GPS and Drones Boost Farming Efficiency

At the Carrington Research Center during Central Dakota Ag Day, Grand Farm Technical Advisor Noel Anderson highlighted how robotics and precision technology are transforming farming. GPS-enabled autonomous equipment is now accurate to 2.5 centimeters, allowing farmers to use “as planted” maps and drone imagery to target weeds efficiently. “The big thing that’s enabled the autonomous equipment is the GPS; you get that level of precision, but it’s repeatable,” Anderson said. “You can take an as-planted map with where your seed rows are and then come back with a weeding operation, and help make decisions.” Anderson also stressed the cost-saving potential of robotics and precision agriculture, especially amid rising input expenses. “With precision ag in general, you’re trying to take like nitrogen, and your other nutrients, and not overapply. Similarly, you don’t want to be putting herbicides, fungicides, insecticides where they’re not going to do any benefit because there’s no problem.”