Hearing the recent news that former retail giant Radio Shack may be on the cusp of filing for bankruptcy got me thinking about the last time I’d actually set foot in one of their stores.

There was no shortage of new precision technology introduced at this year’s Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

Talking with precision farming managers and specialists, a common concern I hear is about the dearth of capable and qualified employees in the job market.

I recently had the honor of moderating a panel of progressive peer group of precision dealers who dissected everything from practical applications of ag drones, to the support each receives from their precision suppliers.

Standardization is a buzzword that comes up often in conversations I have with precision farming specialists. Whether they are talking about machinery compatibility or data transfer, the same challenges apply — being able to seamlessly provide a simple solution to a complex problem.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to a well-established group of farm equipment dealers at their bi-annual meeting near Chicago about the current state of precision farming, while also looking at what the future may hold.

We're always keeping an eye on precision trends and one I've noted of late is that some dealers are predicting flat to slightly down sales of hardware this year.

While it’s been another unforgiving start to spring with fluctuating temperatures and snow still falling in some areas of the Midwest, precision farming specialists are nevertheless in the throes of planting season.

These days, precision farming dealers are downright giddy when it comes to talking about the potential unmanned aerial vehicles hold for agriculture. With each passing week, it seems more and more are partnering with UAV manufacturers to sell the technology.