Precision Agriculture Technicians
Apply geospatial technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), to agricultural production or management activities, such as pest scouting, site-specific pesticide application, yield mapping, or variable-rate irrigation. May use computers to develop or analyze maps or remote sensing images to compare physical topography with data on soils, fertilizer, pests, or weather.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Document and maintain records of precision agriculture information.
- Collect information about soil or field attributes, yield data, or field boundaries, using field data recorders and basic geographic information systems (GIS).
- Divide agricultural fields into georeferenced zones, based on soil characteristics and production potentials.
- Use geospatial technology to develop soil sampling grids or identify sampling sites for testing characteristics such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium content, pH, or micronutrients.
- Create, layer, and analyze maps showing precision agricultural data, such as crop yields, soil characteristics, input applications, terrain, drainage patterns, or field management history.
- Install, calibrate, or maintain sensors, mechanical controls, GPS-based vehicle guidance systems, or computer settings.
- Analyze geospatial data to determine agricultural implications of factors such as soil quality, terrain, field productivity, fertilizers, or weather conditions.
- Compare crop yield maps with maps of soil test data, chemical application patterns, or other information to develop site-specific crop management plans.
- Identify spatial coordinates, using remote sensing and Global Positioning System (GPS) data.
- Analyze data from harvester monitors to develop yield maps.
- Apply precision agriculture information to specifically reduce the negative environmental impacts of farming practices.
- Demonstrate the applications of geospatial technology, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), automatic tractor guidance systems, variable rate chemical input applicators, surveying equipment, or computer mapping sof
- Draw or read maps, such as soil, contour, or plat maps.
- Recommend best crop varieties or seeding rates for specific field areas, based on analysis of geospatial data.
- Provide advice on the development or application of better boom-spray technology to limit the overapplication of chemicals and to reduce the migration of chemicals beyond the fields being treated.
- Program farm equipment, such as variable-rate planting equipment or pesticide sprayers, based on input from crop scouting and analysis of field condition variability.
- Prepare reports in graphical or tabular form, summarizing field productivity or profitability.
- Participate in efforts to advance precision agriculture technology, such as developing advanced weed identification or automated spot spraying systems.
- Analyze remote sensing imagery to identify relationships between soil quality, crop canopy densities, light reflectance, and weather history.
- Advise farmers on upgrading Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment to take advantage of newly installed advanced satellite technology.
- Contact equipment manufacturers for technical assistance, as needed.
- Identify areas in need of pesticide treatment by analyzing geospatial data to determine insect movement and damage patterns.
- Operate drone technology to capture aerial imagery and data for crop monitoring and analysis.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
97%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
96%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
96%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
87%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
84%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
79%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
79%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
77%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
77%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
76%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
75%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
73%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
72%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
66%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
64%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
62%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
61%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
61%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
60%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
60%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
59%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
59%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
59%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
57%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
56%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
54%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
54%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
54%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
54%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
53%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
51%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
50%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
50%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
47%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
45%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
44%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
44%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
43%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
43%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
36%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
36%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
35%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
35%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
32%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
32%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
29%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
29%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
29%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
28%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
26%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
23%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
21%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
15%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
9%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
6%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
2%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
2%
Education
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Post-secondary certificate
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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