Roger Brook, MSU professor of agricultural engineering, is conducting the study in an effort to determine where and how universities best can provide research and technical support for precision technology users. We need to develop an understanding of how precision agriculture technologies are being used nationwide, Brook says. We just finished a paper survey in Michigan, Purdue has done one, so has Ohio State, but nobody s asked what s going on in other regions of the country and done it in a similar format. Farmers can access the web site and take the survey, which should take 15-20 minutes to complete. The survey will be available through Sept. 30.
Brook plans to offer results on the same web page by the end of the year.
He'll also present findings in Extension presentations, publications and talks at professional meetings. This will help us understand how farmers are using these technologies and where the needs are for further research and development, Brook notes. I want to know how people are using these tools, where their problems are and what we can do to help them make better use of the technology.