Precision Agriculture
Precision Agriculture (PA) is a relatively new farm management strategy that allows the quantification and management of the spatial variability in farm fields. Many significant developments in the machinery used for PA have occurred during the last 25 years. Yield monitors, Guidance Systems, Variable Rate Technology, GPS, Application Controls and Remote Sensing are just a few of the technologies that have evolved.
Precision agronomics is an important term related to the combining of methodology with technology. At its core, it’s about providing more accurate farming techniques for planting and growing crops. At its most basic level, precision agronomics takes the role of an agronomist and helps make the methods they use more accurate and scalable.
The primary aim of precision agriculture and precision agronomics is to ensure profitability, efficiency, and sustainability while protecting the environment. This is achieved by using the “Big Data” gathered by this technology to guide both immediate and future decisions on everything from where in the field to apply a particular rate, to when it’s best to apply chemical, fertilizer or seed.
The methods of acquiring this data for precision agriculture continues to expand. The increasing use of Remote Sensing (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Satellite Imagery) has provided an important and convenient method for acquiring data. This data can produce NDVI images along with ground truthing opportunities which can help the end user make schedules for irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide applications.
Exposure too many different programs helps ensure multiple experiences in working with the data. These programs include Trimble Ag Software, SST Summit, Becks Farmserver, Climate Fieldview, Farmlogs and SMS.
Along with these programs, opportunity is also given to work on the equipment (various yield monitors, guidance systems, application controls) that either gather the data or apply the product based on the data. In addition to the field equipment, students are able to gather data thru UAVs and then process the images thru Drone Deploy in addition to the satellite images some companies provide.
With the current farming economy, farmers are driven to use this technology to increase efficiency, to manage production costs and to protect the environment. As our program continues to grow, the expectations are that our students will see the benefits of all of this technology and be able to apply this information in their future careers, either in the workforce or if they go back to the family farm.
It would appear that both the elements of Agriculture and Precision Agriculture have potential in the defense industry. By equipping military personnel with the tools need to evaluate and treat soil both in our country and abroad would seem to be of benefit.
Precision agronomics is an important term related to the combining of methodology with technology. At its core, it’s about providing more accurate farming techniques for planting and growing crops. At its most basic level, precision agronomics takes the role of an agronomist and helps make the methods they use more accurate and scalable.
The primary aim of precision agriculture and precision agronomics is to ensure profitability, efficiency, and sustainability while protecting the environment. This is achieved by using the “Big Data” gathered by this technology to guide both immediate and future decisions on everything from where in the field to apply a particular rate, to when it’s best to apply chemical, fertilizer or seed.
The methods of acquiring this data for precision agriculture continues to expand. The increasing use of Remote Sensing (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Satellite Imagery) has provided an important and convenient method for acquiring data. This data can produce NDVI images along with ground truthing opportunities which can help the end user make schedules for irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide applications.
Exposure too many different programs helps ensure multiple experiences in working with the data. These programs include Trimble Ag Software, SST Summit, Becks Farmserver, Climate Fieldview, Farmlogs and SMS.
Along with these programs, opportunity is also given to work on the equipment (various yield monitors, guidance systems, application controls) that either gather the data or apply the product based on the data. In addition to the field equipment, students are able to gather data thru UAVs and then process the images thru Drone Deploy in addition to the satellite images some companies provide.
With the current farming economy, farmers are driven to use this technology to increase efficiency, to manage production costs and to protect the environment. As our program continues to grow, the expectations are that our students will see the benefits of all of this technology and be able to apply this information in their future careers, either in the workforce or if they go back to the family farm.
It would appear that both the elements of Agriculture and Precision Agriculture have potential in the defense industry. By equipping military personnel with the tools need to evaluate and treat soil both in our country and abroad would seem to be of benefit.