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Precision Agriculture

All Precision Agriculture Content

Map of the location of the Precision Cover Crop Demonstration day

SDSU Extension to co-host Precision Cover Crop Demonstration Day on July 20

July 14, 2023

South Dakota State University Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service will host a Precision Cover Crop Demonstration Day starting at 9 a.m. on July 20, 2023, near Brookings.

Dark green corn plants without any visual sign of nutrient deficiency symptoms.

Monitoring Corn Nutrient Deficiencies: The Traditional and Precision Ag Approach

To maximize growth and productivity, plants require 17 different nutrients.

Aerial photo of a field revealing crop productivity within a specified management zone.

Knowing the Soil Types in Your Fields Can Increase Weed Control

As soil temperatures increase, many farmers are beginning to plant crops and start preemergent weed control. Learn the important role that soil type can play in getting the most out of preemergence herbicide applications.

Black steer at the SDSU Cottonwood Field Station outfitted with a virtual fence collar (black strap and grey box) from the company Vence™.

Virtual Fencing: Emerging Companies, Functionality and Benefits

Research conducted in the past few years has shown promising results for virtual fencing to be a viable option in many scenarios.

Two producers inspecting a soybean planter.

Tips to Prepare Your Planter: A Precision Ag Perspective

Planting time is nearly upon us, and setting your planter up properly can help save time, reduce unexpected costs, and increase your profitability and safety. Learn some expert tips for getting started!

Aerial view of cattle near a feeder.

Utilizing Drones for Ranching Operations

Using drones as a tool for monitoring grasslands, checking cattle, and monitoring water sources has increased recently. Learn some important licensing and safety considerations for using drones on your operation.

Tablet computer displaying precision planting data.

The 5 R’s of Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is a management strategy that uses cutting-edge technology to gather, process and analyze information to provide optimized crop inputs. Learn about the five R's that guide its use on farms.

Extension staff analyzing a soybean plant with a stakeholder.

SDSU Extension to Host Informational Sessions at Dakotafest

August 05, 2022

Producers are invited to visit the SDSU Extension booth at Dakotafest August 16-18 in Mitchell, South Dakota.

A John Deere Max Emerge XP corn planter behind a Case IH Magnum 335 with AFS precision farming system.

Why Precision Agriculture?

When precision agriculture comes into a conversation a few questions arise. Three of those questions might be: What is precision agriculture? How does precision agriculture make our farm more profitable? What do I do with all this data?

Aerial photo of a field revealing crop productivity within a specified management zone.

Creating Management Zones Using Electrical Conductivity

The first step to practicing zone management is to identify the variations that control yield. There are various methods for characterizing soil variations within a field, and among them, electrical conductivity measurement is one of the most-reliable.