Effectiveness of Precision Ag

1. Effectiveness of Precision Ag A brief summary according to studies by Elliot Nowell and Precisionagworks.com

2. Precision Ag • Many producers are questioning the adoption of precision ag • Will it pay off? • Is it worth it? • Will it work for me?? • “We can’t predict the future but we can learn from the past.”

3. Research • Studied 600 growers with each a minimum of 500 acres • 336 claimed to be current users of precision ag • 264 “non-adaptors” did not use precision ag on farm • Two studies • “understanding the key barriers to adopting precision ag technology and gain a view of the benefits” • Clear understanding of the success to provide non adapters with better formed opinions

4. 8 in 10 are profitable • “for every 10 crop producers who’ve adopted precision ag technology, eight report that its made them more money” • Being able to make smarter decisions adds up to more effectively spreading your management across all aspects of your operation, saving time, maximizing inputs and gaining better return.

5. 8 in 10 are profitable • This 80% was then questioned on how/why they believed they had seen an increase in profits.

6. $5-$9 more per acre • Precision ag institute research shows an average savings of $2-5/acre • The 80% polled say anywhere from 5-9 in savings

7. Lowers Cost or Raises Yield? • Growers say that lowering costs is the key component. • However these views differ depending on the crop for the benefits of GPS

8. More numbers… • About 75% of all adopters said that a GPS has increased their profitability. • 80% said use of an electronic controller to vary application or seeding rates has increased profitability. • 60% of adopters said that a yield monitor has increased profitability. • About 56% of corn/soybean/wheat and 88% of cotton adopters said that a yield monitor has increased profitability in terms of both saving money and aiding increased yields.

9. Why not adopt? • Start up cost • Farm too small • Farmers too old

10. Why not adopt? • Start-up costs were the main concern • The idea that they are too small was second • Prices of technology vary depending on your goals and current operation • Prices for operating many aspects of precision ag have come down even as the capabilities of the equipment have improved

11. Its not as hard as it looks • Some growers believe that the adoption of precision ag is too difficult • However… in many cases… • "Once you get it programmed, it’s simple," says one wheat grower surveyed from Missouri. "We just read through the guide and figured it out.” • As precision ag is growing the technology is becoming more advanced • With this though the major companies have realized this concern and are addressing it • More technical support • Better customer services • Simpler technologies • Plug and play systems to enhance compatibility and reduce complexity • Even the addition of specialty precision ag services to aid farmers in the data interpretation

12. Questions/Comments/Opinions???