Precision agriculture technologies improve environmental stewardship while providing an economic return for farmers.

A new study, Environmental Benefits of Precision Agriculture, based on the combined expertise of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), the American Soybean Association, CropLife America, and the National Corn Growers Association, highlights how farmers who adopt precision agriculture use less to grow more.

“We are living in a new age of agriculture, and today’s precision technology or equipment can have an enormous positive impact on farmers and the environment,” said Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of Agriculture at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.

“One of our great goals at AEM is to encourage the adoption of these technologies by more farmers, so they can all reap the benefits as we continue to focus on sustainability.”

Kellie Bray, CropLife America (CLA) Chief of Staff, added, “Fuel savings alone due to precision ag tools is the yearly equivalent of taking nearly 200,000 cars off the road, all while preventing an area equal to 4.5 Yellowstone National Parks from being added to production because of yield increases.”

Study Highlights

As precision agriculture equipment and technologies are more widely adopted it will lead to significant increases in yields and further input savings:

  • Productivity has increased an estimated 4% and has the potential to further increase 6% with broader adoption.
  • Precision agriculture has improved fertilizer placement efficiency by an estimated 7% and has the potential to further improve an additional 14%.
  • Herbicide use has been reduced by an estimated 9% and has the potential to further decrease 15% at full adoption.
  • Fossil fuel use has decreased an estimated 6% with the potential to further decrease 16%.
  • Water use has decreased an estimated 4% because of current precision agriculture adoption with the potential to further decrease 21% at full adoption.