It’s not often seen as such, but agriculture is always on the cutting edge of modern technology. Farmers work in competitive markets, and need all the help they can get to improve their farms. This is the case today as well, and farmers are very much reliant on the latest gadgets.
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is a technology now used by large farmers and corporate farms, and will soon be used by everyone who plants crops. The sensing refers to the ability to test soil, as well as the plants and their features.
Now, you can know when a plant needs water, and what problems exist in terms of pests and their affect on the soil. All information is relayed to you remotely, allowing you to follow along on your computer and react when necessary.
Drones
Drones are a form of tech that’s often discussed as a game changer for multiple industries, and agriculture is no exception. They are a versatile tool, and can be used to fulfill quite a few purposes depending on how large your farm is and what kinds of crops you grow.
Their most common purpose is soil analysis, allowing you to keep precise tabs on how your soil is doing.
Connected Water
Water is an essential resource for any farm. It’s not an unlimited one, either. It is important to keep track of your water usage, and notice where you are losing or leaking water.
These connected water systems can alert you when a portion of your system suffers a leak or pressure problem. On a large farm that uses a lot of water, it may take awhile to notice these problems on your own. Smart systems make this easier.
Wearable Tech
Livestock is one of the most important investments you can make as a farm owner. You’ll need to purchase livestock only every few years, and can make quite a lot of income from them. Therefore, you should do what you can to protect that asset.
Wearable technology makes this easy, allowing you to keep track of your livestock. This is especially important for those who let their cattle graze and walk around freely on large property. The devices can also keep track of the vital signs for your cattle.
Artificial Intelligence
AI is another form of tech making many traditional jobs obsolete, and many find that to be a bit scary. Though it’s true that change can be difficult to accept at times, AI technology can help businesses cut costs and get more competitive in the global market. It can also make many dangerous, difficult jobs much safer to achieve.
There are many jobs like these on a farm that could make use of AI, replacing difficult and menial labor. This is especially true for those who run their farms with little to no additional staff.
Farm Management Software
In the end, you’ll need a farm management software system to follow your overall work on the farm. It is an essential tool, one that you should choose and invest in carefully. You’ll need to have the proper equipment in place as well, to support and connect your Internet of Things.
This software will quickly pay for itself, as it gives you an overall look of your business and operations. That allows you the chance to adapt based on the data your management system will gather.
Conclusion
There are many new forms of technology finding their way into the farming industry. As is often the case, adapting to new tech can be difficult, but farmers needn’t jump on all of these options at once. It’s best to go slowly, and learn how each form of new tech can work for you.