Benefits of Precision Agriculture

In addition to recording data and analyzing information for better decisions, Precision Agriculture is helping farmers find patterns in each field. Armed with this growing collection of data, you can make improved production plans for each field, then fine-tune them each year to increase profit margins. It’s a process of continuous improvement, much like what you’ve been doing for years.

While not inclusive, the benefits in applying the tools of Precision Agriculture include:

• Fixing field problems (drainage, compaction, etc).
• Making variable rate applications to better regulate inputs and increase outputs (e.g. better margins).
• Identifying land values based on accurate yields for farm sales and/or leasing agreements.
• Better risk management through more accurate crop insurance planning, often resulting in reduced insurance premiums.
• Using lightbar guidance in chemical and tillage applications to reduce implement overlap, save fuel, accurately apply crop protectants and fertilizers, as well as extend accurate field work into the night.
• Environmental benefits accrued by applying crop protection products more accurately and having verification records.
• Documentation and as-applied records of who, what, when, and how much was put on the crop or field, as well as where materials were applied.

The dollar payback benefits on variable rate site-specific technologies are currently being verified on a wider scale in farmer fields.  Because FIELDSTAR® technology is so flexible, excellent results are being achieved in variable rate programs, including crop chemicals applied with AGCO products, like the Spra-Coupe® and Willmar® line of products. “As-applied” documentation also benefits results as well as supporting environmental values.

Seeing the light
Recent developments such as “lightbar guidance” systems also are adding paybacks for farmers.  As observers have stated, “If lightbar guidance would have been the first step in precision agriculture, everybody would be doing it now.

Parallel swathing in spray applications is an obvious benefit. But tillage can produce some of the biggest savings – up to 17% in time, fuel and wear just by using a DGPS submeter lightbar guidance system to eliminate implement overlap of one foot on 160 acres with a 24-foot tillage tool.

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Hurtt Equipment, Inc | Highway 18 South | Hoople, ND 58243
Ph: (701) 894-6363 | Fax: (701) 894-6579