Precision Agriculture Boosts Crop Production and Environmental Stewardship in the US

Strategic Insights -

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has released an updated study, The Benefits of Precision Ag in the United States, in collaboration with industry partners. The report highlights the significant gains in productivity, input efficiency, and environmental stewardship achieved by farmers using precision agriculture technologies. The updated analysis expands on AEM's 2020 study and provides quantifiable evidence of the benefits of precision agriculture, including a 5 percent boost in annual crop production and land-sparing benefits equivalent to five times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

Key Takeaways:

  • The current adoption of precision agriculture has driven a 5 percent boost in annual crop production, with an additional 6 percent potential gain if adoption increases further.
  • Land-sparing benefits from precision agriculture have helped avoid the cultivation of 11.4 million acres of cropland, an area comparable to five times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
  • U.S. farmers utilizing precision ag technology have reduced input costs while boosting overall productivity, contributing billions in efficiency gains to the farm economy.
  • Precision agriculture enhances resilience in the U.S. food supply chain and helps stabilize prices for consumers by enabling more efficient production.
  • A targeted spray application case study shows savings in herbicide volume of 50-90 percent, depending on application window, and rapid adoption growth across varying acreage scenarios.
  • Curt Blades, AEM Senior Vice President of Agriculture Services and Forestry, notes that farmers using precision ag technologies today are reaping meaningful gains, including healthier soils, responsible water use, and fewer emissions.
  • The report shows that if precision practices continue to scale, the impact could be extraordinary, offering a clear, data-driven case for advancing policies, investment, and infrastructure that support precision agriculture.

Statistics:

  • 5% boost in annual crop production due to current adoption of precision agriculture.
  • 11.4 million acres of cropland avoided through land-sparing benefits from precision agriculture.
  • 6% potential gain in annual crop production if adoption of precision agriculture increases further.
  • 50-90% savings in herbicide volume through targeted spray application case study.
  • 2020 AEM study on precision agriculture.
  • August 2025 release of the updated study, The Benefits of Precision Ag in the United States.

Sources:

  • Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)
  • American Farm Bureau Federation
  • American Soybean Association
  • CropLife America
  • National Corn Growers Association