Modern cars we drive every day to get from point A to point B do a lot of the work for us: cruise control, automatic braking, lane sensing technology, and even autopilot capabilities offered by some manufactures make driving much easier and safer. The same is happening in the agriculture sector as automatic steering is becoming more and more widespread on farms in developed countries. If you’re still not using autosteering systems on your farm, you need to start thinking about making the transition soon. And we will help you make an informed decision by discussing all the benefits of automatic steering in the agriculture sector.

What is automatic steering used for on a farm?

Autosteer systems are installed on tractors and other machinery to guide them along straight, curved, etc. parallel lines across fields. Automatic steering allows farmers to plant, till, fertilize, and harvest their fields with a level of accuracy that was impossible to reach before autosteer systems were invented.

Advantages of automatic steering

Less farmer fatigue

Trying to drive a tractor along straight lines all day is incredibly tiring, which is why farmers who work without autosteer systems quickly get fatigued and the quality of their work gets worse. Automatic steering prevents this.

No overlap between passes

No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to avoid overlap when guiding a tractor manually. Even a small overlap of a few inches can add up if there are hundreds of rows on your field. Using an autosteer system allows you to eliminate overlaps and gaps between rows.

Lower expenses

Automatic steering systems allow farmers to save a significant amount of money by reducing the usage of resources. For instance, since autosteer systems eliminate overlaps during agricultural operations, farmers use less fuel and time to cover each section of the field. Plus, they allow agriculture professionals to use less fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, etc. For instance, farmers can ​​save around 120 euro per hectare by installing a FieldBee automatic steering system on their tractors. Similarly, economists from the University of Kentucky have found that the use of autosteer tractor guidance on farms increased net returns by up to $3.35 per acre.

Reduced use of chemicals

Overuse of fertilizers and pesticides is a common issue many farmers battle. By reducing the amount of chemicals used in your fields you can save money, make your operation more eco-friendly, and improve yields, as each plant will get the precise amount of fertilizer, herbicide, etc. necessary.

Final thoughts

Today, automatic steering systems are not optional, they are a must for every farmer who wants to stay competitive and keep costs low. Learn about affordable autosteer solutions from FieldBee and improve the way you farm today.