Carl R. Dillon

A Whole Farm Analysis of the Influence of Auto-Steer Navigation on Net Returns, Risk, and Production Practices

A whole farm economic analysis was conducted to provide a detailed assessment into the economic, risk, and production implications due to the adoption of auto-steer navigation. It was determined that auto-steer navigation was profitable for a grain farmer in Kentucky with net returns increasing up to 0.90% (

Biophysical Simulation in Support of Crop Production Decisions: A Case Study in the Black-lands Region of Texas

3.35/acre). Additionally, the technology could be used in reducing production risk. Adoption of the technology also alters production practices for optimal use.

PRODUCTION PRACTICE ALTERNATIVES FOR INCOME AND SUITABLE FIELD DAY RISK MANAGEMENT

Economic feasibility of Texas Blacklands corn production in relation to sorghum, wheat, and cotton is studied. Biophysical simulation generated yield data are integrated with an economic decision model using quadratic programming. Given the various scenarios analyzed, corn is economically feasible for the Blacklands. A crop mix of half corn and half cotton production is selected under risk neutrality with wheat entering if risk aversion is present. Corn and grain sorghum production are highly substitutable. Profit effects attributed to changing corn planting dates are more pronounced than profit changes resulting from altering corn population or maturity class.

Whole farm analysis of automatic section control for agricultural machinery

Production risk includes yield and days suitable for fieldwork variability. Both were modeled using biophysical simulation and a mean-variance, chance-constrained mathematical programming formulation representing a Kentucky corn, soybean, and wheat producer. While crop diversification, planting date, and maturity group can be used to reduce the types of risk considered, interaction between the two influences how production practices are used to manage risk. For the conditions studied, plant population alterations were less effective for risk reduction of either component. The study provides evidence of the importance of the consideration of both elements of production risk in whole farm planning.

The economic and environmental impacts of precision agriculture and interactions with agro-environmental policy

Automatic section control was analyzed in a whole farm decision-making framework when implemented on an agricultural sprayer and/or planter. In addition, various field types and navigational scenarios were examined to determine their impact on profitability. It was determined that automatic section control increased net returns under all scenarios; up to

Using Precision Agriculture Technology for Economically Optimal Strategic Decisions: The Case of CRP Filter Strip Enrollment

36/ha. This investigation highlighted the importance of considering field size in addition to field shape as well as initial navigational scenarios when determining the profitability of automatic section control.

Optimal Land Allocation and Production Timing for Fresh Vegetable Growers under Price and Production Uncertainty

A whole-farm model was used to investigate the interacting effects of precision agriculture technology and agro-environmental policy on the production choices of a representative grain farm. Although some precision agriculture technologies did increase efficiency of resource use, they also decreased the effectiveness of policy, especially policies that rely on economic incentives (e.g., emission taxes). Precision agriculture can lead to higher marginal abatement costs in the form of forgone profits, decreasing producers’ responsiveness to those policies. Policy-makers targeting pollution reductions from agriculture should take into account the increasing use of precision agriculture techniques and their varying effects on agro-environmental policy.

Precision agriculture and agro-environmental policy

ABSTRACT While the application of precision agriculture technology to tactical, or within cropping season, decisions such as variable rate nutrient application may be an initial focus for producers, other decisions can be considered. Precision agriculture, as an information system, can provide data to help make spatially dependent strategic, or multiple cropping season, decisions. This research evaluates the economic benefit of filter strips on a diversified crop farm including corn and double cropped wheat with soybean. Economic analysis includes break-even computations permitting development of a decision-making criteria for the selection of these strips using historical yield monitor data. Results suggest that there is potential for this geographic information assisted process of filter strip delineation to increase overall net returns for producers with economically superior results to either a more naive approach of enrolling all eligible land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)or not participating in CRP. Furthermore, results suggest that information from precision agriculture, when coupled with appropriate economic analytical tools, can increase enrollment in CRP and enhance sustainabilily through increased profits and the environmental benefits from engaging in the CRP.

Economic assessment of irrigated and nonirrigated soybean cropping rotations on a clay soil

Production timing is an essential element in fresh vegetable growers’ efforts to maximize profitability and reduce income risks. The present study uses biophysical simulation modeling coupled with a dual crop (tomatoes, sweet corn) whole-farm economic formulation to analyze the effects of growers’ risk aversion levels and price consideration (seasonal or annual price consideration) in expected net returns and production practices. The findings indicate that consideration of seasonal price trends results in higher expected net returns and greater opportunities to mitigate risk. Furthermore, risk aversion levels substantially influence production timing when seasonal price trends are considered.

The carbon footprint and economic impact of precision agriculture technology on a corn and soybean farm

A whole-farm model was used to investigate the effects of precision agriculture adoption on production choices under various agro-environmental policy frameworks. Simulation of a typical grain farm in western Kentucky, USA indicated that adoption of precision agriculture does alter responsiveness to policies based on financial incentives for pollution abatement (e.g. emission taxes). Specifically, those farms were less responsive to financial incentives (i.e. abated less pollution), due to higher marginal abatement costs in the form of forgone profits. Policy-makers targeting pollution reductions from agriculture should take into account the increasing use of precision agriculture techniques and their effects on agro-environmental policy.