(Undated)– New polling data show Iowa farmers are taking advantage of high-tech agriculture practices, and more plan to do so. But some say there’s a downside to using too much technology in farming. The practice is known as “precision agriculture.” Farmers use things like G-P-S guidance systems, data-based soil moisture maps, and drone surveillance to improve their crop yields. Rural sociologist J. Arbuckle at Iowa State University says in the poll, two-thirds of the farmers reported analyzing crop data using electronic yield monitoring systems, which help them measure the number of bushels of grain per acre they’re harvesting – in real time…
However, Arbuckle says according to the findings of their survey, the vast majority of farmers are concerned the information gleaned from precision farming technology could have unintended consequences…
Arbuckle says there was also concern it could lead to new regulations. He says 70 percent of those surveyed are concerned it could to lead to fewer and larger farms.
(Courtesy Iowa News Service)
