Precision Agriculture

Paper Summary:

This paper provides information about adapting to precision agriculture, and about some of the basic systems that are used such as grid soil sampling, variable rate technology, yield monitors, light bars, and computer software. The paper concludes that precision farming is not an easy or inexpensive investment to start, but depending on your operation it can become a profitable and useful tool. Two color images are included with the paper.

From the Paper:

"If a field is variable in fertility, a uniform application rate will lead to over application in some areas and under application in others. The over application may represent a loss of investment in fertilizer depending on the nutrient and potential for loss, while under application can result in lost yield as well as a reduction in crop residue to the soil, which may lead to increased erosion or other related problems. The field recommendations that are made on SSToolbox are downloaded into a memory card or e-mailed to the fertilizer dealer to be downloaded on their own memory cards."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Greenman, Catherine. "Down on the Farm, Up on Technology." New York Times (2000): pG1
• Laurenberg-DeBoer, Jess, and Katherine Ericson. Precision Farming Profitability. Purdue University, (2000) p1.
• Rickman, Doug. J.C. Luvall, Joey Shaw, Paul Mask, David Kissel, and Dana Sullivan. "Precision Agriculture :Changing the Face of farming." Geotimes. Nov 2003 v48 i11 p28
• Successful Farming. "Rating Precision Ag." Successful Farming." March 2003 v101 i4 p8
• Thrikawala, Sunil, Alfons Weersink, Gary Kachanosik, and Glen Fox. "Economic Feasibilty of Variable Rate Technology for Nitrogen on Corn." American Journal of Agricultural Economics. InfoTrac Search. Nov 1999 v81. i4 p914

More papers on Precision Agriculture:

• Essay # 75585 : "Precision Agriculture "
• Research Paper # 100190 : "Sustainable Agriculture and Food Production"
• Essay # 11839 : "Precision Farming & Global Positioning Systems"

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