{"id":13796,"date":"2021-12-14T14:01:17","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T20:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/futurefarmer1.wpengine.com\/?p=13796"},"modified":"2021-12-21T08:48:00","modified_gmt":"2021-12-21T14:48:00","slug":"playing-chess-not-checkers-3-moves-to-a-data-driven-resource-management-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/futurefarmermag.com\/playing-chess-not-checkers-3-moves-to-a-data-driven-resource-management-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"Playing Chess, Not Checkers \u2013 3 Moves to a Data-Driven Resource Management Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About the Author:<\/strong> The business of farming is a lot like the game of chess. Strategy. Skill. Staying a step ahead of the opponent \u2013 although, unlike chess, growers have multiple opponents including weather, pests, and other factors out of their control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Different resources like equipment and people are like different game pieces, each with their own functional abilities and rightful place in the field (on the board). Just as a grandmaster does not move a bishop or knight without a thoughtful reason, growers must use a strategic plan, factoring in all resources, and based on more than gut instincts and experience. And every decision made is ultimately for one, big-picture goal: protect the king. Of course, on the farm, the crop is king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Precision ag data is a useful tool to make good, informed decisions in playing the strategic game that is farming. Without good data, it is like only seeing half of the opponent\u2019s pieces. It is important to see every piece of the board, not just the pawns and the rooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think we can all agree one of the biggest challenges of implementing a data-driven precision farming strategy is overcoming feelings of overwhelm. In my years of working with growers, one of the ways I have learned to address this challenge is to focus on smaller, more manageable areas. I have identified three key resources growers need to manage on a daily basis: people, equipment, and inputs. Here are a few examples to show how good precision data can be helpful in these three areas and used to play chess, not checkers \u2013 that is, make strategic management decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erin Hightower <\/em><\/strong>has worked in farm planning and agronomy for 15 years. As an Agronomist at RDO Equipment Co., Erin works with team members and growers, and focuses on education, training and conducting field trials. She is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and Certified USDA NRCS Nutrient Management Planner, Certified Conservation Planner and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planner<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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