Smart agriculture is the collective management of the agricultural environment by using precision engineered devices and sensors that allow the operator to make informed decisions and to optimize the performance of their organization. Smart farming combines traditional weed control with real-time information on plant health, crop yield and water availability. The new convergence of smart farming technologies and sensors is creating a revolution in agriculture. New precision farming sensor technologies allow farmers to monitor the performance of their crops, weeds and soils more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

Traditional smart farming combines precision agriculture with complex and expensive computer programs and software solutions designed to improve crop production and weed control. However, smart agriculture aims to reduce the inputs required for modern farming, thereby reducing costs and improving overall crop quality. Traditional agriculture also requires extensive land management, which can be a costly proposition for smallholders. By leveraging technology, precision agriculture can reduce inputs and improve management efficiency, while improving the precision of the outputs.

Traditional crop production requires high levels of manpower and other resources that make farming more complicated and prone to human error. Farmers are often faced with a myriad of challenges, such as pest resistance, water availability and climate change. Smart farming aims to reduce the inputs and labor costs associated with modern crop production. This enables farmers to provide better quality at lower cost to the consumer. In addition, smart farming can help farmers achieve greater sustainability.

The implementation of smart agriculture sensor technologies requires a coordinated approach across the different fields of agriculture. The key is to design systems that work together and that can effectively collect, sort and process real time data to provide a dynamic picture of the performance of your crops. Agriculture is one of the areas most affected by global warming. Research is underway to develop crops that are more drought resistant and that have greater resilience to heat and harsh weather conditions.

Modern day farming practices involve complex decisions regarding crop rotation, fertilization and other management practices. Collecting and processing data in an effective and efficient manner is vital for ensuring that the decisions made have a real impact on the productivity and profitability of your farm. Sophisticated digital agriculture sensors are being used by farmers to assess the performance of their crops. These sensors collect data during field observation and incorporate the latest trends and practices into the decision making process. A smart farming system will not only collect and process data, but will also inform the farmer of any problems that may need attention and help. With a variety of smart sensors and integrated systems available today, farmers have much greater control over the management of their farms.

The adoption of new technologies such as precision agriculture systems and smart farming equipment has dramatically improved the quality and yield of the crop that is produced. As a result of these and other new technologies, farmers are experiencing record crop production rates with lower inputs. This is creating increased financial security for many farmers. Although the increase in income is good for business, the adoption of new technologies has been met with some resistance from traditional agricultural areas. There are concerns that farmers may be forced to change their farming methods to suit the new technologies. However, if the widespread use of these new technologies proves to be a success for crop production, it will usher in a new era of agricultural competition.