CEDAR FALLS - A grim economic outlook for grain and livestock has producers searching for ways to save money.

Vendors specializing in technology and farm management at the 22nd annual Hawkeye Farm Show in the UNI-Dome say raising more corn or hogs isn't necessarily the answer. Agriculture experts and farmers say efficiency is the key to success.

The three-day show started Tuesday. The event is free to the public. A $5 parking fee has been waived by the University of Northern Iowa.

Judging by the increased number of technology-related and precision agriculture booths at the show, organizers say businesses are responding to customer needs.

John Sampson, marketing director for Midwest Shows based in Austin, Minn., said there was probably only a handful out of about 200 companies that annually attended the Cedar Falls event that filled the high-tech bill. Now there are several booths on either side of each row that producers can see latest in computer guidance systems for implements, bookkeeping and marketing software, precision planting and other ways to make farming more efficient.

"Weather and (commodity markets) are still beyond anyone's control, but (farmers) can eliminate the guess work on anything else," Sampson said.

Iowa State University Extension grain and livestock experts believe grain and livestock producers will have a tough time making money this year, given current commodity prices and input costs. For example, many experts believe the break-even price for corn will exceed $5 per bushel while cash prices this week are less than $3.50.

Sampson said buying Farm Works Software, a Hamilton, Ind.-based business attending the show, could stave off losses. The computer software integrates farm accounting, record keeping, field mapping and layering and wireless data transfer into one system.

Shannon Roder, a farmer from Marathon and Farm Works dealer, said the first few hours at the show were fruitful. He told several Northeast Iowa farmers about the system.

He said the software, which costs a little more than a $1,000, will pay for itself in a year and then some. If properly used, hiring an accountant will be a thing of the past and yields are bound to increase and expenses cut down by knowing exactly where or where not to apply fertilizer.

"This will be a year for farmers to survive. … Farmers are trying to save money doing things themselves," Roder said. "(With Farm Works) you will know the bottom line of every acre."

Kevin Holl of Conrad already owns Farm Works, but stopped at the company's booth to see if any updates were available. He said the field mapping features are especially helpful, to precisely place fertilizer and find out if tile lines need to be replaced.

"The yield monitor will show a drop that you can't see. You print off a map using Farm Works and you can see a pattern," Holl said referring to wet area due to bad tile. "Maybe you have to spend money to make more money."

JNJ Farms of Hudson is selling Precision Planting equipment at the show. The aftermarket planter attachments that sell for about $140 per row make sure every seed is placed evenly apart and at the right depth. The computer-guided equipment will even let farmers control how many seeds are planted in specific areas based on past performance. One acre may require 28,000 seeds while another 34,000.

JNJ co-owner Jason McKenna said yields have increased 7 percent at his family's operation due to better and even germination. Plus, farmers can save money by not wasting seed, he said.

"You want to spend money wisely," McKenna said.

Hawkeye Farm Show hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Early birds arriving by 10 a.m. can enjoy free coffee and rolls with KOEL Farm Director Liz Brown.

Contact Matthew Wilde at (319) 291-1579 or matt.wilde@wcfcourier.com.