Innovation and insights: How strong are the environmental and yield benefits of precision agriculture?
According to data from the US, adopting precision agriculture technologies was found to contribute significantly to the growth in soybean and corn yields – major crops of the North America region, by a CAGR of 1.2% and 1.4%, respectively, over an 18-year period.
More resilient hybrids, alongside better management practices, as a result of technology adoption, were some reasons cited for the rising yields.
The finding was reported in a report by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and some national agricultural industry associations to quantify the impact of precision agriculture (P.A.) technologies on environmental and economic returns for farmers.
Returns on Investments (ROIs) from precision agricultural technology adoption
The impacts studied were yield benefits, fertiliser reduction, pesticide reduction, fuel savings and water savings.
Annual yield levels increased by an estimated 4% as a result of current P.A. adoption and has the potential to increase by an additional 6% with broader adoption.
P.A. adoption also led to an estimated 10.2 million acres of cropland saved due to efficient use of existing land, which is equivalent to 4.5 Yellow National Parks.
The most significant changes in the impact between current P.A. adoption and broader P.A. adoption is in water savings.
The report found that water use reduced by an estimated 4% with current P.A. adoption and has the potential to reduce further at 21% with broader adoption. Current water savings due to P.A. adoption amounted to 750,000 Olympic swimming pools.
This was followed by fossil fuel use which reduced by an estimated 6% (100 million gallons) and has the potential to reduce further at 16% with broader adoption. Current fossil fuel savings due to P.A. adoption is equivalent to power 193,000 cars on the road or 18,000 average flights.
Next in line was fertiliser placement efficiency which improved by an estimated 7% and has the potential to increase by an additional 14% with broader adoption.
P.A. could affect the ability of farmers to match crops to the right fertiliser type, at right time, with right amount and at the right position.
Pesticide use also reduced by an estimated 9% (30 million pounds) and has the potential to reduce further at 15% (48 million pounds) with broader P.A. adoption.
Precision agricultural technologies studied
The five P.A. technology areas studied were auto guidance, machine section control, variable rate, machine fleet and analytics and precision irrigation.
Auto guidance helps to improve productivity of farmers by reducing overlap and avoiding skips for field passes with tillage, planters, sprayers, and harvesters.
Section control and variable rate helps to optimise the placement and rate, respectively, for seed, fertiliser, and crop protection applications.
Machine and fleet analytics help to improve fuel efficiency from machine optimization, while precision irrigation improves water use efficiency.
The aforementioned are enabled by technologies such as remote sensing, GPS tracking, yield monitors and maps, imagery, climate or weather stations, field prescriptions for seeds and fertilizers, on the go sensors.
As of 2019, the P.A. adoption rates were estimated to be at:
- 25% to 80% for auto guidance,
- 12% for machine and fleet analytics,
- 0% to 22% for precision centre pivot irrigation,
- 10% to 45% for fertiliser and 4% to 22% for herbicide for machine section control, and
- 15% to 54% for fertiliser and 2% to 14% for herbicide for variable rate.
AEM, in partnership with the American Soybean Association, CropLife America, and National Corn Growers Association, highlighted their following recommendations can help increase P.A. adoption in the United States.
These recommendations include 1) promoting policies incentivising innovations in agricultural production; 2) improving infrastructure that makes P.A. possible, such as wireless broadband over croplands; 3) growing farm income for producers to have capital to invest in their operations; and 4) increasing consumer communications around the benefits of P.A.
