paul schrimpf group editor, croplife media group what’s ahead for precision ag
TRANSCRIPT
Paul Schrimpf
Group Editor,CropLife Media Group
What’s Ahead For Precision Ag
About The PrecisionAg Brand
Serving Agriculture Since 1994Initiatives Include:
– PrecisionAg.com– Quarterly Special Reports– PrecisionAg Institute– Media Partners, InfoAg Conference
• 2014 Event is July 29-31, St. Louis, MO
What We’ll Talk About Today
• Historical Perspective On Ag Technology• Where Things Stand Today• A Look At the Future
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRECISION AG
Chapter 1: The Noble Cause1985-1991
• Focus on maximum use efficiency of fertilizer• Coincided with rise of PCs• No widely available GPS – radar required• Proof of concept, but not commercially viable
Chapter 2: Innovation And Evolution 1992-1999
• Al Myers commercializes the yield monitor for row crops
• GPS available, but with selective availability• Microprocessors increasingly powerful• The Internet is born• Early bids at developing interconnected
systems (Vantage Point, Vision system)
Speaking Of Evolution ... From This…
… To This in 15 Years
Chapter 3: The Great Disillusionment2000-2004
• The VRA Conundrum – no payback on low priced fertilizer
• Complexity of technology vs. the simplicity of farming (Roundup Ready)
• Farmers vote ‘no faith’ in recommendations• Overpromised technology benefits• “This stuff is hard”
Illustrating The Disillusionment…
Chapter 4: Rebirth With Efficiency2005-2009
• Automatic steering explodes• Boom control technologies• Improving GPS accuracy• Planter control• Agronomy still important but not the primary
driver for adoption• Establishing GPS as a core technology
Retailer Use of Precision Technology
CropLife Media Group/Purdue University Retail Adoption Survey, 2011
Chapter 5: Connectivity Technologies Emerge: 2009-present
• Smartphones and Tablets• Cellular/Wireless connectivity• Higher Speed Internet• Logistics• Better Technology Compatibility Emerging• Data collection and storage (and processing) in
the “cloud”
What’s Driving The Future• Complexity of agronomy is returning
– Weed resistance management– Hybrid/variety selection– Micronutrients/Specialty Blends
• Pressure to Maximize Yield/Feed The World• Input Stewardship (fertilizers)• Food Safety/Traceability• Manufacturer Innovation• Water Management
What’s Driving The Future
• Drive For Sustainability• Regulatory pressure• Grower size/ability to compete• Need to bring growers not using technology
into the fold
Estimated Market Area Using Precision Services (1 of 2)
2011 Base: 161 Note: 2014 is predicted use
Estimated Market Area Using Precision Services (2 of 2)
2009 Base: 160 Note: 2014 is predicted use
CropLife Magazine/Purdue University Retailer Survey, 2013