What to do with all the maps

Excerpt

Precision farming has been promoted as a useful tool for agriculture. Producers are using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and yield monitors to determine variable rate applications of inputs, such as fertilizers. Collecting information associated with a specific location is only the beginning in agricultural decision-making. To fully analyze the spatial data gathered by GPS and yield monitors, a Geographic Information System (GIS) is required. GIS can provide detailed evaluation of spatial data and is an excellent tool for examining interactions between variables, but it is a technology that may not be accessible to all because of its complexity.

As more people attempt to use this technology, a steep learning curve is encountered. While early adopters of technology are likely to accept this learning curve, there is still frustration that software is not more “user-friendly.” Work constraints may not allow the time necessary to become proficient in software as multifaceted as GIS. This raises the question of how a GIS platform can be effectively used as an agricultural management tool.

For the near future, it appears that the complexity of a GIS will limit the use of an individual with just a basic familiarity of the software …