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Abstract
Precision farming – besides other aspects –
enables the reduction of use of chemical substances in
crop production while decreases farming risks,
contributes to specific field-crop-plant applications,
makes production processes more designable and
increases profitability. The introduction of a new
technology requires complex farm-management
decisions, including the consideration of economic
correlations (costs-yield-income). Considering the three
basic meanings of sustainability, the farming strategies
have to meet these requirements. There are several
alternatives to reduce artificial chemical use (applying
new chemicals with lower doses, chemical-free ways like
organic farming, negative environmental taxes,
precision farming, etc.).
In Hungary the farm structure is polarized, there are
large crop producing farms (operating over 1000 ha), a
lot of small farms (working less then 50 ha), but the
number of middle sized farms is growing up,
fortunately. Precision plant production could be a real
alternative for them in their efforts to optimize chemical
use, but the capital investment required for shifting to
this technology, should also be considered. It is
necessary to examine the conditions under which it will
be a viable decision from economic point of view. It can
be stated that the extra investment will be returned
above 150-160 ha crop producing farm. Risk of return
depends on soil conditions, weed coverage and could be
decreased by increasing the utilization of machinery.
The objective of the study is to examine the economic
consequences of precision plant protection, to find the
answers to the questions which may occur when the
farmer turns to precision farming.