CNH Report Finds Precision Tech Gains Ground

Precision agriculture technology is becoming more common among North American farmers, with a new CNH report finding that 89% of surveyed farmers use auto-guidance and 71% consider precision technology important to their operation’s success.

The inaugural CNH Farmer Pulse: The AgTech Adoption Edition is based on a May 2026 survey of 217 farmers and ranchers across the United States and Canada. The report examines current precision technology adoption, the value farmers see from those tools, and plans for future investment.

According to the report, 54% of respondents expect to invest in additional precision technology during the next two years. Lower input costs, labor efficiency, and higher yields were among the primary reasons cited for adopting the technology.

Reducing input costs was the most frequently cited reason for adopting precision technology, with 74% of respondents identifying it as a primary factor. Saving time and improving labor efficiency followed at 70%, while 59% cited increasing yields.

The report also found that 62% of surveyed farmers said the precision technology they currently use delivers moderate or extremely high value.

For farmers considering additional investments, however, cost and uncertainty about returns remain significant considerations.

Cost was identified as a barrier by 56% of respondents, while 36% cited uncertainty about return on investment. Other barriers included the need for more training at 21%, connectivity at 13%, and ease of use at 11%.

Auto-guidance had the highest reported adoption among the technologies addressed in the report, with 89% of respondents saying they use it.

CNH said the findings indicate that precision technology has become mainstream in farming while also showing that farmers are looking for technology that is easier to use, reliable, and capable of demonstrating a clear return on investment.

"The next chapter of precision agriculture will be defined by making technology easier to use, easier to trust, and easier to prove its value. This research shows farmers recognize the benefits of precision technology and are ready to continue investing in it,” said Eric Shuman, global product management, precision technology at CNH. “The opportunity now is to remove the barriers that slow adoption by delivering solutions that are intuitive, reliable, and built around the realities of farming. Our focus is helping farmers spend less time managing technology and more time putting it to work to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase profitability.”

The CNH Farmer Pulse is intended to be a recurring research initiative examining priorities, challenges, and opportunities affecting agriculture. Future editions will address additional topics related to the future of farming.