What type of data does a yield monitor collect?

A yield monitor is a sophisticated device used in agricultural settings, specifically designed to collect and analyze real-time data regarding crop yields during the harvesting process. The primary function of a yield monitor is to determine the quantity of crop being harvested from a specific area of farmland.

These monitors work by measuring the flow of the harvested crop through the harvesting equipment, usually combined with GPS technology to correlate the yield data with specific field locations. This allows farmers to gain insights into how different areas of their fields perform under varying conditions, helping them make informed decisions about future planting, fertilization, and cultivation strategies.

While soil characteristics such as temperature and acidity, crop rotation schedules, and equipment performance metrics are important aspects of agricultural management, they do not fall under the specific scope of what a yield monitor captures. Each of these factors can influence yield but are monitored using different tools and methods, separate from the yield monitoring system during the harvesting phase.