Why Precision Agriculture is the Key to Ag’s Sustainable Future

By Gregg Wartgow

For agriculture industry stakeholders who’d like to see improvements in the area of sustainability, it is becoming clear that precision agriculture technology must play a prominent role. The beauty of this technology is that, to the typical farmer, it is also the key to becoming more productive, competitive, and profitable.

“Precision agriculture is the solution,” said AEM Senior Vice President Curt Blades, who’s responsible for the strategic direction of all agriculture programs and services for AEM members. “There is technology available today, as well as new technologies on the cusp of being released, that allow farmers to do so much more than they’ve ever been able to do, and with less.”

Blades was part of a virtual roundtable discussion hosted by AEM member company Topcon on Feb. 4. Several ag industry experts shared their thoughts on the state of precision agriculture, what the benefits of these technologies are, and how technology providers are taking steps to make sure these revolutionizing solutions are available to all types of farmers in all corners of the world.

“It’s easy to understand that a tractor driving across a field in a straight line will burn less fuel, which means it will produce fewer emissions,” Blades shared as an example. "Then you start talking about things like reduced overlap, and the more precise application of fertilizer and crop-protection inputs. The sustainability benefits grow exponentially with precision ag.”

“We’re seeing up to an 80% adoption rate on certain crops and in certain parts of the country,” Blades said. “And the thing is, the maps and data a technology like auto steer helps generate are what often encourage a farmer to begin using additional precision technologies. The goal is a fully integrated precision agriculture system.”

One challenge the industry has faced is getting more of these technologies into the hands of more farmers. Availability and affordability have been barriers to adoption in many instances. Precision ag technology providers like Topcon are working to address that.

“The biggest request we hear across the globe is that farmers with a small tractor want the same technology that’s on a large tractor,” said Antonio Marzia, executive vice president and general manager of Topcon Agriculture. “To be honest, there is sometimes more technology on a tractor today than a car.