1. Precision Agriculture
What does it REALLY mean?

2. How Old is Precision Agriculture?
300 years old
Native Americans teaching pilgrims how to add organic material to their corn plants
20 + years old
GPS, Yield Monitoring, and other technology

3. “Now what do we do with it?”
We created the technology to create field maps
Showed patterns of growth and yield
Experts said collect 10 years of data and then we will use it – have answers on what to do with it
Nobody had the knowledge of what to do with the data
Now we have the answers!!

4. What is the definition of Precision Agriculture?
Site specific farming or farming by the foot
Represents the same thing – ability to collect data and make decisions in smaller areas than an entire field
Past – collect the data and average the entire field (average bushels or product per acre)
Assume the entire field had the same value
Present – have the ability to mark off/identify a small area of a field – subfield,
Definition includes subfield, variability, technology, efficiency, benefits

5. What is a subfield?
A smaller portion of a field (dissect out smaller areas of a field)
Allows for more precise and accurate decision making
Farmers are able to make decisions based on information from that area
Not all decisions might not be appropriate in other areas

6. Field Compared to Subfield

7. Variability
Spatial variability is the driving force behind Precision Agriculture
Without variability you have not reason to subdivide fields (Past – easier management decisions if you can apply to entire field)
Variability occurs throughout the natural environment
Soils developed under forests, grasses, glaciers
Allows you to implement management practices specific to each subfield
Soil types define much of the variability within a field

8. Efficiency
Management Efficiency – ability of the producer to use Precision Ag Technology for fundamental management of the operation
Decision Making Efficiency – ability to use financial and production records to make decisions
No till vs. conventional tillage
Which crops give higher return?
Most common case for increased efficiency – variable application of fertilizers/chemicals

9. GOAL: 100% of field Has correct amount Of product
Variable Application
Variable rate application – specified amounts in certain areas
Broadcasting the same amount is inefficient
GOAL: 100% of field
Has correct amount
Of product

10. Technology Just collecting the data is not sufficient . . . .
Data collection, data analysis, and implementation = Precision agriculture
Allows decisions to be made on a larger scale

11. Benefits
Environmental Benefits – ability to reduce or strategically place inputs or make decisions that will reduce impact on natural resources
Terraces, buffer strips, products at lower rate
Economic Benefits – decisions that result in higher monetary return
Lower operating cost = more income

12. Tools of Precision Agriculture
A wrench is a tool and does not generate cash flow by itself – value of precision agriculture is determined by how they are used . . .

13. What are the tools of Precision Agriculture?
Global Positioning System GPS
Geographic Information Systems GIS
Intelligent Devices and Implements IDI
Remote Sensing
Computers

14. What is your DEFINTION of Precision Agriculture?
Include
Subfield area
Variability
Efficiency
Technology
Benefits
Assignment: Write your own definition of Precision Agriculture

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