Will “Precision Agriculture Technicians” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
Unknown Chance of Automation
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Job Description
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 19-4099.02
Also Known As…
- Soil Fertility Specialist
- Research Agricultural Engineer
- Regional Agronomist
- Precision Farming Coordinator
- Precision Agronomist
- Precision Agriculture Specialist
- Physical Scientist
- Nutrient Management Specialist
- Independent Crop Consultant
- Crop Specialist
- Precision Farming Specialist
- Precision Crop Manager
- Precision Agriculture Technician
- Migration Specialist
- GPS Field Data Collector (Global Positioning System Field Data Collector)
- Extension Precision Agriculture Specialist
Tasks for “Precision Agriculture Technicians”
- Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping software.
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated.
- Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.
- Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
- Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
- Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.
- Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.
- Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.
- Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.
- Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
- Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.
- Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
- Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.
- Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems.
Related Technology & Tools
- Personal computers
- Field personal computers PC
- Sprayer application equipment
- Moisture monitors
- Soil samplers
- Global positioning system GPS receivers
- Automatic boom control systems
- Lightbar guidance systems
- Seed drills
- Soil electrical conductivity measurement devices
- Variable rate applicators
- Laptop computers
- Automatic land leveling systems
- Fertilizer spreading equipment
- Tractor mounted soil probes
- Yield monitor systems
- Desktop computers
- Air clutches
- Autosteering systems
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- AGCO GTA Software Suite
- SST Development Group SSToolbox
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Access
- John Deere Apex Farm Management
- Ag Leader Technology SMS Advanced
- Trimble AgGPS EZ-Map
- GeoAgro GIS
- Farm Works Site Pro
- Novariant AutoFarm AF Viewer
- ESRI ArcView
- Trimble AgGPS MultiPlane
- MapShots EASi Suite
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- ESRI ArcPad