Variable Rate Farming! Using Data!!! Plant Different amounts &/or types of seeds Apply different amounts &/or types of fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, & amounts of water across a field.

VOCABULARY WORDS Drones 6. Global Imaging Drones Positioning Killer Drones Sprayer Drones Harvesting Drones 2. Imaging Drones Visual Hyperspectral Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 3. Real Time Kinematics (RTK) 6. Global Positioning System (GPS) 7. Variable Rate Farming 8. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a) National Weather Service

Aerial Imaging Satellite, aircraft, drones, &/or etc. Visual Inspection Hyperspectral Imaging – Uses parts of the light spectrum our eyes can’t see! Nitrogen content, growth, weeds, insect infestation, water, soil temps & etc. Ground Penetrating Radar – Detects Ground water in soil Infrared Spectrometry – inspects plants for water stress Laser LIDAR Thermal LIDAR Near Infrared Etc...

We are getting self driving cars Well, airplanes have had autopilot for decades! And, farmers have had self driving tractors for quite awhile now! All of them are getting better with time!

Real Time Kinematics (RTK) Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) a field can be mapped down to inches. Computers can drive/fly/scan a field down to the inch.

Real Time Kinematics (RTK) Telematics AKA: Guided Assistance, Auto Steer, Controlled Traffic, etc. – is the computer driving the tractor using GPS. Perfectly straight lines – no overspray / over seed, & etc. Tractor can always drive in the same track – keeps soil compaction down!

We can spray the entire field or?

Drones Spraying Can spot spray!!! Doesn’t have expensive aircraft/pilot Saves expensive Fertilizers, Pesticides, & Herbicides!! Less chemical & salt buildup in soil & in runoff!!

We can fertilize the entire field or?

We can fertilize the entire field or? Using RTK we can vary the amounts and types of fertilizer used across the field! No overlap!

We can seed the entire field or? Using RTK we can vary the amounts and types of seeds planted across the field! PLUS no overlap, so no wasted/over seeding takes place! Too many plants too close together is a problem!

Weather Forecasts Every Decade they have gained a days worth of accuracy. Under a week is quite accurate Two week forecast is lacking Long term is seasonal forecasts are getting better. Gives farmers better ideas about whether or not to water and how much watering will be needed. And, what types of seeds to plant.

Linear Irrigation System Waters in a square so it covers 100% of the field. Can be equipped with sensors/flow valves. So, it could be programed to spot water!

Killer Drones No Pesticides Programed to only kill the pest insect! Leaves all other insects and animals alone

Killer Drones Below: This unit is under development Above: Frying a mosquito mid air

Hand Picking Soft Vegetables must be picked gently (by hand) Human eye is needed to identify ripe fruit

Picking Drones Soft Vegetables must be picked gently (by hand) *Below: commercially available strawberry picker. Under development and some are just now going into use.

VOCABULARY WORDS Drones 6. Global Imaging Drones Positioning Killer Drones Sprayer Drones Harvesting Drones 2. Imaging Drones Visual Hyperspectral Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) 3. Real Time Kinematics (RTK) 6. Global Positioning System (GPS) 7. Variable Rate Farming 8. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a) National Weather Service

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