Farm Technology Adoption & ROI Assessment

Welcome, and thank you for taking part in this survey about on-farm technology use and outcomes. This survey should take approximately 8–10 minutes to complete. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you may stop at any time. There are no right or wrong answers—we are interested in your honest experiences and opinions. All responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate for research purposes. Please answer based on your most recent growing season where applicable.

Which farm enterprises do you currently operate? (Select all that apply)

• Row crops (e.g., corn, soy, wheat)
• Perennials (orchards, vineyards)
• Vegetables or specialty crops
• Greenhouse / controlled environment
• Livestock / dairy
• Other

Which of the following technologies are currently in use on your operation this season? (Select all that apply)

• Sensors and in-field monitoring (soil, weather, crop)
• Drones / UAV for scouting or mapping
• Smart irrigation / variable rate irrigation
• None of these

How long did it take to see measurable benefits from the technology you use most?

• Under 6 months
• 6–12 months
• 1–2 years
• More than 2 years
• Still evaluating / not sure

What are the main reasons you are not currently using these technologies? (Select all that apply)

• Unclear ROI or business case
• Upfront cost is too high
• Lack of in-house skills or time
• Operation is too small or complex for these tools
• Connectivity or coverage constraints
• Regulatory or insurance concerns
• Not relevant for my crops or livestock
• Waiting to see proven results from others
• Tried before and was not satisfied
• Other

Which of the following best describes your plans for on-farm technology over the next 12 months? (Select all that apply)

• Expand use of sensors / monitoring
• Expand use of drones / UAV
• Expand smart irrigation / variable rate
• Replace or upgrade current solutions
• Pause or reduce use
• Adopt technology for the first time
• Unsure

We'd like to explore your experience with on-farm technology in a bit more depth. An AI moderator will ask you a couple of brief follow-up questions based on your responses so far.

What is your primary role in the operation?

• Owner / operator
• Farm manager
• Agronomist / consultant
• Irrigation / water manager
• Other

Thank you for participating. Your insights will help us better understand real-world on-farm technology outcomes and guide future investment decisions. We appreciate your time.

What is the approximate cultivated area across your operation?

• Under 100 acres
• 100–499 acres
• 500–1,999 acres
• 2,000–4,999 acres
• 5,000+ acres
• Prefer not to say

Approximately when did you first adopt any of the technologies you selected above?

• Within the last year
• 1–2 years ago
• 3–5 years ago
• 6–10 years ago
• More than 10 years ago

Which technology has delivered the highest return on investment (ROI) for your operation so far?

• Sensors and in-field monitoring
• Drones / UAV for scouting or mapping
• Smart irrigation / variable rate irrigation
• Not applicable / too early to tell

When, if ever, might you consider adopting any of these technologies?

• Within 12 months
• In 1–3 years
• Beyond 3 years
• No current plans
• Unsure

Please rank the following factors by how important they are when selecting a technology vendor or solution (most important first).

1. Price and clear ROI
2. Ease of use for staff
3. Integration with existing machinery and software
4. Hardware durability and uptime
5. Data accuracy and quality
6. Service, training, and support

Based on your responses throughout this survey, what single change—whether in technology, vendor support, or farming practice—would most improve your return on investment next season?

How many years have you worked in farming or ranching?

• Under 5 years
• 5–10 years
• 11–20 years
• 21–30 years
• Over 30 years

Which of the following best describes the current deployment scope of these technologies across your operation?

• Pilot or trial only
• Limited (under 25% of acres/units)
• Moderate (25–75%)
• Extensive (over 75%)

Approximately how long did it take (or do you expect it to take) to recover the initial investment for your top ROI technology?

• Under 6 months
• 6–12 months
• 1–2 years
• 2–3 years
• More than 3 years
• Not yet recovered and uncertain
• Not applicable

Where is your primary production region?

• North America
• South America
• Europe
• Africa
• Middle East
• Asia
• Oceania

What is your best estimate of the annual ROI for your top-performing technology (net of all costs)?

• Negative (costs exceed benefits)
• Break-even (roughly 0%)
• 1–10%
• 11–25%
• 26–50%
• Over 50%
• Not sure / too early to estimate

What is your age group?

• Under 25
• 25–34
• 35–44
• 45–54
• 55–64
• 65+
• Prefer not to say

How much impact have these technologies had on reducing your input costs (seed, fertilizer, chemicals, water)?

How much impact have these technologies had on improving labor efficiency?

How much impact have these technologies had on increasing crop yield?

How much impact have these technologies had on reducing risk through earlier detection of problems?

How much impact have these technologies had on overall operational efficiency (speed, precision, decision-making)?

Please rank the following sources of value from your farm technologies, from most valuable to least valuable.

1. Input cost savings
2. Labor savings
3. Yield gains
4. Risk reduction (earlier detection)
5. Operational efficiency (speed/precision)

Which of the following challenges have most limited the value you get from these technologies? (Select all that apply)

• Data integration with existing systems
• Connectivity or coverage gaps
• Staff training and uptake
• Hardware maintenance or uptime issues
• Battery or power limitations
• Weather or field conditions
• Regulatory or flight restrictions (drones)
• Upfront or ongoing costs
• Other