CU’s Intelligent Farm Research helping Farmers

One of civilization’s most ancient occupations is hoeing a new row in the digital age. Farmers for centuries checked their crops by picking up handfuls of soil, walking fields looking for insects or disease and watching the weather. Today, Clemson University researchers are working to create the Intelligent Farm. It will use computers, satellites, field sensors and cell towers to provide real-time information to improve decision-making and enhance farm prosperity, environmental sustainability and food security. The goal of the Intelligent Farm is to provide the latest tools to growers and consultants, such as Clemson Extension agents and specialists, who can make better-informed decisions about where and how much water and fertilizer are needed. Funded in part by the Clemson University Experiment Station with resources from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA and the state of South Carolina, Institute of Applied Ecology researchers expect to realize dramatic benefits. Previous research on targeted applications has shown a 15% savings of water and a 25% energy savings, leading to increased farm profits.