Robots on the Farm

Science fiction is quickly becoming fact in the agricultural world. Today, many farmers and agribusinesses are looking toward the future and at autonomous farming machinery or “robots” to help enhance efficiency, decrease workload and increase productivity.

While using technology at the farm is nothing new, some companies are beginning to push the envelope. For example, Jaybridge Robotics and Kinze Manufacturing recently partnered to create a robot drone tractor, which uses guidance-communication systems to allow a tractor to function without an operator.

Farmers are already using global positioning systems to guide tractors and combines, but that technology still requires an operator. By removing the operator from the equation, Jaybridge and Kinze hope their “robot” tractor will solve a persistent problem for many farmers — finding skilled, reliable labor.

“You put in such long hours at harvest and if you have one less person that’s needed, or you still have the same number of people helping but they can relieve somebody else a little bit during the day, it would make it much nicer,” said Jason Ochs, a Kansas farmer during a KVNO radio report.

With autonomous farm machinery, a farmer could theoretically plant and harvest 24-hours a day — a feature that would enable farmers to be particularly productive during periods of good weather.

Employing robots and other autonomous machinery could also free farmers to focus on managing their business or even having rare downtime with their families.

“Just this past Christmas we had a customer that had just started two of our robotic milkers with their herds,” said Mark Futcher, a product manager with milking machine manufacturer DeLaval in a Kansas City Star article. “That Christmas morning was the first time that gentleman had ever been witness to his children finding their Christmas stockings.”

What do you think about robots helping out around the farm? Would you use robot technology to reduce your workload?

Photo obtained from: gamersanon.com

New technologies advance the agriculture industry

Today’s technology advancements are changing corn, wheat and soybean production.

As more food is needed for the growing world population and there is less land on which to grow it, new advancements in technology are especially important.

A recent article in Farm Industry News describes new agriculture technologies for farmers and how technologies can benefit the agriculture industry.

Technologies Changing Agriculture

• Telematics: This technology allows navigation, prescription application, location and other data to be transferred easily to and from farm machinery to help farmers improve efficiencies on expensive equipment.

• Drought-resistance traits: The next round of drought hybrids will include genetically modified traits. Scientists are currently using biotechnology to alter one of the many different factors involved in a plant’s growth during water-restricted and high-heat conditions.
  

• Soil and crop sensors: More farm equipment is being outfitted with smart sensors that can read everything from plant health and water needs in the crop to nitrogen levels in the soil. The sensors then enable on-the-go application of inputs based on real-time field conditions.

• Pervasive automation: A product feature that reduces operator workload, this new automation allows operators to do more jobs with less strain and more accuracy because human error is eliminated. Features include: GPS steering, conventional headlands programmable automation, automatic balers, automation of operator control of combines and forage harvesters and automation of tractor operator functions like intelligent power management.

• Hyper precision: With real-time kinematic (RTK) navigation available, precise seeding and fertilizer applications have become a reality. Manufacturers are introducing controllers, drives and shutoff systems with ever-finer resolution and the ability to apply multiple products at variable rates.

• Biologicals: More biological pest control and growth enhancements are expected as farmers look for more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient crop inputs. Advanced technologies like high-throughput screening are helping companies to quickly multiply beneficial organisms, thus driving development of new biologicals.

These advances are key components to a farmer's ability to continue to produce a sustainable supply of food, feed, fuel and fiber for domestic and international customers.

According to the Center for Food Integrity, in the next 40 years the world will need 100 percent more food than is produced today and 80 percent of future production growth must come from increased yields using the advancement of new innovation and technology.

For more technologies changing the agriculture industry or for more detailed information about the technologies mentioned above, visit www.farmindustrynews.com.

What do you think about the new technologies that are changing the agriculture industry? Do you know any farmers who are utilizing these technologies? What types of technologies do you think are needed for the future?

Photo obtained from: farmindustrynews.com