Adoption of precision agriculture technologies by US corn producers

Corn (zea mays L.) producers are the largest users of cropland and agri-chemicals in U.S. agriculture and represent a major market for precision agriculture technologies. Based on a USDA survey of corn producing farms in 16 states, about 9% used some aspect of precision agriculture for corn production in 1996, representing nearly one-fifth of 1996 harvested corn acreage. Among precision agriculture adopters, 70% used some form of grid soil-sampling, 32 percent used VRT for lime or fertilizer application, and 54% used a yield monitor. A logit analysis indicated that farmers were more likely to adopt precision technologies if they farmed a large number of corn acres, earned a sizable farm income, and had high expected corn yields. The probability of adoption was also higher for farm operators using a computerized record system, who were <50 yrs of age, and who relied on crop consultants for precision agriculture information.