Hurricane satellite imagery from spacePrecision farming is about to get more accurate — but not without some growing pains. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is preparing to update the datum used for GPS in 2026. According to Dr. John Fulton, a professor and extension specialist at Ohio State University, a datum is a mathematical model of the Earth used to calculate positions with satellites.

The change is expected to increase accuracy for precision farming, but it may take some time for farmers to adjust. Pre-defined A-B lines in fields may no longer be accurate, as the shift could move them 3.5 feet. Farmers may need to remap fields and update equipment software after the change.

Read more on GPS datum updates here.