In an age of rapid technology advancements throughout the entire agriculture and food supply chain, farmers are under more pressure than ever to update equipment and practices to “precision agriculture” quality. However, many barriers exist for this transition, even outside of cost. While precision agriculture itself can benefit the environment and consumers, farmers also benefit from the highly precise approach to inputs. But this can prove burdensome.

Precision agriculture equipment like yield monitors, which have been on the market since the 90s, have been slow to be adopted. A congressional report last week listed the many barriers farmers face when it comes to adopting new practices. They are: concerns regarding data collection, poor access to the internet, incompatible equipment, and, in some instances, a simple lack of time or other resources. The General Accountability Office’s (GAO) report offers policy options that encourage greater adoption of precision agriculture.

Read more on the barriers and GAO’s policy recommendations to overcome them here.