Erin Hightower, an agronomist for John Deere dealer RDO Equipment who is based in Kennewick, Wash., often uses a sports analogy to illustrate the first step to successful data management.

RDO Equipment Co.'s account managers or customer service advisors periodically ask me to check on a producer's operation through a “buddy seat meet and greet.”

"We are experiencing a technological renaissance that would have seemed like science fiction just 30 years ago when it comes to data in the field," Erin Hightower says.

Spot spraying systems create opportunities for growers to target intra-field variability of pesticide growth when pesticides need to be applied.

Performance Upgrade Kits (PUKs) provide the benefits of the latest and greatest machinery without the commitment and price of an entirely new machine.

During the National No-Till Conference, attendees discussed the future benefits of seeding populations and row width to create a cleaner field, leading to a profitable harvest. These discussions are only as profitable for you as the data you collect in the field and the management of every individual seed.

It has been said that winning in chess is all a matter of understanding how to leverage each piece and timing their moves just right. To move each piece of the 4R’s in the right way at the right time, you don’t need to be a chess master -- but mastering your technology is always a winning strategy.

Farmer health and safety is a part of more conversations than ever, and the latest agriculture and equipment technology offers new levels of not just productivity and efficiency but safety, too, through real-time communication and data.