Everett Griner talks about farmers adapting to the computer age in today’s Agri View.
The Computer Age
From: eHow
Why Do Farmers Use Satellites & Computers for Farming?
By Cody Todd, eHow Contributor
Perspective
Satellite imaging gives a farmer an accurate picture of what is happening on his farm. Gone are the days of surveying the health of a crop by driving through the fields. By getting an overall view of the entire crop field, a farmer can get a much better idea of how to best spend his time and money on fertilizers, irrigation and pesticides.
Efficiency
Farmers can use satellite imaging to create computer models of the crop fields with information about the differences in soil structure, elevation, slope, fertility and drainage. This information can be deployed to design a system of agricultural maintenance and efficiently apply fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and water.
Computer-aided Applications
Simplification
Combines and sprayers use an array of computers and GPS systems to guide them around crop fields. By using GPS and computers, a farmer can avoid over-seeding or over-spraying areas, because unlike humans, the computer system can accurately judge the path of the sprayer or combine on each pass across the field.