Action Bias in Agriculture: Why Forward-Thinking Farmers Embrace Technology First

Hesitation can hold your farm back. Learn why taking action - even without perfect information - is often the smartest move for growers of tree crops, berries, and vines.

Jul 09, 2025

Action Bias, Psychology, and the Path to Progress

In behavioural psychology, action bias is usually framed as a flaw - our tendency to take action, even when doing nothing might seem more rational. But in farming - especially in the long-term, high-stakes world of tree crops, berries, and vines - this bias isn’t a weakness. It’s a strength. It’s exactly what forward-thinking growers need to make progress, learn faster, and adapt sooner.

Delaying action in the name of “caution” often leads to missed seasons, missed data, and missed opportunities. In perennial systems, where decisions today echo for years, waiting for perfect clarity can be the most damaging choice of all.

“In complex and uncertain situations, waiting for perfect information can be the worst decision of all. Sometimes, intuitive action - even without full analysis - leads to better outcomes because it initiates learning and adaptation.” - Gerd Gigerenzer

While inaction that leads to eventual action is probably still a bad move… the adage of “better late than never” can come around to save us. However, it’s not a solid promise. Unfortunately, it’s none other than a bit of false hope for the lazy, the late, and the laggards.

But we can take heart!

We’re not talking about reckless trial-and-error. We’re talking about intelligent bias toward motion - testing, observing, and refining with intent. The most resilient growers aren’t the ones who wait until all the variables are known. They’re the ones who start before they’re completely ready - and adjust as they go.

What is Action Bias in Agriculture?

In farming, action bias often shows up as a gut-level decision to intervene - to try something new, tweak a setting, or test a different approach. Critics might call it reactive. But when guided with intention, it's what drives learning and meaningful change.

In perennial systems, waiting too long means forfeiting seasons of insight. The cost of inaction compounds - and missed feedback loops stall both confidence and capability.

“Brilliant thinking is rare, but courage is in even shorter supply than genius.”
– Peter Thiel, Zero to One

Why Perennial Crops Can’t Wait

Tree crops, berries, and vines operate on multi-season timelines. Today’s choices affect not just this season’s yield, but your entire framework for the next three to five years. That’s why waiting - even with good intentions - often becomes the riskiest of options.

Growers who start early build more than just results. They build data, pattern recognition, and experience. This becomes institutional memory - a competitive edge rooted in action.

This isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating leverage.

The sooner you start capturing data (Drone data, soil related values, canopy health, etc) the sooner you build feedback loops that guide future strategy.

AKA, you advance.

The Psychology of the Early Adopter

Psychological research shows that early adopters share certain traits:

Openness to new experiences,
A growth mindset, and
A bias toward learning through doing.

They don’t wait for all the facts. They act, assess, and improve.

“The only way to win is to learn faster than anyone else.”
– Eric Ries, The Lean Startup

This mindset is essential in precision agriculture. Early adopters don’t rely on luck. They create systems where small experiments yield valuable insights. The “loop - try, learn, refine” mindset becomes their competitive advantage.

Action Bias vs. Analysis Paralysis

Farmers today face an overwhelming number of tools: drones, satellite data, weather APIs, connected irrigation, crop modelling…

The temptation to wait for certainty is strong. But I want to make it clear that “analysis paralysis” costs more than just the opportunity for thoughtful trial.

Consider two orchards: One begins using multispectral drone imagery to detect variability and stress. Within a season, they find gaps in irrigation and fine-tune input zones, taking on additional learnings. The other orchard manager delays, uncertain about where to start. Hence missing two full seasons of learning.

“Action is the solution and the cure to our predicaments.”
– Ryan Holiday

Progress belongs to those who move first - not perfectly, but purposefully.

Real-World Action-Forward Farming

Australia

Growers in almonds, citrus, and wine grapes have embraced connected systems - from weather monitoring to satellite imagery. Those who started early now operate with greater precision, resilience, labour efficiency, and reduced waste.

“There’s no better place for AgTech innovation than the diverse microclimates of Australia. With one of the most open and challenging agricultural industries in the world, our growers must innovate to remain competitive.”
– Ros Harvey, The Yield

Florida, USA

Grower Jeremy Ford implemented solar-powered, sensor-guided irrigation. His system doesn’t just reduce water use - it builds regulatory compliance into daily operations.

South Africa

Macadamia and citrus growers who trialled NDVI early on (2015-2019) and who have taken action on their data are now several seasons into fine-tuned in-field sampling and their nutrition schedules.

Their confidence didn’t come from stagnating - it came from… motion.

From 0 to 1: What Proactive Adoption Looks Like

You don’t need to overhaul your operation to make progress. Smart early adopters apply the 0 to 1 principle: get started with something small, then build from there.

Here’s what that looks like:

Fly a single orchard block with a drone. Study the data.
Install one soil probe in a high-variability area. Study the data.
Compare imagery to visual scouting notes…
Adjust a fertigation schedule - and measure outcomes
Review and reflect each season.

That’s how feedback systems form. And that’s how confidence scales.

When you can see and realise which of the puzzle pieces move the needle most, you can know what not to focus on, and where your time and effort is better spent.

“Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.”
– Cal Newport, Deep Work

Finding those pieces to the puzzle can only be done through systematically taking action.

Action Bias Is a Feature, Not a Flaw

Too often, action bias is misrepresented as impulsive or undisciplined. But in agriculture - especially with long-term crop systems - it’s exactly what creates momentum.

Of course, producers who act early don’t always get it right. But they learn quickly, refine fast, and build much stronger systems. The feedback loop becomes the teacher. The system becomes the edge.

So take the step.

Build the loop.

Refine your edge.

Because in farming (and in life) progress belongs to those who move.

“In complex and uncertain situations, waiting for perfect information can be the worst decision of all.”
– Gerd Gigerenzer