Technology in Agriculture: These Days, Even the Cows are Connected
Technology has always been present in agriculture but over the decades, and centuries, its form has changed.
Discussing innovative technology from one, two, or even three centuries ago brings to mind images of steam locomotives, cotton gins, tractors, and even the first GMOs — all various forms of technology that have transformed the way we have grown and raised food.
Today, when I think about technology, I visualize much different implementations.
To start, advanced mapping technology has taken a lot of guesswork out of spraying pastures. For example, plant and weed detection systems, precise nozzles, and drones have made spraying fields and pastures much more efficient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly. It's no longer necessary to blanket spray a field if the machinery can pinpoint specific weeds and deliver the exact amount of needed pesticide. This sure beats pulling thistle heads and putting them in a feed sack when I was younger!
Image courtesy of John Deere
Perhaps the most basic — but most widely used — form of technology in the beef industry is app-based cattle recordkeeping platforms like CattleMax, Performance Beef Analytics, and 701X Herd Management, just to name a few. I must admit, I am partial to writing our records chute side with a clipboard and paper, but once we get back to the home office, we input them into our digital record system so all parties have access to any data we might need. It's a relief to know that if the papers are scribbled on by a kindergartener, get covered in cow manure, or ripped to shreds by a puppy, we have them securely in the cloud for easy access.
Collars are not something you'd expect to see on cows, but there are numerous businesses utilizing them for virtual fencing purposes. A few uses I've found very interesting — besides the obvious "keep the cows in" — are keeping cows off riparian areas, forcing cows to mob graze specific forages, and keeping wet cows separated from pregnant cows within the same pasture. These solutions not only save time for ranchers but also improve pastures and sensitive areas.
I'll admit, I was caught off guard when I first saw a cow wearing a collar, but the benefits and uses are well worth investigating.
On our ranch, our most recently implemented technology is a device which measures pasture feed intake, provides insight on animal behaviors and helps identify when cows are out of their pasture or showing too much activity, such as being chased by a predator. CERES Tags have really helped identify certain cow families that are predisposed to heavier weaned calves and there are some exciting updates coming in the next wave of devices they have to offer. Who knew an ear tag could do more than show birthdate and sire?!
CERES Tag sells smart ear tags to ranchers, aiming toward better traceability and health. (Image courtesy of CERES TAG)
I know it sounds simple but one of my very favorite apps on my phone is my weed ID app. There are far too many varieties of weeds, and I am often annoyed at how many look alike (for example, pigweed and lambsquarters are shockingly similar). But my Picture This app is handy for helping identify the multitude of weeds we are "blessed" with in southeast Kansas and allows us to select the appropriate weed control mechanism. If only I could point my phone at a weed and instantly zap it with a laser.
I could keep droning on about the various forms and intensities of technology in agriculture — I didn't even start to address crop-specific technology(!) — but there's little reason to belabor my point.
Technology is both ever-changing and constant.
For several centuries, innovation has been the name of the game in food, fiber and fuel production. There have been three major agriculture revolutions, and we are arguably well-entrenched in the fourth. Both domestically and globally, consumers are voicing their opinions and indicating their priorities for our food supply, and our actions today will dictate what farming and ranching look like decades from now.
I hope my grandchildren will learn about the founding of our ranch and be proud of how we have blended high-quality animal care standards, precise nutrition plans and innovative technologies to meet consumer demands while remaining both environmentally and economically sustainable. I hope they will join our endeavors and share the same love of nature and science while being good stewards of livestock and land.
And I hope they show only mild shock when they discover we grew up without cell phones and Amazon.
Brandi Buzzard is a rancher, speaker, and pioneer for modern and sustainable agriculture who blends authenticity and wit to spark ideas and innovation. She can most often be found horseback in southeast Kansas or on Facebook , Instagram or AcresTV .
The post Technology in agriculture: Even the cows are connected appeared first on AGDAILY .
