By combining the Global Positioning System (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS), we are seeing great technological changes to the agriculture industry.
This technology has made possible precision agriculture and site-specific farming. Using this technology it allows enabling the capture of real-time data collection with accurate position information, thereby
These technologies enable the coupling of real-time data collection with accurate position information, resulting in the effective manipulation and analysis of geospatial data in giant amounts.
Precision farming GPS-based applications are being used in the following ways;
- Planning of farms
- Mapping fields
- Sampling soil for analysis
- Navigation of tractors
- Scouting crop health
- Monitoring output of yield
Farmers using GPS have benefit in multiple ways, providing them with the ability to work during low visibility field conditions during periods of rain, dust, fog, and darkness.
Before GPS technology in agriculture, farmers found it difficult to distinguish production techniques and crop yields, when considering the land variability.
As a result, farmers lacked the ability to develop superior soil/plant treatment methods, which would have resulted in larger crop yields.
GPS in agriculture can see the reduction of expenses, greater crop yields and green environment benefits.
This can be achieved through greater controls on the way pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides are applied.
The concept of precision agriculture is about collecting timely geospatial information pertaining to animal, plant and soil requirements.
Combining the above requirements with prescribing and applying site-specific treatments, agricultural production output can be increased in a green, environmental friendly way.
As a result, precision agriculture is now changing the way farmers and agricultural businesses view the land from which they reap their profits.
Where farmers may have once treated their fields in a one size fits all method, they are now seeing the rewards from micromanaging their fields.
Due to the introduction of high tech tools of GPS, precision agriculture is surging in popularity within the agricultural community.
As a result, agricultural results are now more accurate, cost effective, and user friendly than ever before.
Whilst there are many that believe the benefits of precision agriculture will apply only to large farms with huge capital investments of equipment and IT, such is not the case.
For instance, methods and techniques which are inexpensive and easy-to-use are available for all farmers.
Certainly through the use of GPS, GIS, and IoT remote sensors, farmers can gather land and water utilization data information.
Processing this data is where improvements of agricultural methods will become visible, and thereby ddditional benefits are achievable such as:
- Combining better utilization of soil treatments and fertilizers
- Determining the economic threshold for pesticides, by treating pest and weed infestations
- Protecting the lands natural resources
Manufacturers of GPS equipment have carried out RnD to develop several tools which are of use to farmers and agribusinesses.
GPS enabled devices are today being utilized by farmers to enhance operations in their farming businesses.
Location co-ordinates are collected by GPS receivers and stored within a database.
This data is then used for mapping property boundaries, points of interest, roads, irrigation systems, and patches of areas which suffer from pests, weeds or disease.
These same mapped fields can be dynamically crop dusted, applying chemicals only where they are required, thereby negating the need for humans to guide them.
As a result, efficiency improved, costs are cut, reduced amounts of pesticides are used and it is great for the environment
GPS allows accurate navigation to specific locations in the farm, year after year to collect soil samples for analysis, or monitor crop conditions.