How the digital transformation of farming is reducing risk and increasing confidence
Farming is one of the riskiest professions in the world. That’s because the amount of capital a farmer invests each year to raise a crop is enormous, while the challenges they face from season to season are constantly evolving. With more mouths to feed and fewer people to feed them, farmers must contend with a changing climate, resource limitations, low commodity prices and shifting consumer expectations.
Whether dealing with nature’s unpredictability or volatile markets, farmers try to reduce risk in their operations by increasing crop yields and effectively managing key farm inputs such as water, fertilizers, pesticides and seeds. Like business owners or executives in other industries, they’re starting to use data and insights to optimize productivity, profitability and sustainability.
The digital transformation of farming
Applying data science in agriculture is only as powerful as the farmer’s ability to collect and analyze vast amounts of data sets. When farmers are able to easily connect theirequipment — such as tractors, combines, irrigation systems and other on-farm sensors — and use their own agronomic data to make more informed decisions, they begin to experience the true value of digital farming. When their farm data can be combined with other agricultural data sets to uncover unique insights, the potential of digital farming is endless.
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