(Yield) Maps - StellarSupport - John Deere

Getting Started
Precision farming teaches farmers to base their decisions on harvested information; it is
the leading edge of farm management technology today, and begins with the collection of
accurate field data.
Highly varying yields within a field indicate that the current farming practices may not be
providing the best possible growing conditions everywhere in the field. Therefore, the
more information you
have about your field,
the more factors you
can control in order to
make better decisions
about the factors you
can’t control.
The process of
associating data with
geographic
coordinates is known
as georeferencing.
The most common
georeferencing
method for recording
the location of sites within a field is through the use of satellites collectively known as the
Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS satellites transmit longitude, latitude and altitude
signals necessary to pinpoint exact locations on Earth.
A mounted receiver on the tractor or combine calculates the machine’s position in the field,
allowing the farmer to coordinate exact field locations with field activities. Field equipment
(both machines and implements) can be equipped with sensors which measure values
such as average yield, average moisture, seeding rates, tillage depths, and pesticide
rates. This data is matched to the corresponding longitude, latitude, and altitude which is
gathered by the GPS receiver affixed to the top of the combine or tractor cab.
All the gathered information is then taken to a personal computer where it is processed
into text reports and visual maps. Farmers can now see exactly where the best - and worst
- areas of their fields are, which helps them to farm smarter by making better decisions.
In addition, the farmer’s pocket notebook will be replaced with expansive crop recordkeeping,
making it easier to provide the necessary information to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
The primary goals of precision farming are maximizing profits by applying the right amount
of inputs in the places needed to sustain a high crop yield, and enhancing environmental
stewardship.
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