Precision agriculture is a farming management system that uses information technology to improve the efficiency of agricultural operations. It often employs technologies to automate agricultural operations, improving their diagnosis, decision-making, or performance. It is used to optimize field-level management of crop science, environmental protection, and economics. It also provides farmers with a wealth of information to build up a record of their farm, improve decision-making, foster greater traceability, enhance the marketing of farm products, improve lease arrangements and relationships with landlords, and enhance the inherent quality of farm products. It is a key component of the third wave of modern agricultural revolutions. It is expected that by 2050, the global population will reach about 9.6 billion, and food production must effectively double from current levels in order to feed every mouth. With new technological advancements in the agricultural revolution of precision farming, each farmer will be able to feed 265 people on the same acreage.

There are many different technologies that can be used in precision agriculture, including:

• Global Positioning System (GPS): GPS is used to track the location of farm equipment, such as tractors and sprayers. This information can be used to create maps of fields, which can help farmers to identify areas that need more attention.
• Remote sensing: Remote sensing is the use of satellites and aircraft to collect data about crops. This data can be used to monitor crop health, yield, and water use.
• Yield monitors: Yield monitors are used to measure the yield of crops as they are harvested. This information can be used to identify areas of the field that are not producing as well as others.
• Variable-rate technology: Variable-rate technology is used to apply inputs, such as fertilizer and pesticides, at different rates across the field. This allows farmers to use inputs more efficiently and to reduce their environmental impact.
• Precision livestock farming: Precision livestock farming is a system of livestock management that uses information technology to improve the efficiency of livestock operations. It often employs technologies to automate livestock operations, improving their diagnosis, decision-making, or performance. It is used to optimize herd-level management with regard to animal science, environmental protection, and economics. It also provides farmers with a wealth of information to build up a record of their farm, improve decision-making, foster greater traceability, enhance the marketing of farm products, improve lease arrangements and relationships with landlords, and enhance the inherent quality of farm products.

Precision agriculture is a relatively new technology, but it is already having a significant impact on the agricultural industry. It is expected that precision agriculture will continue to grow in popularity in the years to come, as it can help farmers to improve their productivity, profitability, and sustainability.

Here are some of the benefits of precision agriculture:

• Increased yields: Precision agriculture can help farmers to increase their yields by using inputs more efficiently and by identifying and addressing problems in their fields.
• Reduced costs: Precision agriculture can help farmers to reduce their costs by using inputs more efficiently and by reducing the amount of time and labor that is required to manage their farms.
• Reduced environmental impact: Precision agriculture can help farmers to reduce their environmental impact by using inputs more efficiently and by reducing pollution.
• Improved quality of life for farmers: Precision agriculture can help farmers to improve their quality of life by reducing the amount of time and labor that is required to manage their farms.

Precision agriculture is a complex technology, but it is becoming increasingly accessible to farmers of all sizes. There are a number of software and hardware providers that offer precision agriculture solutions, and there are also a number of government and non-profit organizations that provide training and support to farmers.

Useful Resources

• Twenty five years of remote sensing in precision agriculture: Key advances and remaining knowledge gaps
• An Introduction to Precision Agriculture
• Wireless Sensor Network in precision agriculture application
• Applications of precision agriculture in horticultural crops
• Precision agriculture on grassland: Applications, perspectives and constraints
• The role of precision agriculture for improved nutrient management on farms
• Support Vector Machine in Precision Agriculture: A review
• The Role of Precision Agriculture Technologies in Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture
• A review on the use of drones for precision agriculture
• Data Mining in Precision Agriculture: Management of Spatial Information