Finding and retaining precision farming talent has long been a challenge for equipment dealers, as many look to expand or evolve the scope of their business. While recent years have seen a slowdown in hiring plans, dealers plan to be more aggressive in adding precision specialists during the coming year.

Finding and retaining precision farming talent has long been a challenge for equipment dealers, as many look to expand or evolve the scope of their business. While recent years have seen a slowdown in hiring plans, dealers are planning to be more aggressive in adding precision specialists during the coming year.

My initial answer would be “Where do you want him or her to come from?”

At the top this month was a blog from Managing Editor Jack Zemlicka about Kubota's growing in the precision ag space. Deere made the list twice with its announcement of new precision, spraying and nutrient application products and its new distribution agreement with 360 Yield Center.

At the pinnacle of the precision farming boom, technology specialists were in high demand, while supply was relatively low. But as the farm machinery market has slowed, so too have precision hiring plans for most OEM dealers according to Ag Equipment Intelligence’s 2016 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends report.