GPS disruptions force Ukrainian farmers to bring mechanical markers back to farm machinery

GPS disruptions caused by electronic warfare systems are forcing Ukrainian agricultural companies to adapt their field operations. In Chernihiv and Sumy regions, agricultural holding IMC is already carrying out some tillage operations without autopilot systems, according to the company’s Production Director Oleksandr Hirman.

The lack of stable satellite navigation creates the greatest difficulties during operations that require precise machinery movement, including planting, spraying and fertilizer application. Loss of GPS signals can slow fieldwork and make it more difficult for machinery to follow accurate passes across fields.

To operate without satellite navigation, IMC has returned to a simpler solution — foam markers. The company is installing them on all planters and sprayers. The system leaves a visible mark in the field that operators can use to guide machinery during the next pass.

The company also used another approach during autumn fertilizer application. While GPS was available, tractors used a disc or plow body to create visible tracks in advance. Fertilizer spreaders could then follow these tracks when satellite navigation was unavailable.

Unstable GPS signals in areas affected by electronic warfare are therefore forcing farmers to combine modern machinery with mechanical and visual navigation methods. This allows fieldwork to continue even when satellite signals are disrupted, although it reduces some of the benefits of precision farming and automation.

Tags: Ukraine, war, machinery