Precision farming is a modern approach to agricultural management, based on highly accurate data and automated fieldwork processes. New technologies not only enhance the efficiency of agronomic operations but also significantly reduce production costs, making farming more profitable and sustainable.
At the core of precision farming lies the combination of three essential technologies: GPS navigation, RTK correction, and autosteering systems (more info on FieldBee). Together, they form a high-precision system that enables field operations to be performed with minimal deviations, optimises resource use, and ensures consistently high work quality. Below, we take a closer look at how each of these components functions and the role they play in modern agricultural practices.
GPS Navigation: The Foundation of Accurate Positioning
GPS navigation is the backbone of any precision farming system. It provides real-time location data for machinery, linked to global satellite systems. Modern GPS receivers work with multiple satellite constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou), enhancing signal stability and reducing accuracy losses even in challenging terrain or areas with obstructions. Continuous monitoring of coordinates allows machinery to follow assigned routes with minimal deviation.
Without GPS navigation, neither autosteering nor RTK correction would be possible. It enables farmers to plan precise routes, generate field maps, track processed areas, and collect detailed data on completed operations. This gives farmers full visibility of field activities, allows for performance analysis, and helps optimise every stage of the production cycle.
RTK Correction: Boosting Accuracy to Centimetre Level
Even the most advanced GPS navigation systems have natural limitations caused by signal drift, atmospheric interference, and terrain-related distortions. RTK correction (Real-Time Kinematic) minimises these errors, improving positioning accuracy to within 1–2 centimetres. The system works by transmitting correction data from a base RTK station or network, providing real-time adjustments to the machinery’s coordinates.
RTK correction enables ultra-precise operations such as even seeding, precise fertiliser application, accurate inter-row cultivation, and efficient harvesting that fully utilises the available area. This level of precision not only saves resources but also promotes uniform plant development, reduces soil compaction, minimises yield losses, and helps maintain the farm’s profitability even under growing cost pressures and market competition.
PowerSteer Autosteering System
Autosteering is a crucial element of precision farming, taking full control of the tractor or implement’s steering based on pre-planned routes. By combining satellite navigation and RTK correction data, the autosteering system controls the steering mechanism with centimetre-level accuracy, maintaining exact route adherence even under difficult conditions: at night, in fog, on uneven terrain, or when the operator is fatigued.
The use of autosteering dramatically reduces overlaps and skips during seeding, fertilising, spraying, and inter-row cultivation. This leads to savings of seeds, fertilisers, fuel, and working hours. It also reduces operator fatigue and allows them to focus on monitoring equipment performance. Moreover, the system improves the overall productivity of the machinery and ensures consistent work quality, regardless of human error.