Precision Agriculture

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Precision Agriculture GPS

• Ag Science
• Fall 2000

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Introduction

• Precision farming
• managing each crop production input on a site
  specific basis.
• Example inputs
• fertilizer --lime
• pesticides -- seed

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Objectives of Precision Farming

• Reduce waste
• Increase profit
• Maintain environment

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Comparison

• Pre-mechanization
• Farmers dealt with each seed plant
• Post-mechanization
• Farmers dealt with entire fields

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Variable Rate Application

• Applying different amounts of input while going
  across field

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Variable Rate Technology

• Tools and equipment that allows for variable rate
  application

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Variability in the Field

• Soil fertility
• Moisture content
• Soil texture
• Topography
• Pest population
• pH

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• Fast changers
• nitrate level
• moisture content
• pest population

• Slow changers
• topography
• texture
• pH

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Fertilizers

• 97 of corn acres applied with N
• 25 cash production costs
• Consider environmental impact

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Pesticides

• 7 billion spent annually
• 98 of corn soybean acres
• Environment is concern

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Seed

• 1900 -- 1 farmer fed 8 people
• 1990 -- 1 farmer feeds 100 people
• We can change plant population as we plant

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Components of Precision Farming

• Tillage - depth residue
• Planting - seed rate depth
• Spraying - certain area
• Crop scouting - problem area
• Harvesting - yield monitor

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Where on Earth are We?

• Dead reckoning
• Land-based positioning
• Satellite-based positioning

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Dead Reckoning

• Uses starting point
• Speed
• Travel time
• Number of passes to determine location

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Land-Based Positioning

• Uses radio towers
• Must have three towers

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Satellite-Based Positioning

• AKA
• Global Positioning System
• GPS for short

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GPS

• Constellation of satellites
• Developed by Department of Defense
• Used 24 hrs./day anywhere on Earth

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Uses

• Military
• Industrial

• Commercial
• Civilian

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Segments of GPS

• Space
• User
• Control

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Space

• 24 satellites
• 12,000 miles above Earth
• Orbit twice daily
• Always have at least 4 satellites in view

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• In view above horizon
• Each satellite sends receives radio signals
• Radio signals travel 183,000 miles per second
• Satellites equipped with atomic clock for accuracy

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User Segment

• GPS Units Receivers
• Free of charge usage of signals

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Control Segment

• Track monitor satellites
• Master Control Station - AFB in Colorado Springs

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