By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
SmartData Collective
  • Analytics
    AnalyticsShow More
    data science anayst
    Growing Demand for Data Science & Data Analyst Roles
    6 Min Read
    predictive analytics in dropshipping
    Predictive Analytics Helps New Dropshipping Businesses Thrive
    12 Min Read
    data-driven approach in healthcare
    The Importance of Data-Driven Approaches to Improving Healthcare in Rural Areas
    6 Min Read
    analytics for tax compliance
    Analytics Changes the Calculus of Business Tax Compliance
    8 Min Read
    big data analytics in gaming
    The Role of Big Data Analytics in Gaming
    10 Min Read
  • Big Data
  • BI
  • Exclusive
  • IT
  • Marketing
  • Software
Search
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Big Data Is Making Big Changes to Agriculture
Share
Notification Show More
Latest News
ai in automotive industry
AI Is Changing the Automotive Industry Forever
Artificial Intelligence
SMEs Use AI-Driven Financial Software for Greater Efficiency
Artificial Intelligence
data security in big data age
6 Reasons to Boost Data Security Plan in the Age of Big Data
Big Data
data science anayst
Growing Demand for Data Science & Data Analyst Roles
Data Science
ai software development
Key Strategies to Develop AI Software Cost-Effectively
Artificial Intelligence
Aa
SmartData Collective
Aa
Search
  • About
  • Help
  • Privacy
Follow US
© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.
SmartData Collective > Big Data > How Big Data Is Making Big Changes to Agriculture
Big Data

How Big Data Is Making Big Changes to Agriculture

Megan Ray Nichols
Last updated: 2017/09/24 at 12:49 PM
Megan Ray Nichols
5 Min Read
Agriculture
SHARE

Big data is a popular buzzword that refers to the massive amount of collected information during day-to-day business operations. Depending on the industry, this could be anything from crop yields to patient demographics and everything in between. How could the utilization of big data change the agriculture industry?

Contents
Drone PatrolNutrient ManagementCrop PredictionsSupply ChainWeather

Drone Patrol

Monitoring hundreds of acres of crops can be a backbreaking job, requiring dozens of people willing to walk or drive the length and breadth of the fields to check for things like pests and disease. A drone fleet could do the same work while being managed by one or two people. Depending on the style of drone, they could also be equipped with things like:

  • Soil samplers — These could be used to test nutrition levels, soil moisture, etc.
  • Leaf samplers — Small blades can take plant samples that can be analyzed by the drone or in a lab setting.
  • Pest capture settings — If pests are becoming a problem, obtaining a sample could make it easier to determine the best course of action to exterminate them.

Solar-powered drones could potentially patrol the entire farm without needing to stop to recharge, only returning to their bases at night when the sun goes down.

Nutrient Management

Collecting information about the levels of nutrients in the soil is a major part of farming, whether it’s on a small or large scale. By collecting large amounts of information, it is easy to determine what fields need to be rotated or have fertilizer or nutrients applied to ensure optimum growth. The problem with this data collection is that it is mostly reactionary — a problem is detected and then fixed.

More Read

data science anayst

Growing Demand for Data Science & Data Analyst Roles

How Big Data Is Transforming the Maritime Industry
Utilizing Data to Discover Shortcomings Within Your Business Model
Small Businesses Use Big Data to Offset Risk During Economic Uncertainty
The Importance of Data-Driven Approaches to Improving Healthcare in Rural Areas

By applying big data and predictive algorithms to this information, computers could predict nutrient issues before they become significant problems that could jeopardize crop yield.

Crop Predictions

By studying the yield from previous years and applying big data, it becomes possible to predict with a relatively high degree of accuracy which crops will produce the highest yield for a given year or a given field.

Provided that the information collected during previous years is accurate, it becomes much easier to determine the best days to plant, the best days to apply fertilizer or herbicides, and the best time of year to harvest to ensure the highest yield.

Supply Chain

Big data is already being applied to supply chains in a variety of industries. When it comes to agriculture, everything from supply sources for the crops — for seeds, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, etc. — to the final delivery to grocery stores is part of the supply chain. And all this data is collectible. This information is an essential component of every farm, but once gathered it can also be used as part of big data.

With the use of predictive analytics, farm owners can predict inventory and chemical usage. This enables them to order only the supplies that are needed rather than ordering extras and ending up with a back-inventory that they may or may not ever use but will have to pay to store.

Weather

While we can control just about every variable that comes with farming, the weather will always vary to some extent (outside of understanding seasonal weather patterns). Hot summers require more irrigation, while damp months could result in mildew or mold growth on crops that need to be addressed.

Weather prediction is limited, but what we can predict is how different crops will react to changing weather patterns and how best to compensate for those changes.

The climate is changing, whether people want to admit it or not, and agriculture will have to adapt to ensure strong yields in the future.

Agriculture is an ever-changing field, no pun intended, and big data can help farmers to improve their yields and adapt to anything Mother Nature throws at them. Big data, when paired with predictive analytics, could help level the playing field. In the future, drone fleets and big data could change the way farmers work. Technological advances will help both big and small farms adapt and feed the world.

Megan Ray Nichols April 6, 2017
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn
Share
By Megan Ray Nichols
Follow:
Megan Ray Nichols is a freelance technical writer and the editor of Schooled By Science. She enjoys writing about the latest news in technology, science, and manufacturing. When she isn't writing, Megan loves hiking, biking and going to the movies.

Follow us on Facebook

Latest News

ai in automotive industry
AI Is Changing the Automotive Industry Forever
Artificial Intelligence
SMEs Use AI-Driven Financial Software for Greater Efficiency
Artificial Intelligence
data security in big data age
6 Reasons to Boost Data Security Plan in the Age of Big Data
Big Data
data science anayst
Growing Demand for Data Science & Data Analyst Roles
Data Science

Stay Connected

1.2k Followers Like
33.7k Followers Follow
222 Followers Pin

You Might also Like

data science anayst
Data Science

Growing Demand for Data Science & Data Analyst Roles

6 Min Read
How Big Data Is Transforming the Maritime Industry
Big Data

How Big Data Is Transforming the Maritime Industry

8 Min Read
utlizing big data for business model
Big Data

Utilizing Data to Discover Shortcomings Within Your Business Model

6 Min Read
big data use in small businesses
Big Data

Small Businesses Use Big Data to Offset Risk During Economic Uncertainty

7 Min Read

SmartData Collective is one of the largest & trusted community covering technical content about Big Data, BI, Cloud, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, IoT & more.

data-driven web design
5 Great Tips for Using Data Analytics for Website UX
Big Data
AI chatbots
AI Chatbots Can Help Retailers Convert Live Broadcast Viewers into Sales!
Chatbots

Quick Link

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Follow US

© 2008-23 SmartData Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Go to mobile version
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?