PAUL SCHRIMPF Group Editor, CropLife Media Group


When I first started reporting on precision agriculture back in 1998, there was a sense of excitement about the convergence of emerging technologies. The Internet was still in its relative infancy, global positioning was getting more accurate, and computing technology was shrinking and being outfitted for use in the tractor cab and application rig.


As we entered the new century, in the midst of an economic downturn for agriculture in general, disillusionment began to set in about the payback from precision practices. It was harder work than most imagined, and many – including other ag media companies – chose to step away from precision agriculture.


But we never wavered. Between 2004 and 2007 we launched a new series of PrecisionAg Special Reports, created the PrecisionAg Institute, and rebuilt PrecisionAg.com, a precision technology information portal that we’ve operated since 1994. During that time, the introduction of automatic steering, precision application and planting technologies and real-time kinematic GPS awakened agriculture to the power of technology once again, and we’re proud to say that we always have, and always will, champion the precision agriculture movement.


Today, along with my work on PrecisionAg branded media, I work to educate, inform, and improve precision technology through my work on AgGateway, the Agricultural Retailers Association, and program planning for the biennial InfoAg Conference. We appreciate your support over the years and look forward to working with you in 2012.


PAUL SCHRIMPF Group Editor


Ph.440.602.9142 paul@croplife.com


A ME SS A G E F R O M TH E GR OU P E DI TO R


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