AGP 336 - Precision Agriculture
Last Date of Approval: 2020
3 Credits
Total Lecture Hours: 45
Total Lab Hours: 0
Total Clinical Hours: 0
Total Work-Based Experience Hours: 0
Course Description:
Provides an overview of precision farming concepts and the tools of precision farming (GPS, GIS and VRT). Introduces the use of each of these tools within the processes of a precision farming system. Provides hands-on activities in the use of these tools. Students will develop critical thinking skills as they evaluate various precision agriculture practices and their economic and environmental benefits. These skills will be very beneficial in many types of careers in agriculture.
Prerequisites/Corequisites: None
Mode(s) of Instruction: traditional/face-to-face
Credit for Prior Learning: There are no Credit for Prior Learning opportunities for this course.
Course Fees: None
Common Course Assessment(s): None
Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:
Student Learning Outcomes:
• Demonstrate proper usage of various precision agriculture hardware technologies.
• Analyze data utilizing various precision agriculture software technologies.
• Make use of precision agriculture processes for decision making.
• Justify the implementation of future precision agriculture technologies.
Precision Agriculture Objectives:
1. Global Positioning System (GPS)
a. GPS systems available for use in agriculture.
b. How GPS locates positions.
c. Factors that affect GPS accuracy and techniques to improve accuracy.
d. Agricultural GPS applications: vehicle guidance and auto-steering, variable rate technology, remote sensing, yield monitoring, and analyzing soil properties.
2. Geographic Information System (GIS)
a. GIS data and data sources.
b. GIS applications in Production agriculture
c. Agricultural GIS software programs.
d. Mobile GIS/GPS software programs
3. Remote Sensing
a. Applications in agriculture.
b. Remote sensing basics.
c. Correlating imagery to other crop production data.
d. Remote sensing data sources.
4. Soil Variability and Soil Mapping
a. Factors affecting soil variability.
b. Digital soil data and sources.
c. Correlating soil data to other crop production data.
5. Sensors for Gathering Information
a. Types of soil and crop sensors and operating procedures.
b. Interpreting sensed data.
c. Correlating data to other crop production data.
6. Yield Monitoring Systems
a. Components, operation, calibration and common malfunctions.
b. Interpreting yield data.
c. Correlating yield data with other data.
7. Variable Rate Technology (VRT)
a. Field zones and prescription maps.
b. Components and technology of variable rate equipment.
c. Issues associated with variable rate technology.
8. Auto-guidance Systems
a. Components and technology of auto-guidance systems
b. Comparison of commercial systems.
9. Economics of Precision Agriculture
a. Equipment and technology costs.
b. Comparing profitability with constant rate management.
10. Trends in Precision Agriculture and Future Technology
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