Abstract: The objective of this paper is to introduce the recent research progress and future prospect of digital farming techniques. Digital farming is to develop the key techniques and application systems for acquisition, analysis, management and utilization of information in crop production system by comprehensively using digital techniques and realizing digital expression and integration of information flow in crop production system. In recent years, thorough and systematic research work on the key techniques and application systems of digital farming have been carried out in Hi-tech Key Laboratory of Information Agriculture of Jiangsu Province, and remarkable advances have been achieved in the areas of crop growth simulation model, crop management knowledge model, non-destructive crop growth monitoring, spatial information management in crop production system, and decision support system for digital crop management. The future prospect of digital farming is directed toward informationization and digitalization of crop production components and processes, by comprehensive development of the key techniques for information management of agricultural resources, automatic monitoring of crop conditions, digital simulation of crop processes, visual design of crop plants, quantitative expression of farming knowledge, and precision control of production management. Further, the integrative software and hardware systems on the basis of digital farming techniques will be constructed for realizing digitalization, precision, visualization and network service in monitoring, prediction, design, management and control of crop production system. Digitalization of farming system will facilitate the informationization and modernization of agricultural industry.

Key words: Digital farming, Research progress, Research prospect, Review