ABSTRACT

It is imperative that agricultural service providers have the most accurate cost information possible before making a considerable investment in variable rate application (VRA) equipment. Costs differ widely among the various VRA systems available. In Tennessee, the 1-bin and 2-bin spreader beds mounted to existing chassis with an owner-added variable rate controller and global positioning system (GPS) are the most feasible. The truck spreader systems required substantially more acreage or larger custom charges making it difficult to breakeven and nearly impossible to earn a profit.