It seems like every couple of weeks I get a postcard in the mail from a local Internet provider promising a more reliable high-speed connection. I'll often pause for a moment and consider making a switch, thinking of those occasional frustrations that pop up with my current provider.

I like a handy mobile app as much as the next consumer, whether it's to check the weather forecast ahead of a weekend getaway or simply to track another disappointing Milwaukee Brewers' loss.

Talking with both farmers and dealers in different parts of the country, most say it's been a smooth planting season, aside from a few hiccups. Looking at the May 11 crop progress report from the USDA, both corn and soybean planting were well ahead of 2014.

Heading into 2015, many dealers knew it would be difficult to replicate the success they've enjoyed in recent years selling precision farming technology. Lower commodity prices are prompting farmers to be more judicious with where they plan to spend their money in the coming year.

With precision farming data becoming an increasingly valuable commodity, it's more common to find dealers selling services to include compiling a comprehensive yield report or layering field maps that color-code weaker producing areas for farm customers.

While still on the cusp of planting season, precision specialists have been feeling the service pressure build for several weeks. Checking in with a few dealers recently, they didn't mince words with how hectic it's been.

Walking a field is one way to assess crop damage, insect infestation or disease. But this method isn't always the most practical or efficient, especially for an organization with more than 200,000 farmer members.

Jack Zemlicka, managing editor of Precision Farming Dealer and the technology editor for Farm Equipment, will be speaking at the 2015 joint annual meeting of the Deep South Equipment Dealers Assn., the Midwest Dealers Assn., the Southern Equipment Dealers Assn. and the SouthEastern Equipment Dealers Assn.

Precision Farming Dealer Technology Editor Jack Zemlicka will be visiting several farm equipment and precision farming dealerships this week in western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota, sharing photos, tips and insights on Facebook and Twitter.