Automatic Section Control Technologies and GPS Auto-guidance Systems Adoption in Cotton Production

Abstract

Using data from a survey of cotton producers in 14 US states, and a bivariate probit regression, this study examined the effects of the following measured parameters on the adoption of Automatic Section Control (ASC) technologies and GPS Auto-Guidance (AG) systems: age, education, farm size, field geometry, information sources, as well as the use of specific production practices and other Precision Agriculture (PA) technologies. Results suggest that younger, more educated producers, consulting farm dealers for information about PA technologies, using other PA technologies, and managing larger farming operations located in counties with more irregularly shaped fields are more likely to adopt ASC technologies and AG systems. Predicted adoption probabilities estimated using regression results suggest the use of other PA technologies and farm dealers as a source of precision farming information have the largest impact on the probability of adopting ASC by cotton farmers. Additionally, these results suggest farmers with operations in eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, and a couple of counties in middle Tennessee are more likely to adopt ASC technologies. Producers in these regions had the highest percentages of users of other PA technologies and farm dealers to obtain PA information.

Evaluating factors influencing Tennessee and Kentucky farmers’ willingness to sell produce through fresh stop markets

“…We postulated that the farmers' age is negatively correlated with farmers' willingness to sell produce through FSMs. As suggested by previous studies, older farmers have shorter planning horizons and, thus, might be less likely to change or modify their production and marketing strategies (Walton et al, 2008;Zhong et al, 2016;Edge et al, 2018;Dong et al, 2019). On the other hand, we hypothesized that education could be positively but also negatively correlated with farmers' willingness to sell produce through FSMs.…”

“…On the other hand, we hypothesized that education could be positively but also negatively correlated with farmers' willingness to sell produce through FSMs. We expect knowledge and information to affect farmer marketing or market outlet choice decisions (Pilgeram, 2011;Zhong et al, 2016;Edge et al, 2018). Those decisions could be to sell but also to not sell produce through FSMs.…”

Survey of pesticide application practices and technologies in Georgia agronomic crops

“…Research has shown that when used correctly, common spray technologies, including global positioning system (GPS), rate controller, and section control, can significantly reduce the overapplication of pesticides (Luck et al 2010;Sharda et al 2011Sharda et al , 2013. The benefits from these technologies are further maximized in large and uneven-shaped fields (Edge et al 2018). Today, new application technologies such as pulse-width modulation (PWM) and auto-boom height systems have also been developed and are now available for spray equipment to further improve field and application efficiency.…”