Precision Farming Tools and Technologies

Precision farming tools provide valuable support to boost performance and results by collecting data and putting in place various actions to accelerate productivity.

FREMONT, CA: There are several tools available for precision farming that provide valuable support to accelerate performance and results. A few popular instruments include semi-automated steering vehicles and variable dosage rates. At the same time, some solutions are constantly evolving. Cutting-edge technologies use integrated frameworks to collect data and deploy a series of actions to boost productivity.

Monitoring the health status of crops requires a great deal of effort when they extend over very large areas. Production in fields is not homogeneous and depends on the different quality of soil, the presence of parasites and fungi, or irrigation problems. It is important to be able to identify these causes on time to remedy any situations reducing productivity.

Satellite Crop Monitoring

Satellite crop monitoring allows farmers to constantly monitor the health of their fields with the help of a multi-spectral imagery analysis of high-resolution satellite images and also promptly trigger any alarm bells. This is possible because the satellites can detect certain wavelengths of electromagnetic emissions, like visible and near-infrared (NIR) bands. They can photograph sunlight reflected by the plants and soil to produce field imagery, offering information on key aspects such as vegetative development, humidity, and temperature of the soil.

Internet of Things: Sensors and Drones

An alternative solution that does not require the use of satellites is the use of agricultural drones. Today, they are primarily used for land mapping, but the most advanced versions adopt infrared sensors and imaging systems to detect problems that cannot be detected by the naked eye. Environmental sensors installed in the fields are another important instrument for precision agriculture because they are capable of recording climatic data and information on soil water requirements. The advantage of the sensors is that they can be used in enclosed spaces like greenhouses and nurseries.

This collected data helps to generate interactive maps that photograph the health state of the field and highlight any differences between individual areas of crops clearly and swiftly. Moreover, this allows anomalies to be discovered and report the need for any specific interventions. There are many causes for the criticalities in these areas, including nutritional deficiencies and irrigation problems, localised parasitic attacks, and damage due to hail or frost. To detect the reason for decreased vigour, it is necessary to conduct a field analysis, which is possible with the information available. Once the causes of the different yields in these areas are identified, it is easy to put in place targeted actions, depending on the problems, to plant seeds or spread variable rate fertilisers, increase irrigation in different areas or adopt the use of phytopharmaceuticals where necessary.

The advantage of crop monitoring systems is that they help farmers achieve constant control over even large areas or fields that are far apart from each other by setting a series of automated interventions. It allows them to intervene on time, immediately identifying stress factors that are difficult to recognise. Along with highlighting problem areas, constant monitoring allows farmers to verify the results of corrective actions put in place over time.