As farmers continue to face high input costs, new precision technology could provide opportunities to reduce expenses while also limiting environmental impacts.
Doug Jones, agriculture advisor for EPA Region 7, says the agency is watching several new technologies that could help farmers become more precise with fertilizer and crop protection products.
Jones pointed to seed and spray technology that can identify and target individual weeds rather than applying herbicide uniformly across an entire field. He also highlighted precision fertilizer equipment capable of placing nutrients directly in the furrow or around individual seeds.
Both technologies are designed around a similar concept: putting an input where it is needed while reducing unnecessary applications elsewhere.
For farmers dealing with expensive fertilizer, herbicides, and other production costs, Jones says those efficiencies can also provide an economic benefit. Using less product where it is not needed can reduce costs while limiting the potential for those inputs to move away from their intended target.
Jones says EPA wants to encourage agricultural innovations that can provide benefits on both sides of that equation.
Technology was one of several agricultural issues Jones discussed while attending the Iowa State Fair. He said EPA Region 7 uses events such as the fair as an opportunity to hear directly from farmers and agricultural businesses about concerns and new developments within the industry.
Jones also pointed to renewable fuels as another area where agricultural innovation continues. During his visit, he saw a tractor powered entirely by ethanol, which he said demonstrates the potential role renewable fuels can have in agriculture’s future.
As precision technology continues to improve, farmers will ultimately determine which tools provide enough value to make sense for their individual operations. But the ability to better control what is applied, where it is applied, and how much is needed could provide another way for farmers to manage costs while improving efficiency.
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