Farm operations that embrace increased productivity through technology will help drive the world’s economic recovery, according to Ray O’Connor, president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems. “And this drives top-ranked technology companies to continue to support strong R&D efforts.”

“In tough times, increasing productivity through the acceptance of technological breakthroughs will be the difference in success and failure, the difference in being competitive and trailing the competition.

“The economic turnaround will be technology-fueled, driven by the products of forward-thinking companies and the forward-thinking businesses that buy the products that increase productivity,” he said.

The key to any successful farm operation “is managing time to optimize results. If you can save time on every phase of every job, you put more money in your pocket. If you find a technology that will make your machines and people more productive, you become more competitive. And, if you look at what technological breakthroughs can do to not only help you make it during the tough times, but exceed, or even double, the industry averages, you will be in the driver’s seat when business turns around.”

History, he said, “shows us this is true. The companies that emerged from the Great Depression in the 1930s strong and viable adopted emerging technologies when times were tough. They made investments in technology to maximize productivity in every phase of their operation.

“The same opportunities exist today.”

O’Connor says the company’s AGI-3 next generation satellite signal receiver and System 150 prove it’s drive for innovation. “It’s not just another improvement on an old technology. We’re talking about a unique technological innovation,” he says. “It sets the standard for complete in-the-field control of machinery and applications.

“If farm owners recognize the need to do whatever is necessary to create a lean, efficient operation in the economic conditions we are all facing today, the first thing to check out is what technologies are available to increase productivity in their operations . . . and do whatever is necessary to obtain that technology.

“In this economy, the future viability of many farm operations will depend on expanding upon or adopting that forward-thinking philosophy.”