Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies on South Dakota Farms

By Deepthi Kolady

A farm-level survey conducted in 2017 regarding adoption rates of precision agricultural technology (PAT) on South Dakota farms gives some insight on how PATs are being adopted on South Dakota farms. The survey collected data regarding adoption rates of yield monitors (YM), GPS guidance (GPS), and variable rate technologies (VRT), as well as conservation agriculture adoption and overall farmer characteristics. The adoption rates were above national adoption rates observed by previous research on the topic using 2010 USDA data (Schimmelpfennig, 2016). Adoption rates also followed a similar sequential pattern of adoption, with farmer’s adopting YM and GPS prior to adopting VRT. Table 1 highlights the results from our 2017 survey that collected the 2016 farm level data and the USDA survey in 2010. Besides being six years later, South Dakota Adoption rates may be higher because farms that responded to the survey were on average larger, than the USDA data on South Dakota average farm size. Larger farm size was also a factor in increased adoption rates (Schimmelpfennig, 2016).

Table 1-1. Adoption Rate of Precision Agriculture Technologies on South Dakota Farms.

Sources: Author's Survey and USDA, 2010.

Precision Agriculture Technology (PAT) Adoption and Farmer Characteristics

In addition to adoption rates, the researchers evaluated the characteristics of the farmers who adopted and those who did not. Data collected included several farm characteristics such as farm size, type of farm, acres owned and rented, and involvement in government incentive programs. Data collected also included farmers’ characteristics such as age, off-farm employment, gross income, and education. For two of the characteristics, gross income and education, a scoring system of 1-6 was used, to create an average “score” to help determine if there were any differences between adopters and non-adopters. A higher score denoted a higher level of gross income and education while a lower score denoted the inverse.

Yield Monitor (YM) Adoption

Overall YM adoption was 68.7%. Farmers who adopted YM were about 3.4 years younger than those who did not adopt this technology (58.4 vs. 61.8). They were also nearly half as likely to have off-farm employment (17.3% vs. 32.8%), and less likely to have cattle. Additionally, their farm size was greater than non-adopters, with more than double the cropland (2,316.7 vs. 1,023 acres), while having less pasture and hay ground. The gross farm income score was significantly higher (3.61 vs. 2.37), again showing increased size was a determinant of the adoption of YM. The education level score was lower for YM adopters than non-adopters (3.43 vs. 3.59) implying education level may have a negative effect on YM adoption.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Guidance Systems Adoption

Overall GPS adoption rate for farmers was 76.3%. This rate was higher than YM adoption, however the survey question asked whether the farmer used at all GPS, a custom applicator, or a consultant. Addition of these adopters raised the percentage of overall adoption. Since most farmers harvest their own crops and own their own harvest equipment, the adoption of YM is more farmer specific than GPS adoption. If one were to look only at GPS adoption, the overall percentage will be lower at around 59%, fitting the sequential pattern. The average age of the adopter is lower (58.8 vs. 61.6). Again, off-farm employment for adopters was nearly half as likely (19.3% vs. 34.0%). GPS adoption was the only PAT that had a higher likelihood in a cattle operation. Farm Size was also larger for adopters (3,078.7 acres vs. 1,382.2). Cropland acres for GPS adopters was nearly 2.5 times larger (2,223.70 acres) than non-adopters (893.4 acres). Gross farm income scores were higher for adopters and education scores lower than non-adopters.