1. Precision Agriculture Economic return of John Deer 455 Box Drill vs. John Deer 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Thomas Entz

2. Economic Return of a Box Drill Vs. No-Till Air Seeder Goals To find the selling prices of each drill. To find the selling prices of each drill. Determining positive and negative affects of each drill. Determining positive and negative affects of each drill. Finding the amount of total input the air seeder will save when planting winter wheat. Finding the amount of total input the air seeder will save when planting winter wheat. The amount of time it will take the savings from the air seeder to cover the cost difference between the box drill. The amount of time it will take the savings from the air seeder to cover the cost difference between the box drill.

3. John Deere 455 Drill

4. Selling Price of John Deere 455 Drill 35 Ft.

5. John Deere 1890 No-Till Drill

6. Selling Price of John Deere 1890 No-Till Air Drill 36 Ft.

7. Seed Planting Depth Box Drill vs. Air Seeder When crossing terraces with a box drill the opener and press wheel location causes seed to be placed too shallow on the back side and too deep on the front, causing skips. This occurs because the press wheel is located 15 inches behind the openers.When crossing terraces with a box drill the opener and press wheel location causes seed to be placed too shallow on the back side and too deep on the front, causing skips. This occurs because the press wheel is located 15 inches behind the openers. When crossing terraces with a no-till air drill the press wheel is 4 inches behind the openers. This allows the seed to be placed at a constant depth over terraces.When crossing terraces with a no-till air drill the press wheel is 4 inches behind the openers. This allows the seed to be placed at a constant depth over terraces.

8. 455 Opener & Press Wheel

9. 1890 Air Seeder Opener & Press Wheel

10. Planting Methods with a Box Drill The 15 inch distance between the openers and press wheels cause farmers to either plant following the direction of the terraces or planting over the terraces and replanting the spot initially missed by drill floatation. The 15 inch distance between the openers and press wheels cause farmers to either plant following the direction of the terraces or planting over the terraces and replanting the spot initially missed by drill floatation. Contour planting involves individually planting each terrace. This increases the number of turns and also occasionally involves double planting the center pass. Contour planting involves individually planting each terrace. This increases the number of turns and also occasionally involves double planting the center pass.

11. Planting Methods with an Air Drill The 4 inch distance between the openers and press wheel allows the air drill to cross terraces and plant in a straight line. This decreases turning time and the amount of seed used. The 4 inch distance between the openers and press wheel allows the air drill to cross terraces and plant in a straight line. This decreases turning time and the amount of seed used. Planting in straight lines is 30% faster than contour planting. This decreases multiple input costs: fuel, labor, repairs, maintenance, and seed. Planting in straight lines is 30% faster than contour planting. This decreases multiple input costs: fuel, labor, repairs, maintenance, and seed.

12. Model Farm Size & Input Costs 3,000 Acres of Winter Wheat  Repair & maintenance cost  Fuel & lube cost  Labor cost  Seed cost

13. Repair & Maintenance Cost John Deere 455 Box Drill Acres per hour = 0.1212*6mph*35ft*0.70 = 17.82 APH Hours of operation = 3,000 acres / 17.82 APH = 168.38 hours Repair & maintenance = 0.32 * $54,147 * [(168.38hr/1000)^2.1] = $410 John Deere 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Acres per hour = (17.82 * 0.30) + 17.82 = 23 APH Hours of operation = 3,000 acres / 23 APH = 130.42 hours Repair & maintenance = 0.32 * $99,592 * [(130.42hr/1000)^2.1] = $442

14. Fuel & Lube Cost John Deere 250 HP 4WD Tractor Pulling 455 Drill Acres per hour = 0.1212*6mph*35ft*0.70 = 17.82 APH Hours of operation = 3,000 acres / 17.82 APH = 168.38 hours Fuel cost = 0.35gal/acre * 3,000acres * $3.60/gal = $3,780 Lube Cost = $3780 * 0.10 = $378 John Deere 250 HP 4WD Tractor Pulling 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Acres per hour = (17.82 * 0.30) + 17.82 = 23 APH Hours of operation = 3,000 acres / 23 APH = 130.42 hours Fuel cost = 0.40gal/acre * 3,000acres * $3.60/gal = $4,320 Lube Cost = $4,320 * 0.10 = $432

15. Labor Cost John Deere 250 HP 4WD Tractor Pulling 455 Drill Labor cost = ($15/hr * 168.38hr) * 1.2 = $3,030. John Deere 250 HP 4WD Tractor Pulling 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Labor cost = ($15/hr * 130.42hr) * 1.2 = $2,347.56

16. Seed Cost John Deere 250 HP 4WD Tractor Pulling 455 Drill Jagger seed wheat $10/bu Seed cost = ($10/bu * 1.66 bu/acre) * 3,000 acres = $49,980 John Deere 250 HP 4WD Tractor Pulling 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Jagger seed wheat $10/bu Seed cost = $49,980 - ($49,980 * 0.30) = $34,986

17. 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Cost Savings 455 Box Drill Operating Cost/year $57,578 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Operating Cost/year $42,527 1890 No-Till Air Seeder Cost Savings/year $15,051

18. Capital Recovery Period Annual cost reduction benefits of the air seeder = $15,051 Increased purchase cost of the air seeder = $45,485 Number of years to repay cost difference ( $45,485/$15,051) = 3.02 years Over a 10 year period the air seeder will save ($15,051*10years) - $45,485 = $105,025