In the face of market volatility and variable weather conditions, hard work doesn't necessarily lead to increased production, but smart farming can help increase crop yield and revenue within financial constraints—an increasingly critical concern that farmers and food growers around the world grapple with.
The key lies in adopting innovative practices. Farm Management System (FMS) is one such practice that offers prescription maps to achieve precise resource application. Taking the guesswork out of farming, prescription maps help farmers make informed decisions that lead to healthier crops and higher yields.
A Quick Glimpse into Prescription Map
So, what exactly are prescription maps? The word prescription, from "pre-" (before) and "script" (writing), refers to the fact that the prescription is an instruction that must be written down before a resource can be dispensed. In the context of agriculture, prescriptions can simply refer to "scripts" for crops.
In FMS, prescription maps are generated from a range of geo-referenced data, such as historical yields and soil nutrient levels, and recommend input rates for defined zones of a field. As the applicator travels over the field, the input amount changes based on real-time positioning data from a GNSS receiver.
Through prescription maps, farmers can optimize their application of inputs such as seeds and pesticides, giving each inch of the land the exact amount it needs for optimal growth. This targeted approach contributes to a more effective, eco-friendly utilization of resources, ultimately increasing harvest yield and farming revenue.
Knowing Your Field for Growing Success
One of the most important factors in precision agriculture is understanding the condition of the field. Through drone survey and wide-area orthophotos, multiple discontinuous plots can be converted into data on FMS at once, eliminating the need to intentionally measure each field with a tractor. In this way, farmers can obtain detailed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data of their fields.
"By uploading accurate orthophotos, we can easily and intuitively create field data on the PC," said Mr. Makishima, a Japanese customer who used the FJD FMS to analyze the condition of his 70-hectare field. "It's very time-consuming to measure with a tractor driving around the field. Measuring with UAV and creating data on a PC via FMS eliminates the disadvantages of manual driving, soil compaction, and additional fuel costs."
By analyzing field conditions, farmers like Mr. Makishima can obtain a clear understanding of crop growth over the course of each farming season. This insight allows them to make informed decisions about sowing, fertilizing, and harvesting, ensuring that each activity is as efficient as possible.
Applying Right Input to Maximize Yield
After analyzing the NDVI data for a field, FMS automatically generates prescription maps, which can be sent directly via cloud or USB devices to the on-board terminal (such as FJD's AT2) of a tractor connected to equipment capable of variable rate distribution. This allows precise and targeted treatments in future input applications.
"FMS divides growth levels into up to five stages, each with an adjustable range, allowing for more detailed fertilizer design than ever before," he added when referring to the benefits of prescription maps. "Depending on the specifications of the fertilizer spreader, the grids of the prescription map can be adjusted from 1mx1m to 50mx50m, achieving variable fertilization with the greatest possible granularity."
This tailored approach led to impressive results. According to Mr. Makishima, the crop yield in this cycle increased by 5% after supplementing fertilizers based on the prescription map, setting a new production record for the farm. FMS is a tool that greatly improves the convenience and efficiency of farming activity management.
"In this way, we can solve the problems related to yield and quality through varying fertilization rates, saving farming inputs and reducing costs," he explained. "We hope these functions, from steering wheel control to variable rate spraying, can also be achieved through the FJD app. That will be exciting updates we want to see in the future."
A Good Balance Between Input and Output
The benefits of the FMS prescription map extend beyond short-term gains. By analyzing field conditions and optimizing inputs, farmers can minimize their input and maximize their output. In an increasingly competitive agricultural landscape, FMS offers the prescription map function that gives a strategic advantage for farmers seeking to raise their yield and profitability.
If you have purchased FJD's navigation kits, you are entitled to one year of complimentary access to FMS, which holds a value of up to 99 USD. Upon the conclusion of this one-year period, if you want to continue using FMS, you can proceed with a purchase either through the FJD official website or by reaching out to your local dealer. This ensures uninterrupted service and full utilization of the FMS features beyond the initial free year.
References:
1. https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/innovation-in-arable-farming/0/steps/160453
2. https://www.automaticfarmsolution.com/post/how-prescription-maps-revolutionize-farming
3. https://wikifarmer.com/what-are-the-main-technologies-and-applications-of-precision-agriculture/