CNH study: barriers and drivers for the adoption of precision agriculture in the USA and Canada

An analysis conducted by CNH based on a May 2026 survey of 217 agricultural producers from the US and Canada showed that autopilot systems have become standard equipment for most farms. To date, 89% of those surveyed use these technologies, and 71% of respondents consider system accuracy a key factor in their business success. More than half of the farmers (54%) intend to invest in additional digital solutions within the next two years.

The primary motivations for adopting these technologies remain the reduction of production costs (74%), time savings and increased labor efficiency (70%), as well as increasing yield (59%). When choosing solutions, farmers prioritize ease of use, equipment reliability, and return on investment.

Nevertheless, the industry faces a number of obstacles hindering the wider use of digital tools. The main barrier is the cost of implementation (56%), followed by uncertainty regarding return on investment (36%), the need for additional staff training (21%), connectivity issues (13%), and interface complexity (11%).

Erik Schuman, responsible for global product management in precision technology at CNH, notes that for the sector to continue to develop, manufacturers need to offer more intuitive and reliable solutions that address the real needs of farmers. Now that the initial phase of technology adoption has passed, the priority for developers is to prove their economic efficiency.