Precision Farming vs. Digital Farming vs. Smart Farming: What’s The Difference?
Technology in the 21st century has become a vital piece for businesses around the globe in all industries. It has likewise become important for farmers as well. The increased adoption of technology in farming is no surprise.
Farmers are making use of technologies to manage operational costs and also increase efficiency. The modernization of agriculture and digital technology resulted in emerging concepts. These concepts are digital farming, smart farming, and precision farming.
Precision Farming
An easy method to understand precision agriculture is to think of this practice which makes the farming activated highly accurate, controlled, and optimized when talking about the growth of the crops and raising the livestock. Precision farming makes use of a wide array of items, such as:
- Drones.
- Autonomous vehicles.
- GPS guidance.
- Sensors.
- Robotics.
- Soil sampling.
- Automated software and hardware
This farming focuses on optimization. For instance, it will not apply an equal amount of fertilizers over a field, but rather it will measure the soil variations and then adapt the fertilizer strategy for each part of the land differently and more efficiently. This results in an optimized approach that can save costs, optimize the usage of fertilizers, and also reduce the environmental consequences.
Precision agriculture was majorly born in the early 1990s when John Deere introduced GPS guidance into their tractors. They were able to automate steering, increase crop yields by not wasting seeds, and reduce any errors. High-speed internet and reliable satellite communications for positioning and imagery made this tractor low cost as well.
Smart Farming
Smart farming is an activity where information is applied, and data technologies are used to optimize complex farming systems. This approach focuses on access to the data and on how the farmers can use the data that is collected smartly. The goal is to achieve an increase in the quality and quantity of the products while also optimizing human labour production.
The technologies used in smart farming range from making use of drones and Internet of Things technologies to artificial intelligence. These enable the farmers to monitor the conditions of the field without physically going there. These enable them to make decisions for the farms, plants, and production sites.
Smart farming is not only restricted to large agricultural corporations, but rather it is also able to boost family farms, smaller operations, and organic farms. The complete process of smart farming is making use of sensor monitoring, and software-managed farms.
Digital Farming
The true essence of digital farming lies in giving meaning to the data. Digital farming means that one can go beyond the availability and the presence of the data in order to develop actionable intelligence and provide value to the data. It also integrates the concepts of smart farming and precision farming.
For the farmers, digital agriculture will allow them the opportunity to increase the production of the farm, eliminate the risks and also save costs in the long term. Many farmers view the mode of digital farming as the future of the farming industry.
Also Read: The Role of Digitalization in Transforming Livestock Industry
Key Advantages of Digitizing Your Farm Records
There are several advantages to digitizing farm records. In modern business, handwritten notes and traditional spreadsheets are now a thing of the past.
This is where new digital records are becoming a mainstay, even in the agricultural domain. The FMS and related applications are taking the heavy lifting for the record, making the experience more seamless. Digitalization will conveniently store data and can be shared easily.
1. Timely decision-making
In the critical seasons for the farms, there is never enough time. Thus, having access to a current repository for farm records at the fingertips using apps will help users act quickly with confidence in real-time.
Furthermore, the storage of historical information will also mean that the records will be easily referenced for future planning. Additionally, the digital transfer of the information will also work to provide your team with the data.
All of the data will be communicated effectively, and it is best to use the FMS systems which can increase the accuracy. This will also improve the planning, and timely decision-making, and also streamline the relationship.
2. Improved collaboration between the team and the farm
When the farm team will have live access to all of the activities, the collaboration in the farm will improve. With a single click, the trusted partners and team will have access to the data and can also communicate the activities with the operation. When you can connect with your partners and link data, it will significantly improve collaboration.
3. Access to information
When the central hub of operations, which will be digitized records, can be made accessible and available to the team. These will allow seamless information transfer even when the team is not on the field.
You will also be able to share a broader farm plan with the team or even specific details. The FMS can help improve operational efficiencies while also keeping the information completely confidential.
One can also eliminate the time needed for searching for paperwork of the farm records, which are now safe and secure for future use.
4. Have a real picture of your farm
The digital farm management systems will mean that you will also have live data of the farming operations. The FMS will have an automatic capture that can relay the information such as changing weather and the growth stages of the crops, which allow us to be connected to the farm even if there is a physical barrier.
You can generate the reports for the farm, which also keeps you updated. One can transparently track the movement of the inventory. This can also assign the tasks to the team and everyone will always be aware of what is happening at every instant.
5. Save administration time
For businesses, time is money. So incorporating the FMS for the farm records will save time and make work quicker. Where previous accounting tasks required labor, physical storage, and safety. The new FMS can provide streamlining and automated workflows to save time.
How to Digitize your Farm Activities?
Digitizing the farm activities is a critical task. It requires that a predefined set of steps is followed correctly, so the farm can be digitized accurately.
1. Perform research and identify the goals
Initially, it is best that it is well-defined what one wishes to achieve. They must set measurable and specific goals that can help track the whole process of digitalization. If you are new to technology, you can ask the younger ones who will help you out. You can also make use of the internet to take advice from other farmers who underwent this process and also connect with the people who have already managed to digitize their farms successfully.
There is no need to aim the goals very high. One can start the digital journey simply by connecting to the internet. Later on, one can also move from the simple systems to more complex integrated systems with other systems, sensors, devices, and weather stations that will record the farm data, and store it in a safe place to be utilized later on.
2. Have consultants for the journey
You need to have consultants or at least some professionals such as bank advisers, agricultural research institutes, and agricultural advisory centres which have a team of specialists.
Based on the expertise of the advisers, they can propose concrete steps that can be followed to improve and remodel the farm’s performance.
Generally, these organize several types of education programs and training that are accessible to all and can help increase the development of agricultural production.
These also provide offers that include assistance with setting up the system, necessary documentation, implementing the programs, and providing investment opportunities.
3. Making changes to support a tailored solution
You can assess the systems of the local businesses as well, after that you can customize it so that the business fits your needs.
You can share tips and valuable tips from other farmers, and then change it up to suit the system best for your system. You can implement the same technologies and strategies if it worked out for them.
4. Using the latest systems and tools to implement Artificial Intelligence
Modern technologies can be used. Using solutions that make use of sensors, drones, satellite imaging, weather station integrations, and other tools and system scans be used. It is best to choose solutions that will also train you to use the solutions and tools.
When deciding on AI solutions, companies will take care of the configurations and train you to use the technology, all thanks to better customer support standards.
These devices and systems take data straight from real-world environments and then store it in the cloud. The collected data can be used for insight, using AI solutions, protecting against pests, determining treatment times and so much more using machine learning algorithms that increase predictability and also get better with time.
6. Complete Process Automation
Process automation and integration can be used to streamline processes and allow for working independently of humans. An example would be sprinklers and automated irrigation systems.
Farm management systems allow for streamlined automation. There is no need to make physical inspections when all the imaging can be performed from satellites and also receive notifications for any anomalies.
The data obtained from the digitization can also be used. Measuring devices can measure the data and the systems will become completely automatic.
It will help save time, protect against crop loss, and also activate the systems to allow for efficient resource management. Digitalization will also help in automating farm production.
How Folio3 Agtech helps in Farm Management?
Folio3 can help the Agtech businesses in farm management by providing them with complete farm management software. This will make record-keeping easy. The company will help you decide which solutions suit your farm best.
You will have a vast set of solutions to choose from. Their system will keep accurate information readily available on your phone. This will increase productivity, and keep disruptions to a minimum. Their software solutions will provide you with:
Integration: This can automate the collection of data. System and connect with sensors, hardware, and other software.
Collaboration: This will improve the overall business performance. It will include things such as connectivity of the team, making work efficient and manageable.
Security: Guidelines and data security of the applications and software solutions will make sure that the data of the employees and the farm is in safe hands.
Training: You can train your team to use our farm management systems, which is easy. This will allow the team to be in new expertise, and ideas, and make use of tools to make the best decisions.
Data ownership: You will be the owner of your own data. No other party will have access to your data. This includes everyday data, revenues, and employee data.
Empower the business: You will be able to use the FMS as a central hub of operations. The digital records will add accessibility.
FAQs
What is meant by digital farming?
The true essence of digital farming lies in giving meaning to the data. Digital farming means that one can go beyond the availability and the presence of the data in order to develop actionable intelligence and provide value to the data. It also integrates the concepts of smart farming and precision farming.
Does automation make work more efficient?
Yes, automation makes the work quite efficient. The advantages are that these result in higher farm production rates, boost the employee productivity levels, allow for more effective and efficient use of materials, reduce the margin of error, improve the safety standards, resulting in better product quality, reduce the lead times and allow for shorter labour work weeks.
What are the disadvantages of manual farming?
There are several disadvantages to manual farming, such as providing a very low capacity with a variable performance of the labour, increased margins of error, damage to fruits and vegetables due to lack of care, it is expensive in the long term, and the manual farming also produces anomalies.
