A method for performing driving route optimization in field cultivation having a plurality of cultivation steps, wherein in each cultivation step a predefined cultivation area is driven through by an agricultural machine in accordance with a driving route (F 1 -F 5 ) containing a plurality of parallel lanes (S 1 -S 5 ), wherein the driving route (F 1 -F 5 ) is able to be characterized by an orientation (A 1 , A 2 ) of the lanes (S 1 -S 5 ), a positioning (P 1 -P 4 ) that defines positions of all of the lanes (S 1 -S 5 ), and an order (R 1 -R 5 ) in which the lanes (S 1 -S 5 ) are driven through, wherein the orientation (A 1 , A 2 ) is the same for all cultivation steps, wherein, - for a plurality of cultivation steps, in each case an automatic optimization of the order (R 1 -R 5 ) is performed (S150) for each of a plurality of combinations of in each case an orientation (A 1 , A 2 ) and a positioning (P 1 -P 4 ) by ascertaining, from a plurality of orders (R 1 -R 5 ), an order (R opt ) that is optimum for this combination in accordance with a defined optimization criterion for performing driving route optimization, wherein in each case combinations with corresponding orientation are taken as a basis for all cultivation steps; - an automatic optimization of the driving routes (F 1 -F 5 ) for each cultivation step is performed by ascertaining (S100), from the plurality of combinations, incorporating the optimum order (R opt ) ascertained for the respective combination, a combination that is optimum in accordance with the optimization criterion and that corresponds to an optimum driving route (F opt ) for this cultivation step, wherein the orientation (A 1 , A 2 ) of the optimum driving routes (F opt ) is the same for all cultivation steps; and - control data (D) for controlling at least one agricultural machine during each of the cultivation steps are generated (S220) automatically, wherein the control data represent the optimum driving route (F opt ), wherein the optimization criterion takes into consideration each of the cultivation steps, such that the driving route (F 1 -F 5 ) for the respective cultivation step is optimized on the basis of all cultivation steps. - for a plurality of cultivation steps, in each case an automatic optimization of the order (R 1 -R 5 ) is performed (S150) for each of a plurality of combinations of in each case an orientation (A 1 , A 2 ) and a positioning (P 1 -P 4 ) by ascertaining, from a plurality of orders (R 1 -R 5 ), an order (R opt ) that is optimum for this combination in accordance with a defined optimization criterion for performing driving route optimization, wherein in each case combinations with corresponding orientation are taken as a basis for all cultivation steps; - an automatic optimization of the driving routes (F 1 -F 5 ) for each cultivation step is performed by ascertaining (S100), from the plurality of combinations, incorporating the optimum order (R opt ) ascertained for the respective combination, a combination that is optimum in accordance with the optimization criterion and that corresponds to an optimum driving route (F opt ) for this cultivation step, wherein the orientation (A 1 , A 2 ) of the optimum driving routes (F opt ) is the same for all cultivation steps; and - control data (D) for controlling at least one agricultural machine during each of the cultivation steps are generated (S220) automatically, wherein the control data represent the optimum driving route (F opt ), <EOS>