It’s not just about high-tech gadgets, but about optimizing your decisions based on data. Sensors, drones and farm management software become your tools to save resources and increase yields.
But question critically:
- Is “digital = automatically better”? Not always. A study by the University of Hohenheim shows: The ROI depends heavily on your company structure.
- Do you need real-time data? Perhaps yes for a vegetable farm with irrigation management. Possibly overkill for a grassland farm.
These 4 technologies will change your everyday life – pros & cons
1. precision farming: save fertilizer, water & money
- How it works: GPS-controlled tractors, satellite-based soil analyses (e.g. Sentinel-2 data) and variable applications show you exactly WHERE your field needs what.
- Your advantage: Up to 20% less fertilizer use according to the DLG – that’s good for the environment AND your budget.
- Ask yourself: Is the investment in Section Control worthwhile for your field sizes? Or would you be better off starting with low-cost N-sensor technology?
2 IoT & sensor networks: your field “talks” to you
- How it works: Soil sensors measure moisture, nutrients & temperature. Cameras monitor plant growth or animal health. Data converges in your farm management software (e.g. 365FarmNet, Farmable).
- Your advantage: Automatic irrigation control in the event of drought stress, early damage detection.
- Ask yourself: Does your yard have sufficient mobile coverage (LTE/5G)? Or do you need expensive repeaters? How secure is your data from hackers?
3. automation & robotics: relief for routine tasks
- How it works: Milking robots, autonomous field robots for weed control (e.g. FarmDroid), drones for precise application.
- Your advantage: less physical strain, work possible at unusual times.
- Ask yourself: Can you take over the maintenance yourself? How high are the depreciation costs with rapid technological change?
4 AI & Big Data: Predicting instead of guessing
- How it works: Algorithms analyze weather data, satellite images and your historical operating data.
- Your advantage: Precise harvest forecasts, prediction of pest infestation (e.g. ProPlant), optimized harvest times.
- Ask yourself: Do you trust the algorithms? Do you understand how the recommendations are made (“Explainable AI”)?
The inconvenient truths: Risks you MUST know
- Dependency: Are you prepared to be tied to manufacturer software and spare parts? (Keyword: “Right to Repair” debate!)
- Cost trap: High investments + running costs (licenses, data plans, maintenance). Calculate precisely!
- Data security: Who has access to your sensitive farm data (soil quality, harvest quantities)? Check contracts!
- Complexity: Do you need training? Is your Internet connection in the field sufficient?
Your pragmatic start – how to get off to a smart & low-risk start
- Start small: A weather station + app for pest forecasts (e.g. “Prognos”) costs little and delivers immediate benefits.
- Rent instead of buy: Borrow drones for crop monitoring or nutrient scans from contractors. Test before you invest!
- Use subsidies: Check KfW loans, EU agricultural funding (GAP) for digital measures.
- Exchange ideas: Experience reports from colleagues at field days (e.g. at Fruit Logistica) are worth their weight in gold.
Source: https://www.fruitlogistica.com/