Yield mapping is another important technique in Precision Farming. A yield mapping system measures and records the amount of grain being harvested at any point in the field. To produce a yield map, the harvester must be equipped with a GPS receiver and a yield monitor. The data stored on this card can be transferred to a computer equipped with mapping software to produce yield map.
Yield maps document both natural and man-made sources of variability. The way harvesting machinery is operated can influence the accuracy of the resulting yield maps. Operators must understand how yield monitors record yield data. Most combine yield mapping systems are designed so that data recording is halted when the header is lifted. The maps identify areas of high and low yields so that inputs can be adjusted.
Profitability of precision farming is as variable as field conditions. In highly uniform fields, better knowledge of soil and plant parameters is not as likely to result in greater economic return. Producers who use site-specific management must recognize that information becomes another input to the system, and that it has a cost. By closely matching application rates with crop needs, profit potential can be increased.
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