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Software, algorithms, and data analytics on the farm

Farming with Math and Computer Science

Modern AgricultureFebruary 13, 2017

Digital tools are helping all of us make better decisions, and farmers are no exception. In the same way fitness trackers encourage us to exercise more, watch what we eat, and get enough sleep, new digital tools are helping farmers use more precise amounts of water and other resources.

For Consumers: Fitness apps track movement to provide us with information about our health.

For Farmers: Farming apps track weather, planting, and soil data to provide farmers information to help their crops thrive.

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For Consumers: Fitness apps track movement to provide us with information about our health.

For Farmers: Farming apps track weather, planting, and soil data to provide farmers information to help their crops thrive.

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Knowledge is Key to Sustainability

Farmers have always been motivated to make best use of their land. But a farm is an incredibly complex operation. Imagine trying to run a business that requires an intimate knowledge of hundreds—maybe thousands—of acres of land. Now imagine that business could be substantially affected at any moment by rain, hail, wind, drought, or insects.

The bottom line is this: the more easily farmers can see and understand what’s happening (or about to happen) in every field, the better able they are to make sustainable choices.

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The bottom line is this: the more easily farmers can see and understand what’s happening (or about to happen) in every field, the better able they are to make sustainable choices.

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They can plant more seeds in places where they’re most likely to thrive. They can use more precise amounts of water and other resources to grow food, scout their fields remotely, and address issues before they become problems that might reduce the amount the crop produces.

Calculating the Weather

Powerful algorithms are turning centuries of weather data into more sophisticated forecasts. The rain, humidity, wind, and temperature can be more accurately measured using these complex models and simulations. This exciting advancement will help make important farming decisions, like whether to water a field or wait for Mother Nature to supply rain. Farmers have always been trying determine tomorrow’s forecast, only now this projection is backed by thousands of data points.

GPS on the Farm

Every crop requires a different level of attention and care: none grow exactly the same. That’s why pinpointing exactly which crops are suffering from drought, insect pressure, or lack of nitrogen is so important to farmers. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all approach, GPS provides growers with the exact coordinates of a plant in need.

The Connected Tractor

Tractors used in modern agriculture can now easily share valuable information with each other. When multiple machines are working a field, they communicate by telling other tractors exactly where they’ve already applied water or fertilizer. This powerful technology avoids unnecessary overlap, conserves natural resources, and can reduce tractor emissions.