| Definition |
Precision agriculture, or
site-specific farming, is "a system to better manage farm resources.
Precision farming is an information and technology based management system
now possible because of several technologies currently available to
agriculture. These include global positioning systems, geographic
information systems, yield monitoring devices, soil, plant and pest
sensors, remote sensing, and variable rate technologies for application of
inputs." (NESPAL, Tifton
GA)
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This information and technology
for site-specific farming allows farmers to identify, analyze, and manage
the spatial and temporal variability of soil and plants for optimum
profitability, sustainability, and protection of the environment.
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Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) are a powerful information technology for analysis and management of
spatial data and mapping. Remote Sensing (RS) to identify and Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) to locate and define spatial features or
activities contribute to the quality of site-specific practices. Variable
Rate Technology (VRT) allows targeted, site-specific input applications.
Yield monitoring records crop productivity as an historical database for
crop management. Emerging precision agriculture technologies rely heavily
on GIS/GPS/RS/VRT and monitoring.
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| The
Offer |
Jefferson County farmers and
ranchers who are interested in mapping their fields can arrange that with
me, Larry Halsey. I have begun a service of field fertility mapping using
soil sample analysis. If you are willing to pay lab analysis fees, call
me. Typically, you should take a sample per acre for high value crops such
as vegetables, sod and nursery stock. Cotton, corn, peanuts and other row
crops would require a sample per 2-4 acres, and hay or pasture could be
mapped using one sample per 5-8 acres. Soil Test fees at the
University of Florida are $7.00 for routine analysis, and an additional
$5.00 for micronutrients. If you prefer a private lab, you can
arrange deliver of samples to the lab, and we can map those
results. |
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School
of Forest Resources & Conservation - GIS / GPS / RS Lab |
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Soil & Water Science - SEAMS
(Soil, Environmental and Agricultural Management System) |
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| KYU |
Precision
Agriculture Profitability Review |
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National
Environmentally Sound, Production Agriculture Lab (NESPAL) |
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| The
Basics |
The Geographers Craft
- Colorado
University of Minnesota
(Forestry)
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| Site
Specific Farming
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Precision Ag Sites and
Links
Data Sources
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| .COMs
& e-zines |
Hardware and Software
Vendors
Magazines & Jump Stations
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