The current state of precision farming

Precision farming, or site-specific farming, has emerged as a promising group of technologies that could increase agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship. It is a knowledge-based system that integrates many advanced information technologies. Precision farming enables farmers to apply precise amounts of fertilizers, pesticides, water, seeds or other inputs to specific areas where and when they are needed for optimal crop growth. The major components include grid sampling, Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, yield monitors, variable rate application (VRA), and computer simulation models. This paper reviews the current state of the art of precision farming and its major components, and discusses economic feasibility and potential implications for agricultural structure and rural communities.