A recent publication from PrecisionAg.com http://www.precisionag.com/article/32148/soybean-research-summary-downloadable-pdf-now-available inquired of the reasons farmers use precision ag. The main thing that stood out to me besides row crop farmers love of machinery, is the fact that there are really only two reasons to adopt any type of increased precision in your farming system.
1. Cost savings - these normally amount to reduced input application. GPS soil testing and VR fertilizer application are used to avoid over application of P & K. Most early adopters of variable rate seeding have done so to reduce total units of seed purchased, either through guidance, row shut off or reduced populations on their thinner soil types. From my point of view these motives are fine but are somewhat short sighted and not very inspiring, particularly for the high yield kings of the neighborhood that know the best way to reduce ALL input costs is to raise higher yields.
2. Increased yield - Fewer people, but still a significant amount, responded that their main reason for adopting variable rate was yield gains. Of all aspects the stand out was variable rate seeding with nearly 60% indicating yield gains were main reason for adoption. Still, guidance, row shut off, and other implement controls were touted as a means to increase yield by improving placement. This is unfortunate but very revealing of the state of the industry. Variety to soil matching or variable rate seeding was not touted.
What do we need to change this? Please comment!
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