Company Rep: Chad Pfitzer, Trimble

It's not hard to get growers to buy into technology. What's hard is getting smaller growers to take the next step. While the theories may sound good, farmers believe in what they can see and touch.

“Developing a demo site in white space with more smaller growers just seemed to make sense in trying to showcase what it is we believe this technology can do for them,” says Chad Pfitzer, Trimble. “This project will do just that.”

The key to the success of this project is the local dealer. Because without their labor and knowledge, this type of project is not going to work. “And, conversely, I do not believe a dealership has the ability to devote all of the equipment for long-term use; it needs corporate support,” says Pfitzer. “That's where Trimble comes in.”

In 2011, the project participants will fine-tune their process, which means getting every acre on Masteller's farm under guidance lines and eventually retrieving the data.