Precision agriculture (PA)

Precision agriculture is a type of farming that harnesses the use of technology to more efficiently grow and harvest crops. This practice is also known as precision farming or smart farming. It allows farmers to maximize their crop yield while also saving money in the long-run by allowing them to more efficiently use resources such as water, fertilizer, or seed. It can also be a more environmentally friendly way to farm, as certain technologies can allow farmers to use less water while still ensuring their crops get enough to stay hydrated. For example, an almond farmer in California can cut back on his water usage by switching to a computer-driven irrigation system that gives his trees small amounts of water frequently throughout the day rather than irrigating the fields once a week. There are many technological advances that are helping to drive the future of farming, including drones, computer sensors, global positioning system (GPS), and even robotics.

Background

Farming has been around for centuries. Prior to the creation of machines and other technological advances, much of the work was done by hand and was a very time-intensive process. As time went on, farming equipment such as tractors and combines were developed that cut down on some of the time spent in the field. In the late 1960s, farmers began harnessing remote-sensing technology, which allowed them to better monitor their land and resources such as fertilizer and water.

It was not until the early 1990s, however, that farming really saw big changes with the availability of GPS. GPS is a satellite-based navigation system owned by the United States government. It was developed in the 1970s, approved for civilian use in the 1980s, and became fully operational in 1995. As GPS guidance systems became available for tractors in the early 1990s, the concept of precision agriculture first began to take off. GPS-connected controllers in tractors were able to automatically steer the equipment based on the coordinates of a field. This allowed for greater precision and fewer miscalculations for the farmer, as it reduced the risk of driver error, which often could lead to wasted seed, fuel, and time. It also allowed the farmer to keep working in conditions that would have otherwise halted progress in the past, such as times of low visibility in rain or fog, or even at night. Overall, GPS—and with it the creation of precision agriculture—has helped farmers improve their bottom line by allowing them to more efficiently use their resources and labor force while maximizing their crop yields.

Overview

Since harnessing the power of GPS in the 1990s, farming has continued to become more efficient and technology-savvy into the twenty-first century. New technologies have been developed that give farmers more insight into their land and crops, with more on the way. Concept robots are being developed that can scour a farmer's field and not only provide data on crops but also remove specific weeds without damaging the crops. If a crop is damaged or diseased, there are applications being developed that would allow farmers to take a picture of a damaged crop and submit it for real-time diagnostic information.

In addition to satellite-based technology provided by GPS, there are many different types of technologies harnessed in precision agriculture that allow farmers to get the most out of their fields. Some of these include

• mobile devices and drones,
• robotics,
• irrigation,
• weather modeling, and
• sensors.

Just as smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices have made daily life easier for the masses, the same is true for farmers. Not only has this technology allowed for ease of communication on large farm sites, but it has also allowed for greater information and data sharing. Farmers can take pictures of a crop and access mobile apps and other data to diagnose problems in real time. They can also more quickly take and share notes on how crops are doing on certain days or access data from sensors in their fields. Drones are also an important tool in precision agriculture because they allow farmers to survey their fields in ways they could not before the technology was invented.

Although many advances in robotics remain in the concept stage, there are robots that currently aid in precision agriculture. They can more efficiently complete tasks such as planting and data collection. Farmers are looking to robots and autonomous machinery because they can feasibly operate around the clock and have relatively low maintenance needs.

Irrigation is an important factor in farming and can often make or break a farmer's bottom line. Give the crops too much water or too little water and they may not produce as well. There is also added pressure on farmers in areas under drought warnings to use as little water as possible, such as in California. Precise irrigation systems have been developed that allow farmers to meet the needs of the crop while also using as little water as possible. In turn, this benefits the environment and the farmer's bottom line because the farmers are able to use less water than in traditional irrigation methods, thereby reducing their costs.

Like irrigation, weather is also an important factor in farming. If a growing season is too rainy or too dry, too hot or too cold, it can have a major impact on crop yields. Weather modeling technology has allowed farmers to better predict what the weather will be like and helps farmers determine everything from when to plant, when to water, and even when to harvest.

Sensors have also had a big impact on precision farming and a farmer's bottom line. They can be used in everything from preparing soil to monitoring crops. A sensor in the soil can let a farmer know if nutrients need to be added or when to water; this allows for less wasted resources. Sensors in irrigation systems can tell when the soil is just starting to become too dry, allowing the farmer to water in smaller amounts. Wireless sensors can even alert farmers to the presence of certain bugs and insects that could damage their crops, allowing farmers to possibly stop an infestation that could devastate their crops and, in turn, their bottom line.

Bibliography

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"The Future of Agriculture." Economist, June 2016, www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2016-06-09/factory-fresh. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Grassi, Matthew J. "Agritechnica 2017: 5 Quick Takeaways from World's Top Farm Show." PrecisionAg, 21 Nov. 2017, www.precisionag.com/industry-news/agritechnica-2017-5-quick-takeaways-from-worlds-top-farm-show/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Ling, Geoffrey, and Blake Bextine. "Precision Farming Increases Crop Yields." Scientific American, 26 June 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/precision-farming/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Schmaltz, Remi. "What Is Precision Agriculture?" AgFunder News, 24 Apr. 2017, agfundernews.com/what-is-precision-agriculture.html. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.

Sfiligoj, Eric, and Lisa Heacox. "Top 10 Technologies in Precision Agriculture Right Now." PrecisionAg, 12 Aug. 2016, www.precisionag.com/systems-management/top-10-technologies-in-precision-agriculture-right-now/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2017.