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Solar Activity to Peak in 2025
The steering systems on tractors and harvesting machines are expected to be influenced by the peak in solar activity in 2025. An expert explains how farmers can react to ensure precise corn planting.
Impact of Steering Systems on Tractor Due to Solar Activity
Steering systems have become standard in modern tractors. Tractors and harvesting machines can navigate fields with precision to the centimeter. Farmers use them mainly for planting corn and whenever precise guidance with correction data is required. However, the increasing solar activity could affect this precision. In 2025, the sun will reach its peak in the current activity cycle. This could disrupt communication signals and therefore the operation of tractors.
How Farmers Should Prepare
Land machinery requires accurate positioning through satellite signals not only for steering but also for other functions, such as shutting off partial widths (Section Control). Many use steering systems for planting that rely on SAPOS or other GNSS correction data. Intense solar activity can interfere with satellite communication signals. Farmers can continue to use correction data, but it may be temporarily less accurate. Many modern systems continue to work reliably even during strong solar activity.
Expert Advice for Farmers
Cord-Hinrich Jahn, Director of the State Office for Geoinformation and Land Surveying Lower Saxony (LGLN), explains: "The influences on GNSS correction data such as SAPOS or other services are significantly stronger in the midday hours than in the morning or evening hours. Therefore, farmers should avoid the midday hours when expecting stronger disturbances. If solar storms are reported, they should, if possible, refrain from tasks requiring high accuracy. The activities usually subside significantly after a few hours and work can then resume."
Estimating Solar Activity - How Farmers Can Check the I95 Index for Free
The I95 Index indicates the current level of solar activity. Farmers can view the I95 Index, for example, on the websites of SAPOS services. If the I95 Index falls between values 4 and 8, strong disturbances are expected.
Satellite Receivers Countering Solar Activity
Satellite receiver manufacturers are aware of the issue with solar storms. They are seeking technical solutions to provide reliable positioning data despite high solar activity. Trimble offers IonoGuard, for example, which is available on GNSS receivers like the NAV-900. It attempts to compensate for ionospheric disturbances computationally, making the RTK signal more stable and improving positioning during high solar activity.