Satellites are being used in a new way to revolutionize agriculture.

Precision farming is a systematic approach to agriculture, which uses technology to ease the everyday lives of farmers. The Global Positioning System uses satellites to manage farming operations. Yield mapping, auto guidance and machine vision technology aid farmers with planting, harvesting and applying pesticides and herbicides.

“We’re changing farmers’ lives,” said Lie Tang, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

Auto guidance, a technology that allows farmers to steer without their hands, has been gaining popularity with farmers.

Brian Steward, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, said auto steering is a safe way to reduce driver fatigue, a common problem.

Auto steering has been available for a while, but it has become more popular as awareness has increased and prices have gone down, Tang said.

Another technology, yield mapping, allows farmers to retrieve maps of their fields using satellite technology.

“You can compare maps of yield to topography,” said Amy Kaleita-Forbes, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering.

Kaleita-Forbes said yield mapping allows farmers to see areas of low performance in order to vary rates of nitrogen and herbicide application.

Yield mapping allows farmers to apply fertilizers and pesticides at a very high level of accuracy. They can also use satellite pictures of their farm to determine the best time of application, Tang said.

Machine vision technology is another advantage of satellite technology. Steward said photos of the spacing of corn plants are useful for determining the yield. Ultrasonic sensors are also used to determine the quality of the plants.

There are several benefits for farmers using the newest technologies.

“One potential benefit [is] to optimize the production system to increase productivity,” Steward said.

Challenges, however, are also present in precision farming. Many farmers are concerned with the cost and comfort of the technology.

“There is a cost to it [and] it tends to be decreasing,” Steward said. “The cost depends on the accuracy.”

Kaleita-Forbes said the technology cannot always improve farming, because the land is not always predictable.

As prices for the technology are decreasing, more farmers are incorporating the techniques into their farms. The popularity is somewhat hindered by the unfamiliarity of the new technology.

“It requires a certain comfort level with technology,” Kaleita-Forbes said.

“You have to be willing to sit at your computer.”

Kaleita-Forbes said overcoming the technology barrier will allow farming to advance.

“Precision farming is the next big thing in agriculture,” she said. “It’s time to bring the information enrichment to agriculture as well.”