Introduction to Geospatial Technologies in Ag Introduction to Precision Farming Ag Geospatial Program of Study This project is partly funded by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions expressed within are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.

Overview Tools of Precision Farming Processes of Precision Farming Uses of Precision Farming Benefits of Precision Farming

Tools of Precision Farming Global Positioning System (GPS) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Intelligent Devices and Implements (IDI)

GPS tutorial websites http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/gps.html http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.html http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/notes/gps/gps_f.html http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/

Global Positioning System Global Navigational Satellite System for the US Composed of: Satellite constellation (31 satellites) User based receiver units Satellites transmit one way ranging signals which the receivers use to calculate a location Accurate latitude/longitude to 10 – 30 feet Correction to submeter to subinch possible

GPS – User Segment Components Antenna Receiver Display Firmware Input Graphic from http://www.trimble.com/geoexplorer3.html

GPS – basic information Location – specific coordinates to identify your position within 10 – 30 ft Time – using the atomic clock, a very precise time that an event occurred can be determined Speed – by calculating continuous positions, your speed can be calculated Direction – by calculating continuous positions, your direction of travel can be determined.

GPS – Ag Applications Determine location Navigate to a known coordinate point Data logging Data Logging is most valuable use in ag Combined with yield monitor for yield mapping Used in scouting to create scout maps Used to distribute and record variable rate products Used to georeference soil sampling

Tools of Precision Farming - GIS? Computerized Map Combines a map with database information about each feature on the map Analyze information about feature

Components of a GIS Map – displays reference and thematic map layers. Each map layer has one type of feature Map layer can have from 1 to thousands of that feature Map layers can be grouped together Table – stores and manipulates data about features in map layers Looks most like a spreadsheet Each feature on a map has one row in the table Attributes of each feature is stored in columns Table and Map are digitally connected

Functions of a GIS Viewing mapped features Storage of data Retrieval of data - Query Analyze data Manipulation of data/information Presentation of information

Tools of Precision Farming - IDI Remote Sensing/Digital Imagery Digitally recording the light reflectance from various ground and plant surfaces Small differences in materials characteristics can be identified by reflectance values Example: healthy plants and unhealthy plants Example: plants short of nutrients

Processes of Precision Farming Data Collection (builds data) Data Analysis (creates information) Interpretation (uses information for decision making or implementation) Duplicates the decision making process

How are the tools used? Data collection Data Analysis Interpretation Georeference data to a map - GPS Manage and display data - GIS Sensors to measure and sense soils or conditions - IDI Data Analysis Statistical Summary - GIS Query objects and areas of interest - GIS Interpretation Spatial records in database - GIS Interpretive maps - GIS

Uses of Precision Farming Variable Rate Application and Guidance Use of tools and analysis to apply correct amounts on fields Recordkeeping Use of Precision farming tools to record inventory, production or management Spatial Analysis Use of tools and records to analyze records for decision making

End products of Precision Farming Recordkeeping

End products of Precision Farming Spatial Analysis

End products of Precision Farming Variable Rate Application

Benefits Economic Environmental Sustainability Financial – higher yields/lower inputs Environmental Protecting the natural resources Sustainability Making decisions that balance both