Economic Performance of Precision and Conventional Maize Production: Comparative Analysis Using Hungarian Farm-Level Data

This study evaluates the economic and agronomic performance of precision maize production under drought-stressed conditions using farm-level operational data from Hungary. A 2024 paired-field case study compared a conventionally managed field (46.65 ha) with a precision-managed field (67.61 ha) using variable-rate fertilization and seeding. Data collected via the John Deere Operations Center enabled 10 × 10 m spatial analysis. Results indicate that despite severe moisture limitations, the precision-managed field achieved a 3.85% higher mean yield (6.47 t ha−1) than the conventional system (6.23 t ha−1). The observed economic advantage was associated with a 5.58% reduction in total production costs through site-specific resource allocation. Consequently, net profit increased by 62.98%, rising from 168.95 USD ha−1 to 275.36 USD ha−1. Spatial analysis demonstrated that precision management synchronized economic outputs with inherent site potential, with management zones accounting for 70.70% of profit variance, compared to 53.3% in the conventional field. Regression models confirmed a tighter alignment between NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) and profitability in the precision system. These findings suggest that under spatial heterogeneity and climatic stress, precision agriculture enhances economic resilience by mitigating inefficient expenditures, providing a strategic buffer against input costs and climate volatility.