The marketplace for data-driven products and services is seeing rapid evolution in the field of agriculture. The benefits for farmers are already well-recognized. For starters, data helps farmers recognize trends with greater certainty, it can help validate decision-making and it leads to improved production practices immediately or over time. It also enables farmers to streamline the records-keeping process and maintain viable records for future generations. Additionally, its helps farmers to satisfy specific customer demands and to verify sustainable practices.
Farmers need service providers to collect, manage, store and interpret data from the farm. But, engaging a data partner can be tricky and there are several questions farmers should consider in making a decision, such as if the partnership ends, who does the data belong to? Is the data protected? Is the data shared, and with whom? Is the data compatible with the farmer’s existing equipment?
These are some key considerations for farmers when engaging a data service provider. Farmers should understand the implications of these four key questions. Data-driven technology and processes will be the basis for the next revolution in agricultural productivity. Don’t be shy of the upside from investments in these technologies, but do give adequate consideration to these key areas.
