Precision Farming Dealer editors encounter a variety of articles, social media posts, podcasts and videos that offer a unique look at various aspects of our great agricultural industry. Here is our favorite content from the past week:

Important Developments in Precision Ag Evolution

Steve Sonka of the University of Illinois analyzes the evolving nature of precision ag, kicking off a series of articles with a look at the prologue for precision ag today. “I believe that recognition of the growing influence of the farmer’s own data, pooled with that of others, is an important recent development,” Sonka says. “Previously not being an early adopter of yield monitors probably didn’t put an individual farmer at a significant competitive advantage. However, the process of improving decision making through the use of internal and pooled data is likely to require a considerable learning curve. Being late in starting that learning process may be more difficult to overcome.”

the big three of precision ag

‘Grandfather of No-Till’ Bill Richards Passes, Leaving Behind Conservation Legacy

William J. "Bill" Richards, the former NRCS director in Washington in the early 1990s who was considered by many as the ‘Grandfather’ of no-till practices in the U.S., passed away last Tuesday at his home. He was 93. Read about his life and legacy in this No-Till Farmer article.

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College Awarded $5 Million Grant for Precision Ag Training

The University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville was awarded $5 million to support its workforce training program focused on precision agriculture. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the funding on Nov. 14 as part of $48 million in grants allocated to 19 organizations across the state, primarily colleges and universities.

arkansas economic development leaders

Photo by Mary Hennigan / Arkansas Advocate

What 1,000 Farmers Said About Precision Technology

BCG surveyed roughly 1,000 U.S. farmers to identify the factors that motivate precision technology adoption. Among the key takeaways: “When we asked growers about their buying intentions for 2024, most said they are planning to repurchase the technology solutions that they have used before rather than try new ones.”

respondents who intend to purchase technology solutions in 2024

Customer Trends: Tractors & Combine Sales Plummet

In 2024, tractor and combine sales across the United States have seen a sharp decline, with data from the Assn. of Equipment Manufacturers revealing notable decreases across most horsepower ranges. As purse strings tighten, could this mean more farmers might focus on smaller purchases like precision technology upgrades? In this video, Mike Wiles, aka Tractor Mike, dives into the reasons behind the significant downturn in the agricultural equipment market, with a detailed breakdown of the trends shaping sales figures through the third quarter of 2024.

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