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Farmer cooperatives play a significant role in the complete agricultural value chain. In 2016, there were 1,953 agricultural co-ops in USA with 1,9 million farmer memberships (source: USDA). These ag co-ops have 187 thousand employees who all work for improving the farmer's position within a value chain.   Generation shift, climate change, and tough market conditions pushed ag co-ops and farmers to rethink the way they farm and work together. This led to a strong growth of agricultural technologies in the past few years. Currently, approx. 350,000 farmers in the US use farm management software, which represents 16,5% of all farmers in the US and this number is growing fast. Whether we speak about farm management software, precision farming, weather stations, soil sensors, remote sensing or any other agtech solution, the role of all of them is the same—helping farmers to improve their farm profitability and sustainability. This role fully aligns with the role of ag co-ops, which have exactly the same goals. That's why it is important to analyze how farm management software supports farmer co-ops.   5 key benefits of farm management solutions for farmer co-ops     1. Central platform for collaboration with farmers Agrivi farm management software brings together both growers and cooperative employees on the same platform, to facilitate a seamless and effective collaboration with growers. Registry of all co-op members and direct in-platform messaging system empower the co-op to manage communication with all of their members or a targeted segment of their members by area or crop. Being available through web and mobile applications, both farmers and co-op employees log in to the Agrivi platform from any device and any place—farm, co-op HQ or directly from the field.   2. Bird-eye view over the input requirements and yield planning process Contract management module helps co-ops to manage entire season life-cycle with growers: Create a plan of input requirements per grower Define agronomy/machinery services required per grower Estimate planned yield and buying price per grower and crop   Overview of all contracts on an aggregated level allows co-ops to get overall input requirements on a co-op level, as well as co-op yield plans to be able to forecast sales for the season.   3. Better advisory based on real-time ag data and big data analytics Having a seamless and efficient conversation with growers during a farm visit is crucial for increasing the quality of advice and adding more value to growers. Having a real-time overview of farmer's ag data on actual weather for all fields, applied agronomy practices, and scouting notes helps advisors to provide advice faster and based on facts. Performing big data analysis after the season to identify key yield drivers of most successful farmers in a co-op and sharing identified practices with all growers during the next season helps all growers in a co-op to improve their farm sustainability and profitability.   4. Complete traceability—showcase local farmers We are what we eat. The awareness of food traceability is growing rapidly among consumers. Providing full transparency over the way crops were grown and being able to showcase where the crops come from is one of the major tasks of the farm management software. Whether you need traceability for a crop processing facility or you need to report it to the retail chain or consumers, Agrivi farm management solution provides you with a detailed traceability in a form of a printable report or an online web report accessible by customers and consumers with their mobile phone.   5. Improved relationship with farmers by bringing more value Co-ops represent the bridge between farmers, input suppliers, and the market. Providing growers with their platform, guaranteed data privacy, fact-driven advice and continuous care will additionally improve the relationship between farmers and co-ops. Happy farmer, happy co-op.   Book a demo with Agrivi—leading FMS for farmers and ag co-ops   Experience in working with over 40,000 farmers and ag co-ops in 150 countries makes Agrivi an ideal agtech partner. Get in touch with our sales team and arrange a FREE live demo to learn how Agrivi can support your agricultural cooperative! Book a FREElive demo

There were 1,953 agricultural cooperatives in 2016 in the USA, which is 94 less than in 2015 and even 153 less than in 2014. Mergers and acquisitions are the major drivers of the decline in the number of farmer co-ops, however, the overall gross business volume also fell 2 years in a row, from $212.1 billion in 2015 to $191.1 billion in 2016 (-9.9% volume decrease). Lower commodity and input prices primarily influenced the volume fall, as well as the net income which went down for 5.3% from $7.5 billion in 2015 to $7.1 billion in 2016. Challenging market trends are pushing farmer co-ops to find new ways to increase profitability and grow volumes and this drives the strong growth of AgTech solutions. It is expected that agriculture will be in the midst of a digital transformation by 2025, especially for fruit and grain co-ops, as fruits and vegetables are the 3rd largest commodity area for cooperatives in terms of net sales in the USA. Agricultural technology tries to solve key challenges that farmer cooperatives are faced with: Variable inputs with changeable and high prices Low and unsustainable yield Not having field-to-fork traceability Challenges with selling farmer’s produce with a low market price Doing all of the above in a decentralized way while trying to collaborate with growers     The role of Agrivi farm management software is to facilitate a seamless collaboration between growers and a farmer cooperative by combining all information in one place, providing smart insights that improve both growers’ and the co-op’s efficiency. Some of the key values that the fruit and grain cooperations get from a farm and co-op management system are: Simple and effective collaboration with all growers If both the grower and the farmer cooperation use a central platform, they get to see dashboards, share information with each other, track daily activities and progress.   Two-way communication between co-op and growers Sharing messages, documents and important information in different phases of the production is crucial for making smart planning.   Better planning of inputs and yield Having an overview of real-time data from farmer fields impacts the business overall, especially in terms of sales the co-op needs to make on the market.   Control over the whole supply process Providing data collected from individual farmer accounts helps co-ops to have an insight into grower’s practices, activities, quantity, and delivery.   Tracking cost of crop production and yield quality & quantity Not having an insight into all expenses and all phases a crop production goes through can easily affect the quantity and quality of the end product and its sales.   Full traceability of all agronomy practices applied Automated and real-time insight into how growers produce and are they compliant with the required industry standards.   Advisory based on aggregated analytics and big data The co-op can use merged and aggregated data to analyze the overall process, strategy, but also provides personalized and specific feedback to the grower when advising him.   Sharing agronomy best practices and standards throughout the whole group of farmers With just one mouse click the FMS provides information about which growers are the most productive ones and what are they doing differently. Sharing these practices with others improves everyone’s yield.   Overview of harvest progress This functionality within an FMS helps support crop sales and marketing activities that a fruit or grain co-op is managing.   Book a demo with Agrivi – leading FMS for farmers and ag co-ops   Experience in working with over 40,000 growers and ag co-ops in 150 countries makes Agrivi one of the leading agtech partners in the world. Get in touch with our sales team and arrange a FREE live demo to see how Agrivi can support your agricultural cooperative! Book a FREElive demo     Image source: Accenture

Agrivi is an online farm management software which provides farmers with the ability to track their entire production process from a single central place, simplifies work organization, minimizes the need of going through tiresome paperwork, helps to manage farmer's finances and increases productivity and overall profitability. Finances, as one of the most important features for our users, manages all farmer’s expenses, sales, loans, assets, and transactions. With only one click, they can see and analyze the financial health of their farm production. Sales and Expense Invoices Every time you buy a fertilizer, pesticide, and seeds or sell your crops, the Agrivi Finance module allows you to register all of these invoices. In every sales and expense invoice, you can add multiple items and also register transactions (in the case of payment in rates), assign invoices to a certain crop production and season, create a vendor and customer base, upload documents and even add comments. The list of sales in Agrivi farm management software with payment status icons Registering of sales and expenses for items which are or can be stored in inventory automatically decreases or increases their inventory level. Every invoice can be easily exported to a PDF, Excel or Word file by clicking the links on the top of the invoice details screen. If you wish to export some filtered set of invoices, it’s also possible from the invoices overview screen. Invoice Number The invoice number enables farmers to easily track and organize all invoices by series. To edit a default numbering series, just click on the pencil icon next to the Invoice number input field, or visit the “Finances” section of your Company details page. Assets and Amortization Assets (or capital expenses) can be registered through expense invoices. To mark a purchase as a capital expense, simply mark the “Is capex” checkbox when adding an item to the invoice and enter the amortization period for the purchased asset. For every registered capital expense, the Agrivi Assets module gives you a quick insight into the starting and current value, current age, amortization period and rate. Assets with amortization rate in Agrivi farm management software Transactions and Cash Flow Transactions help you keep track of your cash flow and monitor the status of your payables and receivables. Every time you enter a payment in sales or expense invoice, it is shown in a transaction list. In the Agrivi Transaction module, you can view transactions filtered by status ‘paid’ and ‘unpaid’ and also type ‘cash in’ and ‘cash out’. Agrivi Transaction module Loans in Agrivi software The Agrivi finance module allows you to create loans and track their payment. After registering a loan, it can be chosen as a payment method for any expense or capital expense. All invoices linked to some loan can be viewed under the Linked purchases section in the Loan module. Finance Dashboard The finance dashboard gives you an overview of all sales, expenses, and capital expenses, as well as cash flow. To farmers it's not only important to know how much they have sold and how much money they need to get, but also how much money they really have at a particular moment. The Cash flow section of the Finance dashboards allows them to see their profitability with only one click. Cash flow overview in Agrivi farm management software Make things easier for yourself regarding finance payment and tracking by becoming your own banker through Agrivi farm management software. TRY NOWfor free

    Agrivi Ltd and Petrokemija, one of the biggest fertilizer producers in SEE region, today signed a strategic partnership agreement for digital agriculture. Petrokemija is a regional leader in fertilizer production with a major presence in Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. With their 1.700 employees, Petrokemija delivers over 1 thousand tons of fertilizers to over hundred thousand growers. Petrokemija recognized the importance of digital agriculture for their growers and set it as one of its key strategic focuses in the following period.   Agrivi is one of the key global leaders in farm management software, supports farmers in over 150 countries worldwide and works with major stakeholders of the agricultural value chain like big ag companies (seed/fertilizers/chemicals), ag retailers, food processing companies and ministries of agriculture. Agrivi will support Petrokemija with digital agriculture solutions to help them bring added value to growers in the region, ensure better collaboration with growers and support growers to take care of their soil sustainability and ensure the right nutrients for their crops in order to improve their yields and profitability.

Managing a successful vineyard is not so easy, so farmers often use modern tech tools like Agrivi farm management software to track all farm activities, finances and, the most important, vineyard productivity and profitability, i.e. overall vineyard health. Agrivi allows them to identify why grapes on some fields grow better, find out exact cost per kg/lb for every variety per field, identify ROI for every vineyard and analyze the whole farm production. Agrivi for Winemakers Winemaking has been around for thousands of years. It is not only an art but also a science. Winemaking is a natural process that requires little human intervention, but each winemaker guides the process through different techniques, thus making the wine unique.   Agrivi farm management software is not intended only for managing vineyard activities but also for wine cellars activities. In Winery Add-on, winemakers are enabled with:   Manage Wine Cellar Activities Wine management module allows you to monitor all activities in the wine cellar during the process of wine production, such as destemming, crushing, decanting, adding of additives, fermentation, and packaging. It gives you complete control over all activities in the wine cellar in one single place. The list of tasks in the wine cellar; tasks can be filtered per bins, activity categories and batches (varieties)   Measuring All Important Wine Factors The Winery module helps you keep track of every wine measuring you do—sugar, sulfur, pH, acid, temperature or any other factor significant in wine production. Measured wine parameters of Cabarnet Sauvignon wine in Agrivi Winery module You can also analyze all measurements per every barrel which gives you an insight into the ratio of the two most measured parameters e.g. sugar-acid or pH-alcohol ratio or something else. Measurments analysis; you can analyze up to two parameters at once within a single batch   Wine Production Traceability & Costs Use wine management module to get traceability reports for every wine and bottle in your wine cellar with a single click. With traceability, you can see all the steps in wine production, from making of must and wine to packaging. If something happens to a certain wine batch, you'll know the exact date and storage place in which that wine was stored. Wine traceability in Agrivi Winary module   Whether you have quality certificates or not, Agrivi lets you monitor all important aspects of your production and prepare required reports easily. Agrivi offers various tools to help farmers manage their production. The Agrivi Winery Module comes as an add-on to the Agrivi platform and helps to manage vineyard and wine cellar activities all at once. Plan your wine production batches and start tracking all farm production activities, use Agrivi. TRY NOWfor free

Pest and disease occurrence is one of the main causes of lower than expected yield. Damages can be huge, depending on the size of surface, scope of infection, and weather conditions. Weather conditions in particular have an important role in pest and disease occurrence. Lower or higher temperatures, combined with rain and high moisture are the trigger for occurrence of many pests. Agrivi's intelligent pest alarms help you react on time and perform protective measures to save your crops. How do these alarms work? For every field you have, you receive a detailed weather forecast. Agrivi uses pattern recognition algorithms to match weather forecast with optimal conditions for pest & disease occurrence. If they match, the system will send an alarm warning you about possibility of infection. Example of a pest alarm   For every pest and disease, the system will give you a list of active substances with which you can treat this pest, whether it's chemical, organic, or biological. Every active substance can be clicked on, to reveal a list of commercial products containing this active substance. Pest, diseases & weeds knowledge base   Agrivi detects pests automatically, but you can also set up your own alarms for pests and diseases, by creating weather alarms. To setup weather conditions you have to enter basic information such as: time period, minimum and maximum temperature in this time period, and other desired weather conditions. You can also assign this alarm to all of your crops and fields, or individual ones. If weather conditions match with the parameters you entered, the system will notify you immediately. Setting up your own weather alarms   It is scientifically proven that on time protection is the most important step in preventing yield reduction due to pests. If plant protection is performed after pest occurrence, the damage is significantly higher. For example, leaf scald of barley (Rhynchosporium secalis) can reduce yield by 30-50%, brown leaf spot (Cercospora beticola) in sugar beets can reduce yield by 20-40%, and colorado potato beetle can reduce yield by 30-50%. Don't wait for pests to destroy everything you worked so hard for. Register in Agrivi now to make sure you have the right tool for the job when it comes to dealing with pests and diseases on time. TRY NOWfor free

Farming is a complex activity, one in which every segment impacts the crop production. In order to achieve a successful crop production, a farmer needs to manage all segments properly. Therefore, after soil preparation and planting are completed, there is no time for a break. Farmers who want to achieve high yield and quality crops must practice crop maintenance regularly throughout the growing season.  Crop maintenance practices which are necessary for proper crop growth are as follows: Weeding Soil cultivation Irrigation Mowing Insect pest and disease control Removal of standing water Pruning   Each of the aforementioned practices needs to be done in a timely manner. However, the right time for performing crop maintenance practices will depend on crop growth stage, soil, crop, and weather conditions. “Farming is a complex activity in which every segment impacts the crop production.”   Weeding Removes Potential Crop Threats Weeding is a farm practice that involves the physical removal of weeds from the field. This practice can be performed manually or with the use of mechanization. Although manual weeding is more labor intensive, it is still a preferred farm practice. The main reason for that is because it makes minimal soil disturbance and decreases the opportunity for soil erosion. Oppositely to manual weeding, mechanized weeding is less labor intensive. However, it’s important to manage it carefully in order to prevent soil disturbance and spreading of weed seeds.   Soil Cultivation Improves Soil Performance Soil cultivation is a farm management practice that breaks up and loosens the soil surface. The main purpose of soil cultivation is to create optimal soil structure, which will improve water retention, allow better penetration of air, water, and nutrients, and help with weed control. Soil cultivation is a favorable soil maintenance practice because it helps retain water and provides optimal soil structure and favorable crop conditions. That way, soil cultivation reduces the need for additional irrigation.    Irrigation for Secure Plant Growth Irrigation is a crop maintenance practice which is essential in order to provide normal crop growth, particularly when the water supply is limited. In other words, every farmer who wants to maximize plant potential should set an irrigation system. Irrigation is especially important when the crop is in a sensitive growth phase such as germination, flowering, and fruit setting.  Depending on the crop type and climate, different irrigation methods are used: Drip irrigation Furrow irrigation Sprinkler irrigation Pivot irrigation Flood irrigation “Every farmer who wants to maximize plant potential should set an irrigation system.”   Mowing Enhances Orchard Management Mowing is a regular farm maintenance practice in orchards and vineyards. It includes mowing of the space between and inside the rows. Mowing includes manual or mechanical removal of grass and invasive weeds. It improves soil condition, reduces pest occurrence and enhances crop growth.   Insect Pest and Disease Management for Safe Yield If not treated properly and on-time, plant pests can significantly reduce crop yield and affect its quality. Therefore, regular crop maintenance needs to include insect pest and disease control. Crop losses can be reduced by using various organic and chemical crop protection measures such as: Natural; natural pest predators (ladybug, praying mantis) Cultural; weather tracking, monitoring fields, and crops Physical; disinfection of the soil, seed, and seedlings Mechanical; pruning and removing of diseased plants from the field/orchard Biological; various beneficial fungi, bacteria, and parasitic wasps as pest predators Chemical; chemical based fungicides, insecticides, and herbicides     Removal of Standing Water Removal of standing water is a crop maintenance practice mainly used in grain production.  However, it can also be practiced in the production of arable and vegetable crops. The practice includes the removal of standing water from the field that accumulated during the winter period as a result of melting snow. Excessive water creates depressions on the field surface and harms young plants. If crops stay in the water for more than 3 days, the entire crop production can be destroyed. Standing water can be removed by using soil cultivators to level the field’s surface and plows to create furrows around the field’s edges.   Successful farmers practice crop maintenance regularly throughout the season. They are aware that only regular and proper crop maintenance can provide quality crops and stable yields. As every human being needs regular maintenance of the body to maintain optimal health, the plant needs regular maintenance of all factors crucial for its proper development and growth as well. TRY NOWfor free     Image sources: GriggsDakota

Loamy, or sandy, red or brown soil is one of the most important resources for man. Although it can vary in texture, color, and property type, soil represents the foundation for global crop production. The factor that makes it so vital for crop production is its composition. So, what is hidden inside of it? The soil is alive. It is home to a great number of living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, algae, mites, worms, ants, maggots, and other microscopic insects and animals. These are all important for the creation of humus, the main part of soil organic matter. “Soil requires special care in order to provide high and quality yields.“   Soil Management Practices Because soil is a primary resource for crop production and the most important resource that farmers can hold, it requires special care and management practices. We all know that the essential elements for plant growth are soil, water, sunlight, and preferable temperatures. But these elements are not always sufficient for achieving high yields in crop production. Specific management practices, which provide healthy and fertile soil, must also be developed and implemented with special care. These practices include: Proper soil tillage Balanced fertilization management Sufficient water, whether from rainfall or irrigation systems Proper protection management against various insect pests, weeds, and diseases   Since each crop has its own growth requirements, its total yield performance depends on a number of factors, such as its given growth media, weather conditions, and the individual farmer's knowledge of crop production. In aiming to achieve his planned yield, the farmer must have a good understanding of soil requirements and related farming practices. “Knowing “when“ and “how“ in soil preparation is crucial for achieving planned yield.“    Soil management practices differ from farm operations and crop growth stages. The first step in growing crops includes a set of activities for soil preparation. These field activities that will benefit soil management are: Undermining or mole drainage—where standing water and soil porosity problems occur Plowing—classified as very shallow, shallow, or pre-sowing plowing; this will depend on crop type, previously grown crops, and the time of sowing Disking Harrowing Rolling   “Successful farmers know that only healthy soil is the base for high yields.“   Consequences of Poor Soil Management Soil is a non-renewable natural resource, which means that it cannot be regenerated during a lifespan. Therefore, care should be taken to preserve and sustain the soil in order to provide proper media for plant growth. Improper soil management practices and heavy tillage can lead to soil erosion, which can further lead to: Loss of topsoil Reduced crop productivity Pollution of watercourses, wetlands, and lakes     Healthy Soil—the Key to Sustainable Farming Proper soil management practices ensure soil's health and also prevent the aforementioned pollution.  It also reduces input costs and enhances yield and crop quality. Let's not break the connection between man and nature. Preserve our soils to ensure valuable food sourced for future generations.

With the crops being constantly exposed to unfavorable weather conditions, crop production is a challenging business. Weather and climate are extremely important factors for farmer's success. They both determine the pace of crop production. Still, during times when the global food security strongly depends on crop production, there is no place for any limitations. Therefore, the search for solutions resulted in farm management practices that involve farming in a controlled environment. One of the most basic variations of farming in a controlled environment is a greenhouse farm management.   Simple Sheltered Structures that Protect the Yield Greenhouse farming is a unique farm practice of growing crops within sheltered structures covered by a transparent, or partially transparent, material. This type of farm management provides favorable growing conditions and protects crops from unfavorable weather and various pests. There are various types of greenhouses which differ depending on the shape of the structure, lifespan, cover material, size, and farm management technology. “Greenhouse farming is a unique farm practice of growing crops within sheltered structures.“ Few types of greenhouse structures, commonly used among the farmers include: Glasshouses; structures covered with glass Shade houses; covered with a woven or other material with gaps that allow sunlight, air, and moisture to pass Screen houses; covered with screening material that provides protection from pests and severe weather conditions, mostly practiced in hot or tropical areas Crop top structures; structures without walls, covered only with a roof     Choosing the right type of greenhouse structure will determine other aspects of greenhouse farm management, such as: The amount of sunlight The amount of natural ventilation The size of the farm Heating requirements Condensation run-off Efficiency of materials Costs   The Best of Greenhouse Farming The most powerful advantage of greenhouse farming is that it optimizes growing conditions and protects the crops from extreme weather events. That way, greenhouses enable efficient farm management and reduce risks caused by unfavorable weather conditions. Additionally, some types of greenhouse farming structures (greenhouses with managed heating) prolong the growing season or even allow farmers to grow the crops outside of the typical season. Greenhouses that are additionally equipped offer the possibility to take complete control of growing conditions that lead to faster growth and higher yields. “During times when the global #food #security depends on crop production, there is no place for any limitations.“   Are There Any Disadvantages? Greenhouse farming is more appropriate on a smaller surface. For this reason, it's limited to the production of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and small fruits, such as strawberries. Another disadvantage of greenhouse farming is the lack of pollination due to the enclosed structure. In addition to the aforementioned disadvantages, greenhouse farming is often criticized for being an expensive farm practice. However, the costs of greenhouse construction and maintenance depend exclusively on the type of greenhouse structure and farm management technology being used.   When everything is taken into consideration, greenhouses are definitely a promising farm management solution. Farmers who grow their crops in greenhouses have a special privilege to protect their crops from unfavorable weather and secure the yield. That way, farmers can face climate change and continue their noble job—feeding the world.     Text sources: NSW Government    Image sources: Purdue || mcclendonsselectblog || TekSupply || Antimos insect screen

While aiming to produce enough food and remain sustainable, agriculture is facing significant changes. In the new agricultural era, farmers are able to use various high-tech sensing devices based on GPS, variable rate application, steering systems and remote sensing, as well as farm management software. The introduction and the use of modern and precise farm technologies brings revolutionary changes into farming. In other words, modern farm technology revolutionizes the way in which farmers work.   By using precise technology, farmers are able to optimize both farm productivity and profitability based on real-time field information thus protecting the environment, which can be a turning point to success. “Drones can monitor any type of crop during its growing season, in any area.”   What Are Drones? Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), commonly named drones, are small aerial platforms weighing up to 20 kg (50 lbs). Due to their size, they cannot be boarded by a human body (yet). Drones can be operated in two ways; directly, in which a human has complete control of the vehicle by wireless remote; and autonomously, in which the vehicle is able to control itself and follow a route based on the data from GPS or other sensors.     There are many different kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles and can be categorized into the following groups: Fixed wing; very simple vehicle to control. It has some form of a non-movable wing and a propeller that facilitates forward movement. Due to its construction, it must always be moving relative to the air around it to stay aloft. Hence, it’s operation can be greatly affected by the wind. Another limiting factor is that larger drones require some kind of runway area that can be used for deployment and retrieval, while smaller ones can be hand launched and retrieved by landing on a soft surface.   Rotary wing; the most common drone type. It looks like a small helicopter since it has multiple rotors (typically 4-8). Due to its rotary system, the drone has the ability to hover and can be vertically deployed and retrieved. The rotary wing vehicle has some advantages over the other types. It is small and easily transportable and less liable to mechanical failure. The main disadvantages, though, are its limitation in cargo it can carry, as well as its battery life, which is limited to allow only 15 minutes or less of flight.     Tethered vehicle is a common drone tethered to a wire to eliminate the need for a remote controller. Drone movement is therefore confined according to the tether. Moreover, tethered drones have many different variations. They can range from a standard drone moved according to the tether to a drone tethered with a microfilament wire with an installed power system for unlimited flight.   Lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles include blimps and other typical helium-filled crafts tethered to some kind of wire. Their main disadvantages are the difficulty in transporting because of their size, and the fact that they cannot tolerate even moderate wind speeds. Therefore, LTA drones are used less in farming.     Crop Data Delivered from the Air with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Drones are small and light aerial vehicles which may fly at extremely high altitudes and carry various navigation systems or recording devices such as RGB cameras, infrared cameras, and other sensors. Due to their ability to deploy various sensors and capture high-resolution and low-cost images of crop conditions, drones are very useful in farming.  Initially used for chemical spraying, today drones are a great tool for capturing aerial imagery with platform mounted cameras and sensors. Images can range from simple visible-light photographs to multi-spectral imagery that can be used to assess different aspects of plant health, weeds, and assets.   Drones collect raw data and translate it with algorithms into useful information. Therefore, they can be used for various applications in farming, such as the monitoring of the following parameters: Crop health; damage made by pests, color change due to pest infection Vegetation indices; leaf area, anomaly detection, treatment efficacy, phenology, yield Plant height; plant height and density Plant scouting; plant size, plot statistics, stand number, compromised plots, planter skips Water needs; water-stressed parts of the field/orchard in need of watering Soil analysis; nutrient availability for plant nutrient management   To summarize, drones help farmers optimize the use of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, water, and pesticides more efficiently. This allows timely protection of crops from pests, saves time for crop scouting, reduces overall cost in farm production, and secures high yield and quality crops. “Drones help farmers optimize the use of inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, water, and pesticides more efficiently.”   From Raw Data to Useful Information Flying over the field, the drone takes high-resolution pictures with a camera or sensor. Based on a measured parameter, these images are captured in different bands from visible (color), near-infrared to infrared spectrum. The collected images are raw data which requires further interpretation. Immediately after capturing the image, the images are directly sent to the cloud/software where different prescription maps are created depending on the operation the farmer wants to perform on the field. The maps can then be uploaded to the specific farm equipment which will adjust the number of inputs (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) that would need to be applied to the field accordingly. “Drones capture images of crop conditions and create Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) maps.” In the era of precision farming, drones are acting as an essential technology that will take farming to a completely new level. They are a cost-effective way to collect data about various crop conditions in a relatively short period of time. Drones have also shown great potential in the ability to provide sustainable farming, improve yield, and increase overall farm profitability.  Technology in farming is constantly evolving. Collecting accurate and reliable georeferenced data based on GPS coordinates and automated steering systems, along with the use of remote sensing (drones), is an essential part of precision farming which can optimize both farm productivity and profitability. Although there are some risks and limitations, precision farming and related technology have great potential in dealing with the challenges of a modern farm production and at the same time protecting natural resources.       Text sources: UKY || GRDC || Tethered Drones   Image sources: Unmanned Aerial Online || Kapshop || sourceable.net || Unmanned Aerial Online

Successful farm production starts with healthy soil. The soil is one of the most important farm assets. It provides crops a valuable reservoir of water and nutrients. Each type of soil has its own properties that cannot be changed, such as texture. However, farmers can always improve soil quality by managing the level of nutrients and soil pH. One of the most important factors in managing soil quality is regular soil analysis. Soil analysis is a valuable farm practice that determines the exact amount of available crop nutrients in the soil, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, as well as determining soil pH, humus content, available lime, and organic matter. It also provides a visible snapshot of various chemical, physical, and biological soil properties.   Why Is Soil Analysis So Important? Soil analysis gives valuable information, essential for soil quality improvement. By tracking the exact amount of soil nutrients, a farmer can easily adjust fertilization in accordance with soil and crop requirements. Additionally, soil analysis facilitates crop nutrient management by revealing the current soil pH level.  Soil pH is important due to its influence on the uptake of soil nutrients. The main purpose of managing soil pH is to be able to adjust the acidity to the point where there are no toxic metals exposed to the crops, as well as to ensure that nutrient availability is at its maximum. “By tracking the exact amount of soil nutrients, a farmer can easily adjust fertilization in accordance with soil and crop requirements.” Every crop has its own optimal pH range. Because of this, some crops grow better and can achieve their full potential in acid, while for others, this takes place in a more alkaline-based soil. The optimal HHpH levels for the most common crops are shown in the table below.   When Is the Best Time for Soil Analysis? A quality and balanced soil is a crucial factor for achieving higher yields. Therefore, farmers should collect soil samples frequently in order to detect any changes that could affect crop yield. It’s recommended to perform a soil analysis every 3-4 years. However, it would be ideal to practice soil analysis as often as possible, especially when growing annual crops in a crop rotation. In that case, it is recommended to take soil analysis after every third crop in the rotation. Other important aspects to consider are the best time of the year to take an analysis, as well as the amount of time that should be allocated to do so. For example, soil sampling for annual crops should be taken after the harvest. In doing so, a farmer is left with plenty of time to plan fertilization management. On the other hand, the best time for a soil analysis of perennial crops is during the dormancy stage. In the end, how often will a farmer analyze his soil, will depend entirely on him; whether he is ready to invest in soil quality and a higher yield or not. “It’s recommended to practice soil analysis as often as possible.”   What Happens After the Soil Analysis? Depending on the results of the soil analysis, a farmer can easily manage soil requirements for a certain crop. The results will indicate him in case that he needs to add lime in order to manage soil acidity. Liming rates are usually determined by taking into account soil type, depth of tillage, and limestone quality. The following table shows the lime rates according to the measured soil pH and its structure.   Fertilizing crops without knowing their requirements and available soil nutrients is equivalent to driving a car while blindfolded.  Therefore, soil analysis is the only way to ensure proper soil management and increase a chance for higher yield.     Text sources: Ontario Ministry of Agriculture   Image sources: FAO || Lael's Moon Garden 

Weather is an inevitable factor in every crop production. Knowing real-time weather conditions like temperature, precipitation, and humidity is the best way to protect crops from the harmful impact of adverse weather events as well as pests. In fact, accurate monitoring of weather data can greatly affect crop yield and overall farm productivity and profitability. Weather monitoring is an important activity in farm management, especially prior to sowing, harvesting or some other activity crucial for successful crop establishment and yield. Since the beginning of agriculture, farmers have monitored weather conditions in order to prevent seed and later, yield losses. Initially, weather monitoring was very primitive, based on weather patterns on a particular location. Today, farmers have plenty of sources to obtain accurate weather forecasts, such as TV, internet, and various mobile applications. Nevertheless, farmers increasingly set their own weather stations in the field. “Weather monitoring is an essential component for achieving high and quality yields.”   What Makes a Modern Weather Station? Modern agriculture offers diverse systems for precise monitoring of weather conditions. Farmers are therefore able to use the most sophisticated weather monitoring equipment. Such modern systems can measure both soil and environmental parameters related to evapotranspiration, plant growth, and development as well as irrigation schedule and insect pest and disease modeling. A weather station consists of multiple sensors which provide data about air temperature, wind speed and direction (at 6 m), rainfall, snow depth, relative humidity, and solar radiation. It can also be integrated with other sensors to provide information about soil temperature, moisture, and available water. Though sensors can be networked in hardwired or wireless systems. There are various weather station types but they all have additional common parts. They are as follows: Anemometer; measures wind speed Wind vane; measures wind direction; it can be placed on standard heights of 6 and 10 m Satellite and GPS antenna Pyranometer; measures solar radiation or photosynthetically active radiation Temperature sensor; an electronic sensor or manual thermometer usually hidden from the sun in a wooden or plastic Stevenson screen Electronic capacitive sensor; measures relative humidity; the sensor is placed along with a temperature sensor Solar panel; powers and automates the weather station Rain gauge; measures rainfall amount; it accumulates the rain in a glass or a plastic measuring cylinder Batteries Data logger –a small module that connects the weather station to a computer or network and archives or shares real-time data (readings refreshed every few seconds).   “In order to give accurate weather data, a weather station is often made of various components.”   Data logging is the measuring and recording of physical or electrical parameters over a period of time. Devices that measure and log data, called data loggers, come in different shapes and sizes. Data loggers are available in various shapes, sizes, and work range. The range covers both simple and low-cost single and sampling channel loggers, as well as more powerful multi-channel and integrating devices capable of handling hundreds of inputs at once.   Where to Place a Weather Station? Despite the possibility of measuring various weather parameters, the placement of a weather station is also an important factor. A weather station needs to be placed on a level ground in a grassed area, away from buildings. Hence, in farm production of many different crop types, a weather station should not be placed near a particular crop so that it could measure weather conditions over the entire field block as far as possible. Not only does this practice avoid sensor damage during crop management activities but also it ensures real-time data of different crop types and canopies over a large area. Weather station placed too close to one crop will not provide accurate weather data for other crops on the measured area.   “A farmer who grows many different crops should make sure not to install a weather station near a particular crop.”   Automatic Weather Station Besides weather stations for amateur use for farmers, there are also automatic stations for professional measurement of weather conditions. They are often used in meteorology or in areas where the commercial power or communication networks are limited or non-existent. These stations provide all weather data on which experts can create an individual or collective decision about crops, disease models, potential evapotranspiration, and irrigation management models. The automatic weather station is helpful with the forecast and agrometeorological services in a way that it implements smart farming methods and optimizes farm production. Farm technology is constantly improving by becoming more sophisticated and digital. Based on data-driven decisions, farmers are able to enhance their crop production and make farming more efficient and easier than ever. Modern equipment for accurate weather monitoring is only one step away from achieving that goal and providing sustainable farming.     Text sources: Campbell Scientific || Page Bloomer || Cimel   Image sources: The Elkhorn Slough || Cimel || WWG || Pessl Instruments || Weather-forecast || NI || Computer Aided Solutions