Have you ever stopped for a moment to consider the practical effects of technology in your life? Perhaps you have, and you may have marveled at what a unique time in history we live. The last generation has probably experienced more technological change than any other in history. Breakthroughs that once might have rocked our perceptions of the world have become almost mundane, a regular occurrence. Sometimes it becomes difficult to evaluate their real significance. However, your enrolment in this course indicates that you have caught at least a glimpse of that significance in one area, that of the application of GPS technology in agriculture. Site-specific agriculture, or precision farming, as some have called it, is an emerging approach to agriculture, which makes use of several of the latest technologies. The Global Positioning System (GPS), the subject of this course, is one of the key technologies that enable the practice of site-specific agriculture. You may already be aware of the impact of GPS on agriculture, but perhaps it would be useful to review some of those applications before we get started. GPS technology gives us the opportunity to accurately determine our geographical position, and to use that position measurement in various agricultural operations. Yield mapping, for example, is an important application of GPS.

If we can measure our yield while harvesting, and link that data with position data, then display it in the form of a map, we can learn valuable lessons about the production of our land. If we can link soil sample data, topography, weed and insect pressures, salinity and other soil conditions to position data, we can learn much about our farming practices. And if we can use position measurements to apply seed, fertilizer and chemicals strategically to optimize their effectiveness while minimizing costs, we can improve our bottom line. There are, potentially, many ways that GPS can be used to strengthen our farm practices. Some of these are still only ideas; others have already proven their potential. One thing is sure: GPS is a powerful tool, and one that promises much if we can effectively harness its power. But it is only one of several technologies, scientific disciplines and--that old difficult-to-define quality--‘common sense’, that must work together to deliver the necessary results. Ongoing efforts to apply these technologies continue on several fronts. Technology must be blended with agronomic knowledge and proven management practices in ways that have never been done before. As we continue to apply the new technology to the age-old field of agriculture, the challenge, as always, is to acquire the knowledge and skills, which will take us where we want to go. This course is a part of that process.