Data driven farming and precision spraying

Digital Farming Applying site-specific techniques

🎬 Multilingual subtitles
✍️ By: Team BC1.NL

Reducing pesticide use through site-specific application

The third part of this series focuses on the spraying technology, which enables the application of products in a site-specific and plant-specific manner. Additionally, it becomes clear why it is important for farmers to adapt their practices.

Development of new spraying technology

Spuitmond Within this project, a method was sought to apply the right pesticides in the right places. Achieving this required numerous tests. Currently, a system has been developed where information can be processed rapidly by using a fast computer, allowing the spray nozzles (valves) to open and close 100 times per second.

Data driven farming starts with diverse data sources

The information from various data sources is crucial for the use of this technology. This includes data from soil research, satellite images, photos, and more. For farmers, it is interesting that the information can be processed both in real-time and afterwards. “Because the farmer of the future will increasingly draw on various data sources to better understand and care for their crops,” says Peter Millenaar of BB Leap.

Peter Millenaar van BB Leap

The goal is to grow a vigorous crop

“The objective of the Digital Farming NHN project is to cultivate healthier crops,” explains Pim Sturm of contracting company Sturm Jacobs. This means not only reducing the use of chemical pesticides but also minimizing green pesticides and foliar fertilizers. With the help of this spraying technology, farmers can treat their crops more precisely, aiming to improve the health and vitality of the plants. Applying pesticides in a site-specific manner provides farmers with the opportunity to work more efficiently and sustainably, taking into account the conditions of different parts of their land and the specific needs of individual plants. aardappelopslag

A series of practical insights and field experiences

In this series, we delve deeper into the benefits of digital farming and how the innovative approach within the Digital Farming NHN project can assist farmers in optimizing their agricultural practices. In part 1 bulb grower Stef Ruiter of J.C.J. Ruiter Wever from Andijk, Sander Dekker from Agrotheek and Pieter Vlaar from Vertify tell about their experiences. In part 2 Eddie Loonstra of RH3S and Kristel van Ammers working at the Lectoraat Robotica Inholland University of Applied Sciences explain what is involved in creating soil maps and algorithms, respectively.

precisiespuiten bij aardappelen

More information about sustainability in agriculture

In the report The future of flower bulb cultivation, participants of Fieldlab Bol explain how they are working on sustainable cultivation methods within this project.

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Also interesting:
Digital Farming – part 4 achievements and future prospects
Digital Farming – part 2 data processing
Digital Farming – part 1 the challenge

Frequently asked questions

This is a short summary of the film. Watch the video above for the full story.

What is data driven farming?

Data driven farming means making decisions on the basis of data rather than on feel. To know where you can cut back you first have to know what is happening on your field, and for that, data is gathered from different sources. There are two kinds. One is real time. The other you use at the office, such as satellite images and soil samples, where the soil is scanned and mapped. Your yield is data too. According to the film the farmer of the future will draw more and more on all those sources in order to understand the crop better and look after it better, and a healthier crop needs fewer crop protection products.

Where does digitalisation in agriculture begin?

With a question from practice. This project started at a contracting firm looking for a sustainable way to grow healthy crops, after which partners were sought to build it together. The technology itself begins with knowing where you can cut back, because anyone looking across a field sees a few large plants while most of the weeds are very small. Growers who start working with it realise at once, according to the film, what value lies behind it.

How does site-specific spraying work in agriculture?

With site-specific spraying, crops are only sprayed where needed, using exactly the right amount. This is done with highly detailed task maps and with camera technology that can control each individual nozzle, so a small weed gets only half a litre while a large plant gets the full five litres.

What does site-specific spraying deliver for the farmer?

The main benefit is a more vital and healthier crop, and a healthy crop also needs fewer pesticides. Because most of the weeds on a field are very small, those involved say there is a huge amount to be gained by spraying only where needed and with the right dosage.

How does the technology recognise weeds among the crops?

In the project, cameras were installed to collect data on all crops in different stages. That data is used to train algorithms to distinguish, for example, a sugar beet, a weed and potato volunteers; the entire cycle to produce an image takes about 50 milliseconds, so you are in time to spray.

Where can I watch the full film?

These questions and answers are a short summary. Watch the full film "Digital Farming Applying site-specific techniques" with all insights, examples and background at https://www.bc1.eu/digital-farming-applying-site-specific-techniques/

Digital Farming Applying site-specific techniques

Reducing pesticide use through site-specific application

Data driven farming starts with diverse data sources

The goal is to grow a vigorous crop

A series of practical insights and field experiences

More information about sustainability in agriculture

Frequently asked questions

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