After a too-short night’s sleep, “Jim” rolled over to look at his clock. Squinting at the blue light glowing into his eyeballs, he groaned: “Ah, 4:30 already! Up and at ‘em!”

Walk along with him – if you can keep up. Pulling on a fresh t-shirt, well-worn jeans and hikers while hopping down the hall, first order was to power up his laptop. The smartphone was just too tiny for early-morn poking and viewing.

Weather news first – the five-day outlook. Would there be enough dry days plus heat units to move 4-inch-deep soil temperatures closer to the 50-degree “green light” for corn planting? Checking the longer range forecast, it looks good – maybe.

4:40 a.m.: Mouse click to the markets. “Dang! October corn slipped another nickel. Shouda booked another 5,000 bushel for early delivery  . . . yesterday!” Onward to the 30- and 45-day outlook crystal-ballers. “Gotta check at Noon. Rumor has it soybean carryover will be cut today. May need to pull the trigger on a bean contract. ”

4:50 a.m.: Another click, to the wheat scab prediction center. “Hmm, fusarium’s heating up southeast of here. Better double-check with the crop protect guys about spray products, timing and, oh yeah, cost. One more to-do,” he sighed in resignation.

Spotting his bulging email folder, he clicked again. Scrolling down, the farmer was relieved: “Nothing that can’t wait.”

5 a.m.: Dallying time’s up, and he was off to the machine shed and his already arriving help. First order was to make that new $3,000 sprayer controller "talk" with the cab’s command module.

Failing that, "plan b" will be to call in that smart new precision ag kid at XYZ’s dealership. “It’s gotta be up and running by 10:30. Should I call now, or wait a while?” he wondered. “Naw, let’s do the hope and pray set-up first. He’s a cell call away.”

That’s just an early-morn glimpse at the growing complexity in a few of the on-the-run decisions that today’s farmer must make as the spring rush cranks up. What'll it be like in 10 years?