3 accessible precision farming solutions for small operations

Precision farming technologies have been in the spotlight for a few years, but their high cost often puts them out of reach for small- and medium-sized producers. However, there’s a growing number of affordable options that let you optimize your operation without breaking the bank.

1. Yield monitors
These systems are attached to combine harvesters or tractors and provide information about yield, grain moisture and soil properties in real time. This allows farmers to monitor the conditions of each field, which enables better resource allocation.

Nowadays, yield monitors can be installed on equipment of almost any age, making them very accessible.

2. Smartphone apps
Smartphone apps are a great starting point for implementing precision agriculture on small farms.

The eFarmer application allows farmers to use their devices as displays and navigate their fields more precisely. This helps them to work at night and in low-visibility conditions.

Taranis is a similar, web-based app that also offers solutions for monitoring integrated pest management processes.

3. Variable-rate fertilizer spreaders
These systems help farmers reduce the amount of fertilizer they disperse by only spreading as much as required. They pay for themselves thanks to good fuel economy and low resource usage.

Models are being developed for various-sized operations.

Precision farming isn’t just a fad, and it’s getting easier for the everyday farmer to benefit from it.