescription map.electronic prescription map.

7. 7
WEED MAPPINGWEED MAPPING
 A farmer can map weeds while combining,A farmer can map weeds while combining,
seeding, spraying or field scouting by using aseeding, spraying or field scouting by using a
keypad or buttons hooked up to a GPSkeypad or buttons hooked up to a GPS
receiver and data logger.receiver and data logger.
 These occurrences can then be mapped out onThese occurrences can then be mapped out on
a computer and compared to yield maps,a computer and compared to yield maps,
fertilizer maps and spray maps.fertilizer maps and spray maps.

8. 8
TOPOGRAPHY ANDTOPOGRAPHY AND
BOUNDARIESBOUNDARIES
 Using high precision DGPS a very accurateUsing high precision DGPS a very accurate
topographic map can be made of any field.topographic map can be made of any field.
 This is useful when interpreting yield maps and weedThis is useful when interpreting yield maps and weed
maps as well as planning for grassed waterways andmaps as well as planning for grassed waterways and
field divisions.field divisions.
 Field boundaries, roads, yards, tree stands andField boundaries, roads, yards, tree stands and
wetlands can all be accurately mapped to aid in farmwetlands can all be accurately mapped to aid in farm
planning.planning.

9. 9
SALINITY MAPPINGSALINITY MAPPING
 GPS can be coupled to a salinity meter sledGPS can be coupled to a salinity meter sled
which is towed behind an ATV (or pickup)which is towed behind an ATV (or pickup)
across fields affected by salinity.across fields affected by salinity.
 Salinity mapping is valuable in interpretingSalinity mapping is valuable in interpreting
yield maps and weed maps as well as trackingyield maps and weed maps as well as tracking
the change in salinity over time.the change in salinity over time.

10. 10
GUIDANCE SYSTEMSGUIDANCE SYSTEMS
 Several manufacturers are currently producingSeveral manufacturers are currently producing
guidance systems using high precision DGPSguidance systems using high precision DGPS
that can accurately position a moving vehiclethat can accurately position a moving vehicle
within a foot or less.within a foot or less.
 These guidance systems may replaceThese guidance systems may replace
conventional equipment markers for sprayingconventional equipment markers for spraying
or seeding and may be a valuable fieldor seeding and may be a valuable field
scouting tool.scouting tool.

11. 11
RECORDS ANDRECORDS AND
ANALYSISANALYSIS
 Precision farming may produce an explosion in the amount ofPrecision farming may produce an explosion in the amount of
records available for farm management. Electronic sensors canrecords available for farm management. Electronic sensors can
collect a lot of data in a short period of time.collect a lot of data in a short period of time.
 Lots of disk space is needed to store all the data as well as the mapLots of disk space is needed to store all the data as well as the map
graphics resulting from the data. Electronic controllers can also begraphics resulting from the data. Electronic controllers can also be
designed to provide signals that are recorded electronically.designed to provide signals that are recorded electronically.
 It may be useful to record the fertilizer rates actually put down byIt may be useful to record the fertilizer rates actually put down by
the application equipment, not just what should have been put downthe application equipment, not just what should have been put down
according to a prescription map.according to a prescription map.
 A lot of new data is generated every year (yields, weeds, etc).A lot of new data is generated every year (yields, weeds, etc).
Farmers will want to keep track of the yearly data to study trends inFarmers will want to keep track of the yearly data to study trends in
fertility, yields, salinity and numerous other parameters.fertility, yields, salinity and numerous other parameters.
 This means a large database is needed with the capability to archive,This means a large database is needed with the capability to archive,
and retrieve, data for future analyses.and retrieve, data for future analyses.

12. 12
Figure 1.Figure 1. Precision farmingPrecision farming
cycle.cycle.

13. 13
PRECISION FARMINGPRECISION FARMING
BENEFITSBENEFITS
 Several benefits are achieved from an automated method of capturing,Several benefits are achieved from an automated method of capturing,
storing and analyzing physical field records.storing and analyzing physical field records.
 Detailed analyses of the farm production management activities andDetailed analyses of the farm production management activities and
results can be carried out.results can be carried out.
 Farmers can look at the performance of new varieties by site specificFarmers can look at the performance of new varieties by site specific
area, measure the effect of different seeding dates or depths and showarea, measure the effect of different seeding dates or depths and show
to their banker the actual yields obtained and the associated risk levels.to their banker the actual yields obtained and the associated risk levels.
 It is imperative that trends and evaluations are also measured overIt is imperative that trends and evaluations are also measured over
longer time spans.longer time spans.
 Cropping strategies to control salinity may take several years to evaluateCropping strategies to control salinity may take several years to evaluate
while herbicide control of an annual weed should only take one season.while herbicide control of an annual weed should only take one season.
Precision farming can be approached in stages, in order to ease into aPrecision farming can be approached in stages, in order to ease into a
more complex level of managementmore complex level of management

14. 14
PRECISION FARMINGPRECISION FARMING
ALLOWANCEALLOWANCE
 Precision farming allows for improved economic analyses.Precision farming allows for improved economic analyses.
 The variability of crop yield in a field allows for the accurateThe variability of crop yield in a field allows for the accurate
assessment of risk.assessment of risk.
 For example, a farmer could verify that for 70 % of the time, 75 % ofFor example, a farmer could verify that for 70 % of the time, 75 % of
the barley grown in field "A" will yield 50 bushels.the barley grown in field "A" will yield 50 bushels.
 By knowing the cost of inputs, farmers can also calculate returnBy knowing the cost of inputs, farmers can also calculate return
over cash costs for each acre.over cash costs for each acre.
 Certain parts of the field which always produce below the breakCertain parts of the field which always produce below the break
even line can then be isolated for the development of a site-specificeven line can then be isolated for the development of a site-specific
management plan.management plan.
 Precision farming allows the precise tracking and tuning ofPrecision farming allows the precise tracking and tuning of
production.production.

15. 15
PRECISION FARMINGPRECISION FARMING
POTENTIALSPOTENTIALS
 Precision farming makes farm planning both easier and morePrecision farming makes farm planning both easier and more
complex.complex.
 There is much more map data to utilize in determining long termThere is much more map data to utilize in determining long term
cropping plans, erosion controls, salinity controls and assessmentcropping plans, erosion controls, salinity controls and assessment
of tillage systems.of tillage systems.
 But as the amount of data grows, more work is needed to interpretBut as the amount of data grows, more work is needed to interpret
the data and this increases the risk of misinterpretation.the data and this increases the risk of misinterpretation.
 Farmers implementing precision farming will likely work closer withFarmers implementing precision farming will likely work closer with
several professionals in the agricultural, GPS and computingseveral professionals in the agricultural, GPS and computing
sciences.sciences.

16. 16
WHERE TO START?WHERE TO START?
Precision farming does not "happen" as soon as one purchases a GPS unit or yield monitor.Precision farming does not "happen" as soon as one purchases a GPS unit or yield monitor.
It occurs over time as a farmer adopts a new level of management intensity on the farm.It occurs over time as a farmer adopts a new level of management intensity on the farm.
Implicit in this is an increased level of knowledge of the precision farming technologiesImplicit in this is an increased level of knowledge of the precision farming technologies
such as GPS.such as GPS.
What is perhaps more important for the success of precision farming, at least initially, isWhat is perhaps more important for the success of precision farming, at least initially, is
the increased knowledge that a farmer needs of his natural resources in the field.the increased knowledge that a farmer needs of his natural resources in the field.
This includes a better understanding of soil types, hydrology, microclimates and aerialThis includes a better understanding of soil types, hydrology, microclimates and aerial
photography.photography.
A farmer should identify the variance of factors within the fields that effect crop yield beforeA farmer should identify the variance of factors within the fields that effect crop yield before
a yield map is acquired.a yield map is acquired.
A yield map should serve as verification data to quantify the consequences of the variationA yield map should serve as verification data to quantify the consequences of the variation
that exists in a field.that exists in a field.
Management strategies and prescription map development will likely rely on sources otherManagement strategies and prescription map development will likely rely on sources other
than yield maps. The one important key source of data a farmer should not start precisionthan yield maps. The one important key source of data a farmer should not start precision
farming without is an aerial photographfarming without is an aerial photograph

17. 17
REFERENCESREFERENCES
 By Tom Goddard, Conservation and Development Branch, Alberta Agriculture, Food and RuralBy Tom Goddard, Conservation and Development Branch, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural
DevelopmentDevelopment
(Proceedings: Precision Farming Conference, January 20 - 21, 1997, Taber, Alberta, Canada)(Proceedings: Precision Farming Conference, January 20 - 21, 1997, Taber, Alberta, Canada)
For more information about the content of this document, contactFor more information about the content of this document, contact Tom GoddardTom Goddard..
This document is maintained byThis document is maintained by Deb SuttonDeb Sutton..
This information published to the web on October 17, 2001.This information published to the web on October 17, 2001.
Last Reviewed/Revised on March 3, 2008.Last Reviewed/Revised on March 3, 2008.
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