Precision agriculture is helping western Canadian farmers utilize the latest established and emerging technologies to decrease inputs, increase yields and improve their bottom line, while at the same time preserving the land for the future.
In the hands of an experienced lifetime farmer and/or a tech-savvy youngster just getting started on the family farm, precision agriculture can provide valuable information with regards to efficiencies and sustainability, while at the same time improving profitability.
With the additional help of a good Canadian agronomist who understands the data produced by today’s farm equipment and how that data is transferred between machinery and devices; who also knows how to explain the data to a farmer and formulate a superior management plan; precision agriculture becomes a powerful tool.
Precision agriculture captures previously difficult and sometimes impossible to obtain data — quickly, accurately and at scale – that can help a farmer grow more with less. Fertilizer, insecticides, herbicides and water applications can be reduced with intelligent data use, while at the same time maintaining or increasing outputs, depending on a number of additional factors including but not limited to crop type, landscape, farm size, weather conditions and available communications technology.
The three major areas improved by precision agriculture are nutrient monitoring, planning and application. Geo-location (GPS), Geo-imagery (GIS), UAV Mapping, and soil sampling and monitoring are used to both discover and monitor variations in nutrient levels, providing a base with which to determine opportunities for better nutrient management and planning.
Obtained data is analyzed to produce efficient variable rate fertilizer prescriptions that can be manually implemented or transferred to equipment using Variable Rate Technologies (VRT) and autosteer for Variable Rate Application.
Precision agriculture practices can be especially important for high dollar crops that traditionally require intense management and large amounts of nutrient and water. GPS, autosteer and VRT technologies can improve performance in high acreage production areas, saving fuel, time and money with more efficient seeding patterns. Additionally, more ecologically aware fertilizer and water application means less effluent running off the land into local streams and rivers – which improves sustainability. VRT also assists with the assessment and planning of annual crop production and becomes even more valuable in areas with variable soil conditions.
Analyzing and interpreting the vast amounts of data produced by state-of-the-art farm equipment and tools is becoming easier every year, and the communication between devices makes it easier to get the data to where it can automatically do the work it was meant to do – increase output, reduce costs and make predictions.
Precision agriculture is gaining momentum in western Canada and holds much promise for the farmers of the future. Those who climb aboard early and tackle the learning curve with the help of accomplished western Canadian agronomists will reap the cost savings and benefits, of which there are many.
More efficient seeding patterns, decreased soil impaction, precise and economical nutrient application, reduced runoff and associated soil and water contamination, lower fuel consumption and air emissions, less wear on machinery, increased operational efficiencies, reduced labour costs, data-assisted risk management, improved sustainability, healthier crops, higher yields and better profits, are some of the possible benefits, but there are more.
Including making the planet a better place.