Precision Agriculture Management Zones & Variable Rate Prescription Creation Using QGIS

Unlock the power of precision agriculture with this practical, hands-on mini-course designed to help you create accurate, multi-year customized management zones and variable rate prescriptions using entirely free satellite NDVI data and the open-source QGIS software. This comprehensive course is perfect for anyone looking to deeply understand and personally control their precision agriculture data without needing expensive paid software.

Throughout the course, you’ll follow clearly explained step-by-step instructions, understanding exactly what you’re doing and why it matters at each stage. Every crucial step is illustrated by video lesson and supported by high-quality explanation text and graphics, ensuring clarity and ease of understanding. Expect to spend a day or less thoroughly working through this detailed, hands-on process, resulting in reliable, multi-year management zones you’ll benefit from for years. This method isn’t designed for quick, high-volume processing—it’s a meticulous, thorough approach ideal for farmers investing one-time effort for lasting, personalized value.

What You’ll Learn:

• Sourcing Quality Satellite Imagery:
  • Selecting clear, cloud-free satellite images from multiple typical growing seasons.
  • Identifying imagery that accurately reflects peak crop biomass and typical field conditions.
• Processing NDVI Data:
  • Generating NDVI maps from satellite imagery using red and near-infrared (NIR) spectral bands.
  • Interpreting NDVI data to clearly identify and verify consistent patterns of field variability.
• Creating Multi-Year Management Zones:
  • Normalizing NDVI data into Productivity Index layers, ensuring each year’s data equally influences the final zones.
  • Combining multiple years into a robust Productivity Index, capturing true long-term productivity patterns.
  • Applying detailed smoothing and reclassification techniques clearly explained to produce practical management zones.
• Developing Variable Rate Prescriptions:
  • Converting your customized management zones into shapefiles compatible with all standard agricultural VR controllers.
  • Adjusting and customizing zone boundaries to incorporate your agronomic insights, giving you full control.
  • Adding product-specific variable rate values directly within QGIS, creating field-ready prescriptions.
• Practical Verification:
  • Testing and validating your prescription files using online simulators like the John Deere CommandARM™, ensuring flawless field integration.

Who Should Enroll:

This course is ideally suited for:

• Farmers looking for hands-on control and long-term precision agriculture benefits.
• Agronomy consultants who want a deeper understanding of creating robust, customized management zones.
• Agricultural educators who need a practical, detailed approach to teach precision agriculture.
• Agriculture industry professionals seeking thorough insight into multi-year zone creation and VR prescriptions.

No previous GIS experience is necessary. This course provides comprehensive, easy-to-follow instructions, ensuring participants confidently develop practical skills.

Course Outcome:

By completing this course, you’ll gain practical expertise in creating personalized multi-year management zones and accurate variable rate prescriptions using free satellite data and QGIS. You’ll achieve a truly customized understanding of your field’s productivity potential, helping reduce input costs, improve efficiency, and enhance your agricultural decisions.

Enroll today to take direct control of your precision agriculture practices—personalized, precise, and profitable!