Farms are essential for a functional society. Without effective farming practices, people won’t have access to food, and famine can set in globally. Because the world has entered a digital age, technology can benefit commercial and local farmers. Whether you grow crops for your community or raise livestock for commercial slaughter, here are some new tech ideas you can use on your farm.
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Automatic Watering
The first tech advancement you may want on your farm is automatic watering. Every year, millions of gallons of water are wasted on the planet’s farms. Around 70% of global water used annually goes toward farming, and 40% of that is lost. By installing automatic watering systems on your farm, you can reduce your personal water waste, saving you money and improving the planet’s health. Gadgets like a smart water valve allow you to control your water usage from your smartphone, making routine chores like filling water troughs or watering crops a breeze.
Along with smart watering, using greenhouses for vertical planting or hydroponics can reduce water usage and improve your farm’s sustainability. Depending on the method you use, you can increase your crop yield, reduce fertilizer and herbicide needs, and lower overhead costs with greenhouse planting. Many urban farms have adopted these planting methods as well, as they allow for more plant saturation in a smaller area. Because there is a higher demand for local farmers to produce more products, investing in greenhouse planting may improve your profits. Whether you turn to hydroponics or smart watering systems, automatic watering technology can benefit your farm.
Livestock Monitoring
New farm tech isn’t limited to agriculture. Livestock farming is just as crucial to the planet’s food resources but has the disadvantage of being chronically underappreciated. Unfortunately, 1 in 7 people are undernourished, and animal proteins play a massive part in proper nourishment. Livestock monitoring technology can help you judge the health of your herds, as well as spot illnesses early on. These monitors are usually worn as a collar or ear tag and provide herd health data to an online program that you monitor.
Not only do these sensors monitor herd health and watch for illnesses, but they also allow you to hand-pick the breeding stock for the next generation. When animals with undesirable genetics breed, it can lead to herd culling down the line due to poor disease resistance. Knowing which animals are healthy with good genetics will help you establish a strong, nutritious herd that fetches top dollar. In addition to garnering extra profits at the butcher or market, you also save money by reducing the amount of livestock lost from illness or poor nutrition. Using livestock monitoring systems can help you keep your farm running at peak efficiency.
Farm Management Software
Finally, using some form of farm management software can help you take your farm to the modern age. These computer programs will help you organize and analyze data such as selling prices, employee schedules, crop rotation plans, and production costs. Where you once may have been relying on hand-written books and meticulous records, farming software can make your job easier and less stressful. When you use one of these programs, you’ll have more time to spend in the fields monitoring your crops and livestock rather than sitting in the office trying to balance the books.
Depending on the software you use, you can get alerts on when the optimal time is to till, plant, fertilize, and harvest. While your experience gives you an edge over AI technology, farm management software has access to weather databases and local statistics that can give insight into the best times to manage your crops. Combining your knowledge with the intuition of farming software can take your business into a new age, making this growing season the most profitable one you’ve ever seen.
In summary, farming will never be unimportant. Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of society, and they deserve new tech advancements. With these gadgets by your side, you can launch your farm into a new season of prosperity.