Big Data Helps Farmers’ Profits According to USDA

In Washington, DC, the United States Department of Agriculture released data showing that larger farmers (over 2,900 acres) are using more technology and precision-agriculture methods than smaller farmers. Not surprising since agriculture technology is expensive, but it apparently has been helping improve profitability through increased efficiencies, better data collection, and better input management. GPS mapping technology being used by average size corn farmers for example saw a 3 percent increase in operating profit. The USDA used data going back 17 years for their report, but since technology has evolved so much in recent years, it will be interesting to see how the data will change as more and better technology is used by more farmers.