Precision Ag Research -- 2008

Background and Highlights
K. Elliott Nowels

In 2008, it was our intent to dig deeper into the characteristics of experienced, long-time users of precision agriculture to gain clear stories of success and further evidence to supply growers who may still be on the fence. Specific intentions we established:

• Determine what specific factor(s) were instrumental in growers’ final decision to purchase Precision Ag technology.
• Evaluate growers’ expectations for Precision Ag technology prior to purchase.
• Determine which Precision Ag technologies were purchased first and why.
• Determine and prioritize the benefits growers receive from using Precision Ag technology.
• Determine what, if any, impact Precision Ag technology has had on increasing crop yields and by how much.
• Identify specific crop inputs and whether growers have realized a cost savings for these inputs by using Precision Ag technology.
• Quantify the amount of savings, if any, growers have realized for each input.
• Determine the number of years to gain back, if able, the initial Precision Ag investment.

In this effort, we focused our attention on growers of corn, cotton and soybeans. We worked to vary our geography to gain additional understanding of factors that vary across cropping patterns. In order to be a part of the study, growers a) had to be using at least three different components of precision technology (GPS, mapping, yield monitors, and so on), b) they had to have at least five years experience using the technology.

Twenty of these “super-users” were identified in each crop. First, they received a qualifying survey with details needed for the research and once they were enrolled and had time to collect the information needed from their records, an in-depth phone survey was conducted.

Top-line highlights of the findings:

• The primary reasons growers give for adopting Precision Ag in their farming operation were to compare and evaluate fertility levels in various areas of their fields, determine yield variability and identify problem areas, such as areas with high moisture content.
• The characteristics of many Precision Ag users in this study is that they are eager to learn and try new things and often describe themselves as cutting edge and open to improving their operation by using technology.
• Growers indicate that the top benefits they receive using Precision Ag technology are the ability to apply chemicals and fertilizer where needed and greater profitability due to lower input costs.
• The majority of growers did not have pre-purchase expectations in terms of how much money they would save using this technology, but most felt they would get back their initial investment within a few years. In addition, few growers had pre-purchase expectations in terms of additional yield they might receive. Growers were more interested in reducing input costs and identifying problem areas in their field.
• Savings in fertilizer and herbicide costs far outweigh the savings growers see in other inputs they use. Growers emphasized that with increasing fertilizer costs, input savings becomes more important to them.