A major shift is coming to precision agriculture, and if you rely on RTK or RTN-based GPS guidance systems, now is the time to prepare. By 2026, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) will implement a new geodetic datum-NATRF2022-which will replace the current standards NAD83 and NAVD88. While this change may sound technical, the impact on field operations, auto-steer lines, and GPS-based boundaries could be significant-anywhere from 1 to 4 meters of drift, depending on your location. That's enough to push a perfectly aligned A-B line across a property fence or throw off variable-rate input applications.

This is especially relevant for farmers using local RTK base stations or state-managed Real Time Networks (RTNs), such as those offered in Iowa and Ohio. According to Iowa State University precision ag experts Luke Fuhrer and Doug Houser, if your system is locked into the current datum, you may need to recollect GPS coordinates, transform field boundaries, and update telematics data before next spring's planting season. In short, you'll want to verify whether your guidance system is datum-aware or needs adjustment to prevent errors in 2026.

A practical example from Iowa makes this clear. A farmer near the Mississippi River has been using a local RTK base tied to NAD83 to establish highly accurate field boundaries. His setup ensures his auto-steer system never encroaches on a neighbor's property. But after the datum transition to NATRF2022, those GPS lines could shift several feet, causing his equipment to unknowingly cross that same fence-not because the field changed, but because the coordinates did.

Without proactive updates, this kind of scenario could play out across thousands of fields nationwide. Precision planting, drainage mapping, sprayer applications, and even yield monitoring zones could all become misaligned. If you've invested heavily in guidance accuracy, this datum shift could threaten the integrity of your entire farm management system.

The good news? There are steps you can take now. First, back up all your GPS data files. This includes A-B lines, boundary shapefiles, prescription maps, and control point data. Store them in multiple formats and locations-don't trust that your equipment console is doing it for you.

Next, speak with your equipment dealer. Ask whether your system supports the new NATRF2022 datum, and if not, whether there are firmware updates or planned upgrades. John Deere, Trimble, and other major RTK providers may already be building compatibility into their networks, but it's best to confirm. For those using commercial correction services, you may be in the clear-many of these networks are built with future datum transitions in mind.

If you're using local RTK or RTN corrections, the shift will likely affect you. The NGS offers a free tool-the Coordinate Conversion and Transformation Tool (NCAT)-to help farmers preview how their existing NAD83/NAVD88 coordinates will shift when translated into the new NATRF2022. It's a smart idea to run a few test points this winter to see how far your boundaries might move.

And for high-value areas-such as narrow field borders, sensitive drainage paths, or areas adjacent to infrastructure-consider recollecting GPS points physically, using updated receivers already aligned to the new datum. This gives you the highest assurance of future accuracy.

The NGS will continue its rollout through 2025 and into early 2026, and beta tools will become available for public testing. But don't wait until then to act. Making time this fall and winter to update and prepare your precision ag systems will save serious headaches when the next planting season begins.

While this transition is part of a broader national modernization effort to align the U.S. with global GNSS standards, its real-world implications will be felt right at ground level-in your tractor cab, in your telemetry dashboard, and across your acre-by-acre decision making.

Stay ahead of the curve-don't let outdated coordinates steer your operation into uncertainty. With a few tools, a little foresight, and some winter preparation, your guidance system will be ready for the new era of GPS precision in agriculture.