The project output will provide a first estimation of the major soil groupings associated cropping systems and broad geographic location of land where environmental and farm profitability benefits might be expected from the practical implementation of precision farming or site specific farming practices on arable farms -–i.e. the use of variable rate application of inputs within existing field boundaries. Precision farming is an important new approach which, if used in suitable situations, has potential to reduce environmental pollution from agriculture and to improve farm profitability. The strategic information from this project will allow: i) MAFF to focus R&D to the broad soil types and cropping systems that offer the clearest potential for the exploitation of precision farming technologies. Farmers and consultants to focus attention and resources where they are most likely to offer maximum potential for genuine benefits from site specific management. Objective (Combined Objectives of Projects CE0166 and CE0168) 1. To quantify practically significant soil variability within arable fields in 10-12 pilot areas where detailed soil and field boundary data are available. 2. A simple classification scheme will be devised indicating the likelihood of practically significant variability being present which is likely to provide benefit from implementation of precision farming methods. The scheme is likely to range from 'ver uniform land, low chance of benefit' to 'very variable land, large benefits likely from precision farming'. Since the detail of many existing mapped areas is insufficient to provide statistically reliable evidence, the classification will inevitably rely heavily on the subjective field experience of ADAS and SSLRC staff, in addition to existing soil survey data. 3. The classification scheme will be applied to all National Soil Map units covering predominantly arable areas in England and Wales. 4. Based on the National Soil Map units, arable cropping areas will be classified according to their potential for benefiting from precision farming. The soil types will be classified according to their potential for benefiting from precision farming. The soil types, land area and associated cropping in the different classes will be mapped and evaluated. Prioritised recommendations for the targeting of future R&D will be given.