Adoption and Use of Precision Agriculture Technologies by Practitioners (original) (raw)
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Precision agriculture technologies (PATs) are promoted as part of both economically efficient and environmentally sustainable agriculture practices. Available PATs are generally classified into two groups; namely, embodied-knowledge and information-intensive PATs. Adoption levels of embodied-knowledge PATs are high relative to information-intensive PATs. Previous studies on the adoption of PATs do not differentiate between embodiedknowledge and information-intensive PATs. Additionally, most studies focus on the adoption of one or two of the available PATs rather than on adoption intensity-defined as the total number of individual PATs adopted. This study fills this gap in the literature by focusing on PAT adoption in general, and adoption intensity of embodied-knowledge and information-intensive PATs in particular. The study uses data from 198 farm-operator respondents in eastern South Dakota from a 2017 survey and employs descriptive statistics and probit and Poisson regression models for the analyses. As per the study, GPS guidance, yield monitor, and automatic section control systems are the most popular PATs, each with adoption rates of over 50%. Overall, findings from the study show that the effect of cropland size, producers' perceptions of profitability, and operator off-farm income are similar for both adoption and adoption intensity of embodied-knowledge and information-intensive PATs. However, there are differences in the effect of land productivity and familiarity with computer use between adoption and adoption intensity and between embodied-knowledge and information-intensive PATs. The effect of producers' perception of the environmental benefits of PATs is inconclusive and needs to be investigated in future research. The results indicate that analyzing PATs as a group of technologies masks differences in determinants between embodied-knowledge and information-intensive PATs. The study provides insights for developing programs, policies, and outreach efforts that encourage the adoption and adoption intensity of both embodied-knowledge and information-intensive PATs. Findings from the study will also be of interest to precision agriculture researchers, extension personnel, agribusinesses, and policymakers who may consider PATs as tools for improving agricultural sustainability and food security.
Drivers of Precision Agriculture Technologies Adoption: A Literature Review
Procedia Technology, 2013
In this review, we identify the key drivers that affect the intention to adopt Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies. Research articles concerning the adoption of PA were collected and subdivided into two groups: (1) ex-post assessments that make use of utility-based models, and (2) ex-ante assessments that make use of predictive models. Principal classes of constructs were identified and utilized to interpret what factors promoted the use of PA technologies by farmers. Three classes of drivers influencing PA adoption are presented. This review confirms the necessity to focus on the design of an appropriated adoption process and on innovation's features.
Precision application technology has been an important topic in agriculture in recent years. This technology has the promise to improve farm management through improved information and control over in-field variability of soil characteristics and productivity. Despite this apparent promise, recent studies have shown that adoption has been low. However, little is known about the adoption of this technology in Mississippi or the reasons for or against adoption as seen through the eyes of the producer. This survey was designed to collect basic information on producer perceptions about precision agriculture technology and to assess potential reasons for or against adoption.
Factors Influencing Adoption and Use of Precision Agriculture
2006
While the potential for creating efficiencies are possible with precision agricultural tools, the various combinations of tools, the steep learning curve of these technologies, and the initial investment of each of the tools complicate farmers' decisions to adopt these technologies. The purpose of this study is to create a model that describes, explains, and predicts precision agriculture adoption. The research takes a multidisciplinary approach to studying precision agriculture adoption. The proposed model is based on the Transtheoretical Model's stage of change and the decision making construct, decisional balance. Additionally, the constructs of v precision agriculture self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, and perceived compatibility are integrated in the adoption decision model. A survey instrument was created to measure stage of change, decisional balance, precision agriculture self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, and perceived compatibility. 261 surveys were used in this study to empirically test the adoption-decision model. The results indicated that decisional balance, which is the weighing of importance of the advantages and disadvantages of using precision agriculture did, in fact, predict the stage of change. Additionally, perceived ease of use influenced the decisional balance. Perceived compatibility affected both decisional balance and the stage of change. The study did not find support that precision agriculture self-efficacy directly influenced the stage of change, but precision agriculture self-efficacy did indirectly affect stage of change through decisional balance and perceived ease of use. Farm size also influenced the stage of change, while off-farm employment and educational level did not affect the stage of change.
2010 Ohio Farming Practices Survey: Adoption and Use of Precision Farming Technology in Ohio
Ohio State University Department …, 2010
The study updates past observations of farmers' precision farming practices and their use of precision farming information in the state. Data on farming practices were collected to determine the level of adoption of precision farming technology in Ohio, to better understand farmers' use of precision farming information and data, and to assess farmers' perceptions of the costs and benefits of their precision farming system. Results identify opportunities for further advancement of precision farming technology and aid research and extension programs in meeting the educational and informational needs of famers using precision farming technology.
Sustainability
Precision agriculture (PA) is a holistic, sustainable, innovative systems approach that assists farmers in production management. Adopting PA could improve sustainable food security and community economic sustainability. Developing an understanding of PA adoption attributes is needed in order to assist extension practitioners to promote adoption and better understand the innovation adoption phenomena. A systematic review of literature was conducted to investigate attributes that foster PA adoption. Thirty-three publications were examined, and four themes were found among the reviewed publications. The results were interpreted using Rogers’ diffusion of innovations framework to address the research objectives. Relative advantage and compatibility were two dominant attributes needed to strengthen the adoption of PA, and the complexity attribute was rarely communicated to promote the adoption of PA. The systematic review indicated the rate of farmer’s PA adoption does not occur at the ...
Essays on precision agriculture technology adoption and risk management
2005
Precision agriculture (PA) can be defined as a set of technologies that have helped propel agriculture into the computerized information-based world, and is designed to help farmers get greater control over the management of farm operations. Because of its potential to spatially reduce yield variability within the field through variable rate application of nutrients it is thought to be a production risk management instrument. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is another production risk management technology that is generating ...
Precision Agriculture, 2012
Increasing pressure for food security and sustainability as well as a need to halt environmental degradation has focused attention on increasing the efficient use of farm resources. One answer to aspects of that problem is the use of precision agricultural technologies (PATs). To facilitate their adoption, initiatives have been fostered in developed countries since the 1980s. Despite a low rate of adoption elsewhere, similar efforts in recent years have been initiated in developing countries. Given this, understanding those underlying factors that influence the adoption of PATs is vital. It is timely to review these factors and to draw policy implications from that review for future actions. This review, based on studies investigating the limited adoption of PATs in 'experienced' countries, extrapolates their findings to explain why farmers have or have not adopted PATs. At the same time, this review summarizes the key insights for more effectively targeting 'new' followers: e.g. it provides some answers to the question of who is more likely to adopt PATs. Additionally, the review points to the limitations of current research in the area and suggests a robust economic model or multidisciplinary approach be adopted for future investigation.