ABSTRACT

The viability of agriculture is critical to the Texas economy. This creates a need to produce commodities with efficient input levels, not only satisfy environmental standards, but to ensure maximum profitability for Texas producers as well. One method of satisfying these requirements is the implementation of precision farming. Precision farming management practices were compared with traditional whole-field farming management practices with respect to yield, nitrogen fertilizer input levels, and net present value of returns above nitrogen and water costs. On the average, precision farming increased yield and net present value of returns above nitrogen and water costs (NPVR) by 0.1649% and 0.1984%, respectively, as compared to whole-field farming. However, precision farming also used 0.1564% more nitrogen application on the average. Additionally, precision farming proved to have a smaller yield and NPVR variance.