Dissemination and Adoption of Precision Agriculture

1. Dissemination and Adoption of Precision Agriculture Jenn Scott

2. Overview • Types of Technology available and in use • Adoption Trends • Dissemination of information • Education of farmers and the Recommended strategies

3. Technology Availableand in Use (4) • GPS and DGPS • GIS • Variable Rate Sensors and applicators • Sensors (field, soil, and crop) • Guidance Systems • Remote Sensing • Arial mapping/ satellite imagery • Grid soil sampling • Soil mapping • Yield monitors

4. 1998 nationwide survey of over 8,400 farmers indicated that: • 70% were not aware of PA technologies • 2% were aware but not adopters • <5% had adopted some aspect of PA (6)

5. Stages of Adoption • Awareness • Interest • Evaluation • Trial • Adoption • Awareness and the formation of attitudes is influenced by ag producer’s socio-economic characteristics.

6. Who is using PA? (3) • Corn and Soybean farmers have been the most rapid adopters of PA sensing tech. • Use of yield monitors in 1996 • 30% corn in • 25% soybeans • 10% wheat • Use of geo-referenced soil maps By 2000 • over 10% of cotton and wheat • 17% of soybeans • >20% of corn • Purdue found that 60% of studies done indicated a positive return for any given PA technology, 10% negative, and 30% mixed.

7. In The Corn Belt (2) • In 16 states, only 9% utilized some form of PA representing nearly 1/5th of the 1996 harvested acreage • 7% grid samples/maps • Of these: 70% used sampling/mapping on 64% of their acreage. • 60% sampling 2.5 acre grids w/ 43% every 4 yrs. • 4% applied fertilizer or lime with VRT • 6% yield monitors during harvest • 4% used yield monitor info to develop yield maps

8. Composite of Average Adopting Farmer • Age • 70% of adopters were under age 50 (2) • Full-time farmers • 90% listed farming as their major occupation (2) • Technology Savvy • Using computerized record systems (2) • Educated • more education would enhance the ability of the farm operator to utilize these technologies.(1)

9. Experience • older farmers are less likely to invest to due shorter planning horizons (2) • Land Tenure • Land ownership is widely believed to encourage adoption of technologies. (6) • Farm Size • Lower unit cost by spreading their fixed investment in PA over more acres -1 • Early adopters have different attributes than late or non adapters • Non adopters are very risk adverse.

10. Farm Characteristics • Size was found to be positively associated with the adoption of PA technology.(1) • Due to substantial human and financial capital resources • Probability of having all acreage under PA was also greater. • Of the 9% of corn farmers using PA, they controlled 19% of the corn acreage, indication adoption has occurred primarily on the larger farms. • Large family farm, very large family farms, and non-family farms account for 61% of production. (8) • Over 50% of farms sales were >$250,000(2) • 18% grossed <$100,000 in 1996(2)

11. How do we educate farmers about their choices and about how to use the technology? • How do we get them to adopt PA technologies?

12. Barriers to Adoption (6) • Uncertainty in returns due to adoption • High fixed cost of investment and info acquisition • Lack of demonstrated effects on yield • Input use and environmental performance (5) • Lack of appropriate service centers and professionals(2)

13. Benefits of PA • Make more informed management decisions • Improve input allocations • Be more efficient • Lower production costs • Improve Crop Yield / Increase profit margin. • Reduce chemical and fertilizer costs through more efficient application. • Reduce pollution. (5)

14. Dissemination of Information (10) • So far, info has been targeted towards the “early adopter” producers rather than main stream producers. • Only recently have they targeted advisors, crop consultants and dealers. • Oriented toward understanding concepts rather than functionality of equipment or software. • As PA progresses, the industry will have to produce a range of info for all skill levels.

15. Methods of Dissemination • Research Publications refereed journals • Newsletters • Extension Bulletins • Industry Guides • Internet • CD’s (10)

16. Teaching PA • Teaching PA in one talk or hour lecture is impossible • Field Days • Conferences and Workshops • Internet and web-based classes

17. Field Days • Allows for learning ways to practically apply technologies and management practices to individual situations. • Provides opportunity to become acquainted with what is available • Some hands-on access to tech: opportunity to try out field computers, DGPS equip, GPS software, guidance systems and other tech. w/o investing large amounts of money.

18. Field Days, cont (12) • Connects growers who lack local experts in PA tech with people who can help answer questions and solve problems. • Must be carefully planned and organized • Multiple sessions for multiple areas • Try for smaller group sessions to allow max. learning and visibility.

19. Conferences and Workshops • Provide the opportunity to focus on PA for one to many days • Can provide hands on exercises • PA tech isn’t necessarily crop specific, so can use broad based sessions • WPAC • Assiniboine CC in Manitoba • U of N- Lincoln (9)

20. Internet and Web-based Classes • NCES reports: distance ed. is a more common feature at many post-secondary institutions. • Is popular and will be more readily available in the future • Ag field has been among the slowest to adopt dist. ed. • With the rapid change of info in PA, internet provides the best place for information due to the ability to revise and update material. (11)

21. Problems with Internet • Majority of ag producers lack internet access • Quality and level of service in rural areas can often be poor • Users may not be able to take advantage of all online tools despite having “access” • Many with internet access don’t have computers that are new enough or fast enough for many programs.

22. Internet Access By Region (11)

23. Natural Learning Process for PA • Learning and understanding the concept of spatial data management, including the importance and value of spatial data. • Learning the proper use of sensors makes it possible to obtain intensive sampling of quality info inexpensively. • Learning to use a computer and software for mapping. (GIS) (13)

24. 4. Using info to make improved crop production decisions through assessment of yield variation and determining potential causes. • Summarize and interpret data to develop site-specific management plans. • Strategic sampling and on-farm trials (13)

25. Future of PA Adoption • Motivation to adopt may come from: • Environmental regulations • Much of the US corn is grown on or near environmentally sensitive lands which require more intensive management. (aquifers, rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc) • Public concern of excessive use of agro chemicals • And economic gain from reduced inputs and improved farm management efficiency

26. References • Frenandez-Cornejo,J., Daberkow, S. McBride, W.D. Decomposing the size effect on the adoption of innovations. AgBioForum, 4,2: 124-136. • Daberkow, S., McBride, W.D. Adoption rate of Site Specific Crop Management Technologies Among US Corn Growers. Retrieved from internet on April 0, 2004 from: www.eomonline.com/modernagsite/archives/daberkow.html • Daberkow, S. Fernandez-Cornejo, J., Padgett, M. Precision Agriculture Adoption Continues to Grow. Agricultural Outlook. November 2002. • Zhang, N., Wang, M., Wang, N. Precision Agriculture-a world overview. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 36,2:125-139. • Batte, M.T, Arholt, M.W. Precision Farming Adoption and Use in Ohio: case studies of six leading edge adopters. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 38,2 : 124-139. • Daberkow, S., McBride, W.D. Farm and Operator Characteristics Affecting the Awareness and Adoption of Precision Agriculture Technologies in the US. Precision Agriculture, 4, 163-177, 2003. • www.usda.gov/new/pubs/fbook00/factbook2000.pdf • Fiez, T. Providing Precision Farming Education through Conferences and Workshops. Precision Agriculture, 3, 353-358. 2002

27. References • Ferguson, R. B. Educational Resources for Precision Agriculture. Precision Agriculture, 3, 359-371, 2002 • Pocknee, S. Kvien, C. Web Based Educational Programs In Precision Agriculture. Precision Agriculture, 3, 327-340, 2002. • Heiniger, R.W., Havlin, J.L., Kvien, C. Knowles, T. Seeing is Believing: the Role of Field Days and Tours in Precision Agriculture Education. Precision Agriculture, 3, 309-218, 2002. • Kitchen, N. R., Snyder, C.J., Franzen, D.W., Wiebold, W.J. Educational Needs of Precision Agriculture. Precision Agriculture, 3, 341-351, 2002.