Path to Precision

Case IH’s 7-Step Precision Farming Action Plan

10 Dec 2021

In previous articles we’ve given an overview of precision agriculture and explained the four pillars of precision farming: sensors, GNSS, FMIS and control technologies. Armed with this information, we hope you now have a good understanding of how precision farming can work to improve measurement and control across your farm. 

But now you have this knowledge, you need to think about how to implement it on your farm. At Case IH, we are here to help make change through action and innovation, and that includes helping you to take the actions you need to improve your operations. When you are ready to embark on your Path to Precision, Case IH will offer you a helpful hand to get you going in the right direction. 
As your partner in this journey, we developed a framework to get you started. We call it our 7-Step Precision Farming Action Plan. In future articles we will go into detail on each step, but here is an overview:

The Case IH 7-Step Action Plan:

Step 1.     Assign responsibility – This step is about accountability. Implementing a precision strategy doesn’t happen on its own; you need purpose and intent. Someone needs to be responsible for carrying out the plan. This is a VERY important starting step. Lack of responsibility is the primary reason for failure in strategy.

Step 2.     Assess inventory – So, what machines do you have? What sensors? Any GNSS? Control technologies? Take a deep hard look at what you do have currently. Take stock. Then make plans to acquire what you need to achieve your goals.

Step 3.     Evaluate data layers – Remember a data layer is an FMIS layer of data, gathered using sensors and GNSS showing you your variability based on location. These layers are the key to helping you improve. Assess what data you have, and what you are missing, and make plans to obtain what you need.

Step 4.     Evaluate yield – We've made plenty of noise about the importance of your yield information; it’s so important we've given it its own step! You need to know, in relative detail, what you need to improve upon. After all, what’s the point of farming if you aren’t looking at your yield? 

Step 5.     Identify software to use – Choose your software. There may be a lot of options but this decision isn’t set in stone. It can be changed later, so don’t panic!

Step 6.     Simplify and standardise – Things can get complicated quickly if you start to run before you can walk. The point of this step is about making small changes. Simplify, then standardise your processes and systems. The processes involved should become habitual in your day-to-day routine, and the best way to do this is to break it down into smaller, achievable bites.

Step 7.     Optimise – Once you’re comfortable with the small steps you have taken, build on those to make continual improvements. By now you should have a clearer idea of where and when to make more changes. As if in a science experiment, make sure you don’t have too many variables at once: focus on one thing at a time and make sure it’s working for you before changing something else.

Now, are you ready to take the first step?

Your local authorised Case IH AFS dealer is ready to help you every step of the way.