Check out this video from a field robot event at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, courtesy of Epoch Times online. “We can reduce the amount of chemicals we use by the very precise application and by doing so, we will also reduce emissions and residuals of chemicals on food.” Putting theory into practice, students and engineers held a Field Robot … Read More
Last Of 8 New GPS Satellites Set To Launch
The U.S. Air Force, responsible for managing the GPS satellite constellation, is scheduled to launch the last in a series of new GPS IIR-M satellites to ensure improved GPS capability well into the future, as reported by Satnews Daily. Built by Lockheed Martin, the satellite offers features to include improved accuracy, enhanced encryption, anti-jamming capabilities and a second civil signal to … Read More
Precision Farming Advances in Popular Science
Popular Science magazine did a nice job providing readers with a glimpse into the precision agriculture research that is needed to grow twice as much food by 2050. The writer talked about how this challenge is everyone’s problem, but scientists are hard at work fomenting a second green revolution. Here are the research projects that the magazine chose: 1. Sahara … Read More
New USDA Satellite Images of Ag Land
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) just released new satellite images of agricultural land cover for the 2008 crop year. The images, referred to as the Cropland Data Layer (CDL), identify geospatial crop locations in three U.S. regions: the Mid-Atlantic and, for the first time, the Southwest and Southeast. The CDL information is a useful tool for projects ranging from … Read More
InfoAg Talk: Technology You Can Use
Speaking at the bi-annual precision agriculture InfoAg conference in Springfield, Ill., recently, Utah State Geospatial Extension Specialist Phil Rasmussen talked about the latest tools he uses in the field. Rasmussen has worked with NASA on remote sensing projects, and 10 years ago began a geospatial training program for County Extension agents called “On Target.” In his talk he highlighted the … Read More
Agri ImaGIS Teams With Farm Market iD
Data on farmers and fields will now be aided by satellites. Farm Market iD, a leading provider of farm-level U.S. agricultural data, announced today the signing of a joint venture agreement with Fargo, North Dakota-based Agri ImaGIS. The joint venture agreement between Farm Market iD and Agri ImaGIS creates co-development and co-marketing arrangements for Farm Market iD, a comprehensive database of … Read More
Satellites Show Ozone Cutting Soybean Yields
Losses of up to $2 billion per year (10%) in soybean yield is due to rising surface ozone, according to satellite measurements by NASA, as outlined in a recent study. Above a threshold concentration, ozone inhibits photosynthesis and reduces yield in soybeans, one of the more sensitive crops to high surface ozone levels. On the left are plants that have … Read More
Concerns with GPS Satellites and Future Viability
If you’ve heard news about potential failure of satellites in the GPS constellation by 2010…the sky is not falling and it’s not time to panic. Is there concern? Yes. A study just released by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that the Air Force (which maintains the system) and suppliers have not lived up to their promises of replacing … Read More
Precision Auto Steer Works Without Driver
Now you knew someone would, sooner or later, put John Deere’s iTEC Pro technology to the test by leaving the cab, as witnessed by this crazy driverless tractor video. Good thing the GPS signal did not drop. And please, don’t try this at home. I’d like to see the rest of the video where the farmer had to run and jump … Read More
New Crop Forecast Tool for Precision Agriculture
Billed as the true next generation agricultural information product, CropForecaster service combines satellite imagery with biomass and leaf area variables. It can produce daily imagery that tracks and predicts crop development and growth from planting to harvest. CropForecaster is the combined work of ZedX, a Pennsylvania-based leading developer of internet agricultural decision support services, and France-based Infoterra, a subsidiary of … Read More