Unlike many other fields, the adoption of modern technologies in farming has been slow. This is often attributed to the high cost of implementing new systems, methods, and devices on a farm. Many farmers feel reluctant to invest money in novel equipment or software without being certain of the results those improvements will have on their operation. In this article, we’re going to discuss farm mapping, a relatively new agricultural technique, and all the benefits its implementation can have on a farm.

Farm mapping is a precision farming technology that involves using various sensors, drones, GPS systems, and other devices to build a detailed digital map of a farm. These maps can contain different information depending on their purpose and the devices used to create them. For example, more simple maps may contain information about the boundaries of the farm, its fields, and grazing land, the locations of different buildings, fences, and other structures. A map may also contain the locations of different animals or crops. Some field maps are used to create records of agricultural operations conducted on the land, while others may be used to record past harvests. Farmers can also use soil sampling technologies to create maps that reflect quality parameters of different sections of the land.

Even a simple map created with basic farm mapping software allows farmers to keep records of seeding, fertilizing, and other agriculture operations. These records often include information about the type of chemicals, seeds, implements, etc. used, their amounts and concentrations, names of people who carried out the work, precise locations where these operations were done, and more. The FieldBee app allows you to do all of that for free! And if you purchase a FieldBee autosteer system, the app will create those records automatically, helping you to save time.

Advanced field maps can provide many insights for farmers. For example, they can show which portions of the fields have higher water retention capacity than others, which sections lack or have an excess of certain nutrients, etc. This enables agriculture professionals to use variable rate irrigation and application of chemicals, thus minimizing overwatering and overspraying.

By analyzing and taking into account specific features of different sections of their fields, farmers can choose cultures that will thrive on that soil, therefore increasing yields and maximizing profits.

Farm mapping is an advanced precision agriculture technique that allows agriculture professionals to gain more insight into their operation, easily record procedures that are carried out on the land, reduce the unnecessary use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, and maximize harvests by choosing cultures that will thrive in their soil.