GPS steering and guidance equipment companies and their dealers have been on a building spree of real-time kinematic (RTK) networks in recent years.

State transportation departments also have built statewide RTK networks. Although designed primarily to assist with surveying, these networks can be used to provide RTK signal corrections to mobile users, including those in agriculture.

The new Prairie State Technology Center offers a place for practitioners to experience precision technology through real world experience.

The top precision ag technology trends in 2008 all share two common factors — they have gotten much easier to use and are incredibly quick.

Cotton Farming magazine article

GPS Satellite Technology Giving Farmers Direction in Their Fields

If farmers are considering incorporating precision agriculture equipment into their farm operations, now might be an ideal time to adopt the technology.

Jordan Qualm and his uncle decided to do their own strip-tilling after they purchased an AutoFarm RTK (real-time kinetic) auto-guidance system. “We can strip-till perfectly straight with this technology,” says Qualm. “As a result, we're able to strip-till for people with any planter size on 30-in. rows.”

"The cost of the systems we bought equaled the cost of buying another tractor, but the efficiency we gained with them is actually better than it would be with an additional tractor." Replogle believes the auto guidance systems save easily 15 percent on tractor operation costs.