TY - JOUR T1 - What to do with all the maps JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 110A LP - 110A VL - 57 IS - 5 AU - Duane Friend Y1 - 2002/09/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/57/5/110A.abstract N2 - 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 … ER -