Precision Agriculture Dominates in Top U.S. Row-Crop States

Farmers in leading U.S. states for corn, wheat, soybean, and hog production are twice as inclined to adopt precision agriculture methods compared to those in lower-volume states. The USDA’s farm computer report revealed that over 50% of farmers in these top-producing states utilize precision agriculture practices, in contrast to the national average of 27%.

This biennial Technology Use report also highlighted that an increasing portion of farmers are using the internet for purchasing inputs, selling products, and other business tasks. Remarkably, 85% of farms are connected to the internet. More farmers own smartphones (82%) than desktops or laptops (69%).

Although the adoption of precision agriculture is gradually rising (from 25% in 2021 to 27% in 2023), its use is prominent in states like Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Over half of the farmers in these states reported using precision techniques, such as GPS steering, drones for field scouting, and robotic milking. North Dakota tops the list with a 57% adoption rate.

Among these states, Iowa is the leading producer of corn and hogs, Illinois specializes in soybeans, while Kansas and North Dakota are major wheat producers. Despite these advancements, some significant states like Texas, Indiana, Minnesota, and California have yet to fully embrace these practices, with adoption rates of 13%, 32%, 32%, and 40% respectively.

West Virginia has the lowest adoption rate at 8%, closely followed by Kentucky and Virginia at 11%, and Florida at 12%.

This data is based on a survey conducted in June, covering 14,000 agricultural operations across the U.S., where there are approximately 2 million farms defined by the production and sale of agricultural products valued at $1,000 or more annually.