Free DLC Precision Farming - Details and Release Date

Precision Farming will be available in Farming Simulator 2019. This was announced by the FS 19 developers in their news. Several months ago, the developers announced the so-called “Precision Farming Project” from EIT Food and John Deere for cooperative mode, for playing with other partners. The release is scheduled for December 8, 2020 (just over a week away). The DLC is completely free for all players. Currently, screenshots and a trailer of the add-on are available.

The goal of the new project is to give players more information about modern agriculture, but to do it in an interesting way – by integrating mechanics directly into the game. But what exactly is “precision farming”? Precision farming is also often called “precision agriculture” or “smart farming.” The essence of precision farming lies in using modern agricultural technology to increase efficiency. In other words, the main goal is to achieve the highest production quality while using fewer resources. This system is actively used worldwide. 

Advantages of Precision Farming

Precision farming has many advantages, which is why this system is actively developed and used worldwide. Precision farming benefits almost every aspect of agriculture. Using this system is advantageous both for farmers engaged in agriculture and for consumers. 

• Crops and agricultural plants. Every farmer knows that crops have needs, and these needs differ. Precision farming allows analyzing and meeting the needs of crops through analysis and adaptation. Almost all work is done automatically, resulting in significantly improved crop quality, which benefits not only the farmer but also the consumer.
• Environment. Using precision farming is also very beneficial for the environment. When using chemicals and various resources, the exact amount is determined, avoiding excess use of resources, which benefits the soil and reduces runoff into waterways. Additionally, fuel is saved, which reduces environmental pollution. 
• Farmers and economy. As mentioned above, precision farming helps save resources and reduce environmental pollution. Thanks to resource savings, investments in purchasing quality equipment pay off quickly, farm competitiveness increases, and in the long term, the farmer’s profit level rises.

How does precision farming work in general?

 The operation of precision farming is based on high technology, so working with this method involves not only various agricultural machinery but also computers, various applications for these computers and mobile devices for data tracking, and much more. For example, there is GPS, which makes planting crops easier by more accurately determining the best places to do so. Optimized and automated schemes are used, saving both time and resources such as fuel and seeds.

In precision farming, the key point is automated data analysis and monitoring. Thanks to the above, it is possible to obtain information about soil quality, a complete overview of the farm, environmental factors affecting crop quality, and much more. This facilitates making the right decisions. Sensors can detect temperature, humidity, biomass, presence of diseases, and much more.

All this is done very quickly and efficiently, everything is documented and analyzed, which allows offering improvements for future crop cycles. Thanks to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), it becomes possible to help farmers make the right decisions and improve the quality of work and crops, which will also lead to reduced environmental impact. 

 Examples of real precision farming technologies

Below are examples of technologies used in precision farming. Note – this is not a list of features that will be available in the game with the introduction of precision farming, but simply a list of real-life precision farming capabilities.

• Drones and satellites are used for mapping and remote monitoring of fields.
• Onboard computers and GPS systems in vehicles provide precise navigation and automated steering.
• Agricultural robots (AgBots) are an incredibly interesting technology. For example, autonomous tractors. They operate on autopilot. Everything is done automatically. The farmer intervenes only in case of an emergency.
• Various sensors allow identifying different changes, making soil care much easier. Each zone has its own sensors, allowing individual attention and improvement of each zone as much as possible.
• IoT systems allow connecting the entire system to one network and transmitting data. At the same time, worker involvement is not necessary; everything is done automatically. 
• Software applications are used on various platforms for analysis and information management, field mapping, animal tracking, and much more.
• Machine learning (artificial intelligence). Drones, robots, and various devices are equipped with high-quality AI based on IoT systems. The computer receives data, generates possible solutions and improvements. Meanwhile, the AI learns and optimizes future proposals for problem-solving or quality improvement based on decisions made.

Precision Farming in Farming Simulator

The features of precision farming have been listed above. You will be able to check out the DLC itself on December 8, 2020! Stay tuned for updates!