Farmers are having to gather increasing amounts of data on their soils and crops. Precision agriculture – the targeting of inputs such as fertilizers and herbicides according to locally determined (‘metre-by-metre’) requirements – is based on a knowledge of the spatial variation of soil and crop parameters across a field. The data has to be spatially located and GPS is an effective way of doing this. A backpack data logging system with GPS position tagging is described which has been designed to aid a fanner in the manual collection of data.

For farming in the future, positional information is of particular importance. Out of a multitude of positioning systems, GPS/DGPS is the most suitable one. This system does not require any additional infrastructure and at the same time guarantees complete coverage of all tilled surfaces. The major application of positioning with GPS/DGPS is to be seen in the area of local information and documentation. By generating both planning and process data, it facilitates the operation and control of work processes (organic and mineral fertilization, plant protection). In the end, positioning leads to navigation, which, in the case of single vehicles and vehicle pools, will in turn provide completely new possibilities for development and application. For the first time, vehicles without drivers are conceivable. Thus, the completion of any kind of work on schedule, without time limitations, would become possible with the least possible stress for soil and environment.

Agriculture in the U.K. has, since the late 1940s, enjoyed government subsidy and insulation from free market forces. However, the post-war philosophy of ‘every acre counts’ no longer holds true in the face of surplus production and a growing public awareness of the countryside and environmental issues. Legislation relating to water pollution, public rights of way and price support mechanisms are all contributory factors to the radical changes which agriculture is undergoing at the present time. Investigations have shown a need within agriculture for the efficient use and handling of data relating to the land, and a need for new technology to exploit the inherent spatial variability of, for example, the soil. This paper will discuss the development of an agricultural vehicle positioning instrument and future research which will address the needs which have been identified.