Precision Agriculture

Develop new technologies that address current challenges in agriculture, horticulture and natural resource management using expertise from the latest in science, technology and mathematics to underpin innovations in plant and animal production.

Precision agricultural technologies embrace all facets of agriculture developing innovative, low cost and accessible technology for industry and farmers. The future job market outlook for a precision agriculture specialist is good and increasing.

Researcher using a drone

Tasks common in Precision Agriculture
  • Apply geospatial technologies such as global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) to agricultural production and management activities
  • Collect information about soil and field attributes, creating, layering and analysing maps showing precision agricultural data, maintaining records of precision agriculture information, analysing geospatial data in order to determine possible implications for the farm
  • Formulate soil management plans, for long term strategic soil sampling programs, zonal paddock management and variable rate applications
  • Streamline variable rate of application for combinations of soil pH, phosphorous, potassium, gypsum and nitrogen measurements, to match fertiliser rates to nutrient availability and determining areas to invest in soil repair programs
  • Utilise satellite imagery to measure crop growth to provide a firm base for farm management decisions
Some industries that employ Precision Agriculture graduates
Aptitudes for this career

Helpful job skills include report writing ability, analytical skills, good critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, active listening, good communication skills, good IT skills, and knowledge of agricultural industry.

Look out for outreach activities in precision agriculture at UNE for schools, as well as tertiary and vocational education students, to build capacity of our future farmers.

Precision Agriculture Research Group