Paperwork and reporting – these two words can give farmers a headache if they are still completing these processes manually. Fortunately, pain relief is available to farmers through automated data collection. Precision agriculture is not a new concept, but it gives farmers more control over their farming business and their acreage reporting. Virtually all modern farm equipment comes equipped with precision farming technology, so there’s no reason a farmer needs to nurse a data-driven headache.
Good news! The data doctor is in and we have compiled four ways that automated data collection benefits farmers.
It Can Enhance Profitability
With advances in technology, it’s no surprise that data is the number one thing harvested by farmers in the digital age. More than 50 percent of farmers are using precision farming technology because it’s critical to their bottom line. Farmers are then able to rely on the data to tell them what crops and hybrids to plant, where and how much to plant, guide application of fertilizer and spraying, determine when to harvest, and determine the number of acres and the GPS coordinates associated to fields and field boundaries. All of that data is then “harvested” and used to create maps, charts, and scenarios that are critical to a farmer’s success.
It Promotes Accuracy
Precision farming data is actually more accurate than the fields the government uses for reporting. How? Field maps and locations are more accurate. For starters, a farmer doesn’t have to rely on hand-written notes with the crops or the exact time and location they were planted. Automated data also enables a farmer to consistently track their data over the span of several years.
It Can Reduce Insurance Premiums
By saving everybody valuable time, automated data collection can foster stronger working relationships between farmers and their crop insurance agents. More importantly, that data can also help farmers reduce their insured acres and, therefore, their insurance premiums. Studies reflect that data collection typically lowers a farmer’s insured acreage percentage by 6 percent compared to a Common Land Units (CLUs), that lower crop premiums. Subsequently, the more information you collect can save you valuable time and money.
It Cultivates Relationships
Precision agriculture technology has arrived, and it is becoming a staple for those who run farming operations. Automated data brings needed value because crop insurance agents, ag suppliers, and other businesses are realizing how incredibly useful all that data can be. Consider how important it is to nurture those relationships if you are recording and reporting your farm data manually.
Convinced that automated data collection is essential to your farm operation? Head over to our website and contact us for more information about how our app can help you.
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