Precision Agriculture Technicians
Precision agriculture technicians apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. They may use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
Precision agriculture for development careers use field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS) to collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries and using geospatial technology, they develop soil sampling grids for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
Precision technicians require a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree with a considerable number of work-related skills, knowledge, precision agriculture training and experience. The skills required include mathematics, science, active learning, judgement and decision making, problem-solving, operation monitoring, systems evaluation, reading comprehension and communication.
They should know about food production, mathematics, biology, geography, engineering and technology, computers and electronics, administration and management.
Precision technicians and precision agriculture careers involve work in government and private research centres, laboratories and universities, and an agricultural specialist salary is commensurate to the nature of the work.
To be a successful precision technician, one should excel in technology as modern agriculture uses a lot of technology, should be capable of analytical and critical thinking and pay attention to details provide excellent customer services.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- M.Sc. Agriculture
- M.Tech Agricultural Engineering
- B.Sc. Agriculture
- B.Tech Agricultural Engineering
- B.E. Biotechnology
Tasks
- Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.
- Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.
- Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.
Progression Routes
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