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Abstract

The capabilities of planter and sprayer technologies that link GPS navigation with application control continue to expand. Current technology permits varying levels of control for sprayers and planters down to the individual nozzle and row. The economics of various levels of control have not been reported in the literature. This research incorporates over 1,400 real-world cropland fields to examine the effects of region, crops grown, and acres covered on the returns to investment in these technologies. While the technologies generally are found to be quite profitable, the relative returns varied considerably across these factors. The marginal return of investing in individual nozzle (sprayer) or row (planter) control is less obvious and thus it is important for producers and farm managers to consider their own unique situations.

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