It makes sense to scrutinize the financial returns of precision ag technology costs, says Matt Darr, an Iowa State University ag engineer. But Darr says farmers continually remind him about the intangible benefits of using these tools that in many cases are just as important as dollars-and-cents justification.

It's one thing to plant a straight row; it's an entirely different matter placing seed precisely and consistently where you need it to take full advantage of the newer and more costly hybrids.