Computers In Farming
Damien Gallagher
2nd BSc Information Technology
01010255
Introduction
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CASE STUDY:U.S. Department of
Agriculture report
Farming as it is
What is GPS?
Future farming
Summary
Case Study
Taken from The Holland Sentinel Archives
“Wired on the farm: Computers, Net are valuable
farming tools”
“From record-keeping to determining the proper amount
of fertilizers and pesticides to use of fields, computers
are revolutionizing agriculture.”
Case Study
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported recently that 31
percent of the nation's farmers -- including part-timers -- own or
lease computers and that 20 percent use computers in day-today farm operations…..
The Michigan State University offers a software program that
uses a farm's soil analysis and recommends which fertilizers to
use and how much. In once instance a few years ago, a farmer
trimmed $18,000 from his annual fertilizer bill just by using this
software……
On the Internet, farmers can track the weather, keep track of
commodities futures and check on the latest advances in
agriculture.”
Computer Farming now
Cattle Tagging
Vet Records
AgriData:
Farm Management Software
Online Calf Registration
Milk Manager For Windows
AgriManage Screenshot
What is GPS?
GPS = “The Global Positioning System”
It is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed from a
constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations.
GPS uses these "man-made stars" as reference points to
calculate positions accurate to a matter of meters. Basically it's like
giving every square meter on the planet a unique address.
GPS receivers are just a few integrated circuits and are becoming
very economical.
These days GPS is finding its way into cars, boats, planes,
construction equipment, movie making gear, farm machinery, even
laptop computers.
How GPS works
GPS works in five logical steps:
1. The basis of GPS is "triangulation" from satellites.
2. To "triangulate," a GPS receiver measures distance using the
travel time of radio signals.
3. GPS uses very accurate timing
4. Along with distance, you need to know exactly where the
satellites are in space. High orbits and careful monitoring are
used for this.
5. You must correct for any delays the signal experiences as it
travels through the atmosphere.
Autonomous Crop Treatment
Vehicle
Uses GPS technology
Treatment device consists of an array of solenoid operated
nozzles.
Selective treatment achieved by switching each individual
nozzle on or off as the vehicle progresses through the crop.
Tracks crop pattern with onboard cameras
This allows the discrimination of crop - which matches the
planting pattern - from weeds which do not.
Result: Treatment of plants, not of weeds
The Autonomous Crop Treatment
Vehicle
Planting pattern of
cauliflower crop.
Real life image of the planting
pattern of the cauliflower plant.
Imaged by onboard
mounted camera.
The local treatment map used
to select spray nozzles to give
selective treatment.
This image also aids
in the local treatment
map
Pig Monitoring
Most basic guide to quality control?
Weighing pigs
Disadvantages: time consuming
stressful- to both pigs and farmers
Breakthrough: System developed which uses image analysis
techniques to monitor pigs growth.
Video camera connected to a computer, mounted over a feeder.
Measures pigs body area, ham width,ham area
Also determines each pig's shape, weight and growth rate.
Growth Rate and Conformation Evaluation System in action
Pig slide
Result?
Happy pigs
Automated Tractor
AutoFarm GPS 5001 AutoSteering System
Uses 3 GPS receivers on tractor and 1 in base station
Base Station gives accuracy between 50 feet and less than 1 inch
GPS receivers on tractor monitor the rolling and swaying motion of
the tractor many times a second.
Information passed to the computer then out to the tractor.
This couples directly into the steering system and smoothly controls
the vehicles steering.
 This system is a one touch operation from the in-cab touch screen to
perform all this steering control.
Automated Tractor
Summary
CASE STUDY:U.S. Department of
Agriculture report
Farming as it is
What GPS and how it works?
The future of farming
Questions???
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Overview
Ideas page 1
Wired on the farm: Computers, Net are
valuable farming tools
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/stories/102
697/bus_wired.html
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported
recently that 31 percent of the nation's
farmers -- including part-timers -- own or
lease computers and that 20 percent use
computers in day-to-day farm operations.
Advanced forms of GPS can make
measurements to better than a centimeter!
Soon GPS will become almost as basic as
the telephone. Some people think it may
become a universal utility.