Farming is an ever-evolving practice. Each year, agriculturalists, agronomists, engineers and others discover more advanced, productive and sustainable practices to enhance the agriculture industry. As a result, we see an increase in agricultural technology used in the industry ranging from the use of robots in agriculture to unmanned aerial vehicles to precision agriculture technology with GPS-monitored systems.
As the global population continues to rise, it is vital that the agriculture industry utilizes modern agricultural technology to feed the growing population. Here's a look at the state of agriculture and technology today.
Robotics in agriculture: automated farming technology
Robotics is driving a new era of efficiency and innovation in agriculture. Autonomous machines can help farmers during labor shortages and increase productivity. Currently, the most common uses of robotics in agriculture include automatic feeders, milkers, sprayers and irrigation systems.
Automatic livestock feeding systems
Automatic feeders are vital to large livestock operations. These feeders are programmed to release food at the same time each day. Since they are autonomous, they are programmed to move through a barn on their own to release the feed. These machines can help improve livestock health as livestock thrive on consistency.
Automatic feeders also eliminate human error when it comes to mixing feed. The machine will mix feed at high speeds to create a more accurate, homogenous mixture. The result is a balanced, total-mixed ration. On large dairy operations, labor and feed represent major expenses. Automatic feeders can help reduce some of these costs.
Robotic milking technology for modern dairy operations
Robotic milking parlors allow producers to spend time on other aspects of the farm as well as allow the cows to exhibit more natural behaviors. Each cow is identified through a sensor worn around its neck. This allows the machine to record data for each cow on when it was milked.
Additionally, the machine provides feed for the cow during milking specific to that individual’s lactation phase. The cows can be milked at any time and freely walk into the automatic milking machine. The machine uses a laser to identify each teat, and it monitors how much milk is being produced. If the machine notices an anomaly, it will notify the owner for further examination. It also ensures each teat is thoroughly cleaned with a brush to prevent diseases such as mastitis. After a cow enters the machine, it properly disinfects itself to reduce contamination.
Precision agriculture: Robotic spraying technology
In the field, there has been an increased use of robotic sprayers. Robotic sprayers are autonomous machines that move across a field applying liquid fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides. These autonomous sprayers can help lower labor costs and increase sustainability with precision. They optimize all their resources and apply the precise amount of fertilizer needed. Since they are autonomous and used in a field, they use GPS systems to navigate.
Robotic irrigation systems in agriculture
Autonomous, robotic irrigation systems can move throughout a field using GPS. One example is a three-wheeled machine designed specifically to move between rows in the field. The irrigation system directly applies water to the root of the plant. Current irrigation systems can use lots of water; however, autonomous irrigation systems’ precision allows for water to be saved.
Agricultural drones enhance precision farming
Technology in agriculture continues to rise to new heights due to unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones, that are transforming farming practices. As a result, we see an increase in precision and efficiency. The main uses of drones in agriculture are to monitor plant health or to spray pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer.
These agricultural drones are equipped with thermal and infrared cameras to monitor plant health. The thermal cameras can detect field moisture and determine if part of the field is not irrigated properly. Additionally, infrared cameras can analyze how much light is being absorbed or reflected from the plant. From this information, farmers can determine if their plants may have a micronutrient or macronutrient deficiency.
Agricultural spray drones also promote sustainable agricultural practices. These drones are equipped with a camera so the pilot can fly them properly across fields. Additionally, the sprayer is used to efficiently apply pesticide, herbicide or fertilizer to a field. The drone ensures that there is no excess spraying, which reduces the potential for contamination to a neighbor’s field and the risk of damaging your own soil.
GPS in precision farming systems
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is not a new concept. It has been around since the 1980s and is commonly used every day. However, today in agriculture, it enables more advanced systems such as autosteer, yield mapping and autonomous machines as mentioned earlier.
The modern-day tractor has made many leaps and strides since its creation in the late 1800s. Combining today’s technology with older concepts has resulted in the advancement of technology that uses GPS systems. Currently, a little over 50% of farmers are utilizing autosteer and yield mapping to enhance their operations. Autosteer is one of the most common improvements made to the tractor. It allows for precision row guidance and reduces fatigue from the operator. Autosteer uses real-time kinematics (RTK) or GPS, allowing the steering to be controlled.
Additionally, yield mapping is used in agriculture by accessing GPS data. Yield mapping allows farmers to see their field variability. It allows them to identify high and low yield areas in a field. As a result, farmers can determine the best practice to improve low yield areas in the field. Data is collected in the fall by the combine in real time. In the spring, farmers analyze the data to individually manage certain parts of the field.
In conclusion, agricultural technology is an ever-changing field. Advancements in precision agriculture technology are being made in every area ranging from livestock to row crop operations. These advancements enhance sustainability, precision and efficiency. As the population continues to rise, so does the need for increased productivity through advanced agricultural technology solutions.
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