Joshua Bailey
Farm Technology Manager
KC Bailey Orchards, Inc
IoT4Ag Agricultural Systems Advisory Board
More about the Ag Systems Board
Joshua Bailey served as an invited panelist for a session at Ag Progress Days called, Ag Robotics in
Action: Farmer-to-Farmer Insights Across US Northeast’s Diverse Agricultural Landscapes (August
12, 2026, Penn State University). We caught up with him after the panel to ask three follow-up
questions.
Q: Why is it important for farmers using precision agriculture technologies to share their experiences with other farmers?
Bailey: Sharing experiences helps open the discussion about what actually works in real farm
conditions, including the reliability, costs, and benefits of various technologies, as well as the workflow
changes they require. There’s also a lot of research and development going on among individual
companies that’s similar but coming at it from different angles. When farmers share their experiences,
they help funnel the direction of these developments to better meet farmers’ needs.
Q: What advice would you give to farmers who are interested in precision agriculture but aren’t sure where to start?
Bailey: Don’t get bogged down with the hype. Start with a specific problem precision agriculture could
solve on your farm, consider the return on investment and required operational changes, and be
thoughtful about the companies and solutions you choose to work with. Training, local support, and
reliable service are just as important as the technology itself.
Q: How can industry and universities better support farmers who use or want to use precision agriculture tools?
Bailey: Industry should develop rugged, practical tools and provide strong technical support, while
universities should test technologies independently in different regions and farm conditions. Both can
offer training, help farmers interpret data, and connect farmers with researchers and technology
developers, especially through off-season workshops and/or seminars through extension in
collaboration with tech companies.