Agriculture professionals around the world depend on spatial analysis to better understand how features within different landscapes interact. This information enables them to make decisions focused on optimizing operational efficiency and improved economic returns. GIS lends the perfect platform to professionals working with every scale of agricultural production from the farm field to entire country landscapes. The technology is becoming fully integrated and widely accepted for assisting government agencies in managing programs that support farmers and protect the environment.

GIS offers agriculturists various data management opportunities to analyze ways to increase production, reduce input costs, and manage farmland efficiently. With GIS, farmers can easily model agronomic parameters and processes; study agriculture data over time, including market prices, disease outbreaks, and transportation networks; increase food safety standards; customize applications for specific needs; distribute vital information; and perform many other important functions.

Advancements in GIS technology enable farmers to analyze and update data from the field with handheld computers, which provide quick visual creations with query abilities. In turn, farmers can map relevant information such as crop stress from pest infestations, nutrient deficiencies, and water shortages from the field.

For more information, contact Max Crandall, Esri (e-mail: mcrandall@esri.com) or Nick Thomas, Esri (e-mail: nthomas@esri.com) or visit www.esri.com/agriculture.