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How Farmers are Harnessing Big Data to Cultivate Fields

by | Apr 18, 2022 | Sustainability, Utopia

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The increasing world population and global warming are putting immense pressure on the agricultural sector. Climate change is hindering the global food supply chain as nowadays there are more frequent storms and droughts, water shortages and soil pollution.

It is estimated that one-third of food production is wasted. It is also expected that water scarcity will the biggest threat humanity will face in the coming years. At the same time, crop production needs to grow by as much as 70% from the same land resources to meet the global need without significant impact on the environment.

Big data and analytics are dramatically changing our everyday lives. Not just online but in the physical world. Data science studies the physical world and tries to solve society’s great problems. The field of analytics seeks to analyze massive pools of information using computational tools to find patterns and trends.

Big data in farm

Hence, using big data to support farmers can bring benefits to society by providing food that meets current and future demands. Its usage in agriculture is not new but it’s becoming more common in today’s world. The combination of machine-based information about seed planting and weather can alert farmers of potential weed threats and offer mitigation strategies.

For example, a farmer can use information technology to identify the boundaries of a field and determine the best time to plant seeds. This information can help farmers deliver fresh fruits and vegetables faster to their consumers. The use of big data in agriculture goes beyond maximizing yields.

green plants in a green house
Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

Farmers can use this information to optimize nitrogen for the fertilization of their crops. Additionally, they can use big data for risk analysis and crop management, which can increase productivity and minimize risk. A farmer can easily monitor and control his farm equipment and agronomic practices via GPS. In the future, they can even control these devices remotely through cellular technology.

These technologies will enable farmers to make better decisions and increase their productivity. An organization is developing an app to improve the productivity of farmers in Africa. It uses available information to identify the best crops to plant in the region based on soil type, growing season, and harvest. It can also direct farmers to local seed stores.

These technologies are going to become more prevalent as natural resources used in farming are depleted. Ultimately, big data analytics can help improve the productivity of farm operations, increase farm profitability and help feed the growing population. With the help of analytics, farmers can better identify problems before they occur and prevent future losses.

Using data on farms

Using analytics tools in farming has numerous benefits. It helps farmers gather more accurate information about the state of their fields and crops. The use of data tools can also streamline agricultural processes. For example, it can help monitor the condition of agricultural properties by using cloud computing methods.

Satellite images can provide valuable information about the state of a farm. In addition, drones and other Internet of Things tools can improve the quality and quantity of information for farmers. These advanced machines will allow farmers to develop an operational plan that will maximize the efficiency of their farm and reduce the time and cost of harvesting.

Advancements in automated analytics can help farmers determine the most effective ways to harvest their crops. Data analytics combined with general knowledge of how plants grow can produce the highest yield. In the end, farmers will have less work to perform and can make a larger profit.

Often, farmers make decisions based on intuition and unreliable predictions. Even consulting with fellow farmers can’t guarantee a conclusion because their knowledge and experiences come from their own families. In addition, consulting with outside experts can be expensive.

line of green tractor harvesting crops
Photo by James Baltz on Unsplash

The advantages of big data in agriculture are immense. It can answer questions that growers may not even be aware of. Different technologies help farmers know when to plant, space seeds, water, apply pesticides and harvest their crops. They reduce the need for manual labor and provide better yields.

A farm using data can improve crop yields, reduce crop waste and improve supply chains. Combined with cloud computing technology, it can improve the efficiency of supply chains and cut costs. Agricultural big data is already revolutionizing the agri-food industry. These tools have already helped farmers optimize their yields and reduce waste.

Using analytics information to improve supply chain relationships can be key. It helps farmers communicate information to key stakeholders throughout the supply chain. With data analytics, farmers can easily share vital information with the right stakeholders. They’ll be better prepared to respond to market changes that affect their operations.

Big data helps farmers optimize their supply chains. For instance, it can help improve delivery truck routes and reduce delivery times, which ensures no food waste. It is also useful in yield prediction, which uses technology to analyze information on weather, chemicals and vegetation.

With information analytics, farmers can use predictive analytics to determine market prices and make informed decisions, ensuring the best chance for profit. The use of big data in agriculture also includes precision agriculture, which allows inputs to be analyzed and used to guide immediate decisions, as well as those made over the long term.

Today’s agribusinesses are becoming increasingly diverse and large. They generate massive volumes of complex information that must be managed on a continuous basis. Information analytics and smart farming techniques will allow farmers to make better decisions and make use of reliable forecasts. As a result, analytics is revolutionizing the agricultural industry and transforming it into a data-driven one.

The agricultural sector is already using analytics technology to improve production. The technology is designed to eliminate errors in systems and create better crops. However, farmers should be cautious while evaluating these tools.

Big data is transforming the agricultural industry and empowering farmers to make better decisions. This technology enables farmers to analyze their data and understand which crops have higher demand during particular seasons, allowing farmers to focus more on high-value crops.

It can also help them monitor heat-related illnesses, fat content and sleep, which can help mitigate the impact of extreme weather events. Other uses for data include improved climate management and fewer paper-based processes. This insight can help farmers make better decisions on the basis of climate information and water quality.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to develop, farmers are using data from these new technologies to improve their operations. The input collected from sensors connected to the IoT gives farmers more information about the conditions of a particular farm and can be used to combine the information with general knowledge about location.

With the rise of drones with GPS and infrared cameras, agriculture is already undergoing a digital transformation. Smart dairy farms are replacing human labor with robots to milk and clean barns. Precision technology is becoming increasingly prevalent on arable farms, where data can give farmers vital insights into the health of individual plants.

Farmers are increasingly using drones equipped with sensors to survey their fields, update data and inform them of potential areas for improvement. Another area in which analytics is proving useful is real-time forecasting. It can help farmers stay ahead of the ecosystem. This will ultimately make farming more efficient and profitable.

Business analytics at unprecedented scales will lead to the continual creation of new business models. Real-time information, forecasting and tracking of physical items will revolutionize farm management. The adoption of IoT will drive further automation and autonomous operation of the farm. With these improvements, agriculture can no longer ignore data analytics.

The future of big data in farming is a hot topic right now. This recent wave of investment is a testament to how quickly information analytics is becoming an increasingly important part of the food chain. As smart farming becomes more widespread, the impact of big data will be felt throughout the entire supply chain. From the fields to the warehouses, it provides unprecedented decision-making capabilities.

This, in turn, will lead to a significant change in power relations. Traditional players and nontraditional actors will have to adjust to new roles in this emerging ecosystem. Governance and data security will also be at the forefront of the discussion. The future of analytics in farming is bright.

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