Thinking about getting into precision agriculture? Many farmers have adopted technologies like variable-rate technology, guidance systems, and automatic section control.

Here are some benefits, according to Shannon Norwood, an Ag Management Solutions Consultant for Tri-Green Equipment, a John Deere dealership with locations in Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi. Norwood spoke at the InfoAg 2011 Conference in Springfield, Illinois, earlier this month. Precision agriculture can enable you to:

·      Operate longer hours. This is particularly beneficial when weather threatens field operations. “In fall, it’s enabled (southern) farmers to get the corn out before hurricanes come through,” she says.

·      Reduce physical fatigue. “Several growers have commented to me it makes a huge difference when planting or combining,” she says.

·      Watch implement performance closer. “When planting, you can really focus on what the planter is doing,” she says. “It gives you the opportunity at harvest to watch the combine head closer.”