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Precision farming can help today's farmer meet new challengesBy D. Bruce Bosley Extension Agent/Cropping Systems Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Today's agriculture is like every other sector of our economy; the rate of technological advancement is expanding our horizons at a pace that, just two decades ago, was unimaginable. In agriculture, new technology and innovative uses of this technology have led to numerous high-efficiency farming practices collectively known as precision farming. Unfortunately, left in the wake of such rapid advancement are people who feel alienated by the technology and, therefore, in some cases, less willing to adopt it. As a consequence, several myths have arisen about precision farming. Precision farming is not a new branch or way of farming. Farmers already know how to grow crops and raise livestock. However, with increased globalization occurring in every sector of our economy, today's farmer needs to produce better, greater, cheaper, and faster in order to remain viable. Precision farming can help today's farmer meet these new challenges by applying the Right input, in the Right amount, to the Right place, at the Right time, and in the Right manner. The importance and success of precision farming lies in these five "R's." Whether it is labor, water, fertilizer, seed, or pesticide, all facets of farming have the potential to be better managed using precision farming. Like other sectors of our economy, opportunities abound in agriculture to take advantage of the tremendous technological advances we have witnessed as a result of the information technology boom. In today's farming, when the input prices such as that of a basic nitrogenous fertilizer are soaring high coupled with environmental concerns, precision farming could play an even higher role. Likewise in the current market when farmers are witnessing the historically high commodity prices, it is an opportune time to get started with precision farming practices for those who have been thinking about it for a while. For those who have been taking advantage of precision farming for a while, it is time take a couple of steps further, such as investment in Precision Guidance or Auto-steering systems, etc. Precision farming is here to stay. The myths related to precision farming are primarily because of a lack of readily available information on precision farming and/or trained and skilled personnel that could lessen the steepness of the learning curve associated with precision farming. One analogy applicable to precision farming is the advent of the combine. In the 1930s when the combine was first introduced to the farming community, it was initially met with skepticism. However, today, farming without a combine is unimaginable. Only time will tell if precision farming will follow suit with the combine and sustain the myths and misconceptions to flourish in the days and years to come. This is the first of a series of articles devoted to discussing and replacing precision farming myths with research science and farm tested experiences using this agricultural technology advancement. Transcripts of the complete series are available on request. Please contact me about this or other cropping systems or natural resource topics at 522-3200, extension 285 in Sterling or 542-3540 in Fort Morgan. 10/13/08 Date: 10/8/08
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