Many companies, including some agricultural equipment manufacturers, bury an “opt out” clause in the fine print of documents concerning a purchase or service agreement. In such cases, the onus is on the customers, who must search for and find such a clause, then purposefully decline in order to maintain their privacy. If not, the farm’s data could be given to third parties.

The inverse of that practice, one employed by all AGCO brands, is to ask the customer to opt in to share data. “We don’t allow ourselves to have access to the customer’s information without approval,” says Jason O’Flanagan, senior marketing specialist for AGCO’s Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS).

Knowing up front who has access to your data is imperative, O’Flanagan continues. “Would you give just anyone your W-2 or your tax return? When someone else takes your yield and application maps, and planning maps, you are giving them a complete view of how your farm works.”

Because it’s critical to many precision ag operations, as well as equipment maintenance, there are plenty of valid reasons to share your data. Caution, however, is required, say the experts. “You need to know who has that information,” says O’Flanagan, “and you need to trust them to use that data carefully.”

Read more about how AGCO and its next-generation approach to precision agriculture —Fuse™ Technologies [http://www.agcotechnologies.com/]—protects your data and can enhance your productivity and profitability with the right tools, solutions and support.