Precision Hectare

The aim of the Precision Hectare is to create a meeting place with a capital M for everyone who works with precision agriculture – both regionally in the hinterland and nationally. The project also aims to be a demonstration arena for precision technology. The project consists of a physical area of one hectare at NIBIO’s research station in Apelsvoll, and operates with the intention of being a real intersection between technology and agronomy, research, education and practice.

The precision hectare is intended as a multi-year concept, with different main themes from year to year. Each year ends with an evaluation and input on what should be next year’s theme.

2021 was the project’s first year, and had the main theme “How to effectively map the farm’s land and area resources and store and utilize data that is collected”. This is fundamental to all precision farming and has proven to occupy many farmers with an interest in precision farming. During 2021, the area set aside for the Precision Hectares project has been mapped with EM38, around 40 soil samples have been taken, harvest samples from the same place as soil samples and we have made weekly drone overflights. Assessment of different FMIS (Farm Management Information Systems) for data collected when precision farming an area is the next item on the list, and will take place during Q1 2022.

For 2022, the main theme will be precision allocation of fertiliser. A technology day is also planned in autumn 2022 with the same theme.