Here’s Why Precision Farming Technology will Shape the Future of Agriculture

A bright future for humanity lies ahead

Agriculture has gone through many different ages over the years in terms of technological breakthroughs such as improved efficiency and crop management. These improvements have been based on improving farming standards and minimizing losses. But a new age is about to begin, the popular agricultural buzzword of our time, the age of Precision Farming.

Precision farming is mostly about using the latest technologies in maximising your potential crop based on land size, harvesting times, crop management, as well as transportation. For a few years now, drone-like farm machinery has been the dream that would allow farmers to prepare their land and make a harvest with vehicles that have been programmed to autonomously work around the clock. In this article we will focus on some of these hi-tech developments.

Advanced Surveillance System to Boost Efficiency

This new level of detail means that the most advanced technology can be used to incorporate satellite information on your land in terms of satellite images of crop which can be used to observe, measure and make decisions on crop management using an array of imaging processes.

This sort of farming works best on large scale farms where huge numbers of fields are used to grow crops. Satellite images can be used to create photographs of a specific field over a specific amount of time to give you information about the best place to sew your crop, as well as the potential yield of a particular crop planted in a particular area. 

Image Credit: Earth Observatory/NASA

Drones are making a huge mark in farming in recent years for observation and inspection work for farmers, but are now being touted as one of the best tools for precision farming on a mid to large scale. Farming drones are also a much cheaper alternative to using satellite imagery services, as you will be able to purchase outright the complete system.

Agricultural UAV Drones at Your Service!

These latest agricultural drones have the ability to map your land and give you all the necessary data you require to get the best out of your land. Sensors such as visual aids that give you aerial mapping and 3D imaging allow you to create surveys, view your land use, as well as counting your plants, crops and give you an emergency response system for sustainable agriculture harvesting.

Drones will change the whole game in future

Other visual inspections allow you to use infrared as well as other narrow band frequencies to visualise your plant and crop health, assess water quality as well as create a vegetation index calculation. With thermal and LiDAR sensors you will be able to have an in-depth view and record of your crop to give you information that has never been accessible before to maximise crop management on the largest of scales.

Keeping on tabs with your crop is the best way to maximise the precise Australian harvest time for your crop, giving you the best possible chance of minimising crop loss and maximising crop profit. With agricultural drones able to measure plant height, number and health you have the perfect opportunity to create the most efficient farm possible.

How Cost-Effective and Future Proof are These?

In Queensland a trial had taken place to find the cost effectiveness of drone use in the Australian agriculture industry, trialed through a federal government funded pilot scheme. In combination with LandCare and the Australian Controlled Traffic Farming Association, the trial used a number of tools such as photo imaging to view crop health, as well as the presence of weeds and pests in the fields. As more trials take place, it is believed more farmers will want to try out the automated drone systems and allow them to get more data on their crops and land.

The future looks bright for agricultural UAV drones in Australia, with a number of technological breakthroughs which will make the farming industry more efficient and productive. With precision farming leading the way in terms of technology, we will just have to wait and see how long it will be before every farmer employs one of the latest future farming tech drones to grab data from their crops, come harvest time.

This link might help to you to better understand the use of precision farming technique in the crop growth cycle. And of course stay with Advantec's blog as we will be discussing more important stuff about grain management and farming industry.

Some Necessary Tips to Grain Vacuum Maintenance

Grain management is considered to be one of the most time-consuming and essential parts of the production process in the farming industry. Cutting the time you take to load a grain storage unit or transfer for transportation will increase your efficiency and speed up the process of your daily routine, saving your time, money and effort overall.

To keep your REM GrainVAC equipment in great shape, you should perform the following maintenance on a regular basis:

Regularly Change Blower Oil

REM grain vacuum products require certain types of oil to run efficiently and without issues. You must take care to read the distinct serial number tag which is displayed on the blower which recommends the type of oil you require. You should change the oil every 100 hours of activity.


Check That Blower Isn’t Overheating

It is important to regularly check that the blower is not overheating, by using the blower for the amount of time as recommended in the products usage documentation. You should always let the machine cool down completely if it has overheated, and allow the system to recover.

Taking Care of Safety Screen

The safety screen on your GrainVAC should never be removed while the machine is in operation, but if there is a build-up on the screen to the point where it has become opaque, the machine should be shut down and cleaned when finishing operations. To save you this effort, run the machine at a lower rate to avoid build-up on the screen.

Keeping the Vacuum at Full Power

If you find that your REM GrainVAC VRX is not sucking as it may have once used to, there are regular maintenance checks you can make to ensure it keeps its maximum suction abilities. Quickly check that all gaskets are in good working condition and that all inspection hatches and doors are closed. Check for any air leaks in your piping and also for any obstructions that may be blocking the pipes.

GrainVac Radiator Cleaning Solution

As grain vacuums shift huge capacities of grain every hour, keeping the radiator and air intake fans clean is one of the best ways to improve the overall efficiency of the machine, keeping it in top shape.

Normally, shutting down the machine and performing a take-down is the last solution you need due to extended downtime of the machine, but with a reversible fan such as the CLEANFIX fan, you can simply reverse the suction to blow out all of the debris from the radiator, saving you hours of laborious time.

 
Choosing A Modern GrainVAC System

Many of the older models of grain handling equipment suffered from reliability issues in the past, modern grain vacuum systems such as the REM GrainVAC VRX has been totally redesigned to improve reliability, efficiency, and more capacity when in use. These top of the line machines, such as the REM 3700 Grain Vac provides improved functions for grain handling and in many cases provides a complete replacement of typical grain auger use.

The efficiency of the REM grain vacuum solutions not only apply to the huge capacity in which these machines can move grain, but also these energy savings apply to manpower in the way that cleaning and maintenance are reduced thanks to its reversible CleanFix fan system - as well as the initial investment.


Grain vacuum systems also reduce the time you need to spend inside a grain bin, making them a much safer alternative to both small-scale solutions, as well as the use of grain auger systems and their own issues. Modern grain vacuums such as the REM systems are the preferred choice when it comes to value for money, capacity, and efficiency for the modern farmer. Advantec Australasia is one of the prominent grain handling equipment providers in Victoria, Australia. With our award winning PRBM raised bed management system, we are renowned for providing efficient grain management solution in Australia. Head to our web page to learn about our product and offering.