Hollis Isbell grew up watching his grandfather and father plow fields in Colbert County before he stepped into the family business as a third-generation farmer.

In recent years, agriculture equipment companies have introduced several "precision farming" technologies, such as light bars, which guide tractors. But "hands-free" or "auto-steer" technology ...

"It's the best bang for your buck," he says. "I suppose I went up about 70 percent on my speed. We're taking twice as much swath, and we're going even faster than the guys taking that much. It's ...