2022 Spring Farm Outlook

Page 34 Spring 2022 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March / April 2022 Spring 2022 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March / April 2022 Page 35 these jobs need to be done under inhospitable conditions and are often dangerous. “So, startups are manufacturing agricultural robots to assist farmers with numerous farm operations, including fruit-picking, harvesting, planting, transplanting, spraying, seeding, and weeding. Farmers are increasingly relying on robots to automate repetitive tasks in the field. They deploy smart agricultural machines, such as GPS-enabled autonomous and semi- autonomous tractors for harvesting. Tractors also come with auto-steer technology for easier navigation across the field. Moreover, robots are used in automated systems in livestock management as well. This includes automated weighing scales, incubators, milking machines, auto feeders, and many more. Robots allow farmers to focus more on improving overall productivity, without having to worry about slow farm processes. They also prevent human-induced errors and provide convenience through automation. Canadian startup Nexus Robotics develops Le Chevre , a robot that detects and removes weeds from fields. The robot makes use of deep learning algorithms and cameras to differentiate between weeds and crops. This enables the robot to correctly identify the weeds, which are then removed without damaging the crops. It also collects data about the growing conditions of the crops and enables farmers to leverage the data into making informed decisions.*3” Expect this area of ag technological automation to continue to develop and grow as the migration of the population to urban areas continue. 6. Drones and aerial imaging If you don’t know what is going on, you can’t make adjustments and avoid costly setbacks. So the area of mechanized imaging continues to grow and develop. “(D)drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), help farmers overcome this hassle in an effective way. Drones collect raw data which translates into useful information for farm monitoring. Drones equipped with cameras facilitate aerial imaging and surveying of near and far-stretched fields. This data optimizes the application of fertilizers, water, seeds, and pesticides. Moreover, drones along with GPS technology, are used for livestock tracking, geofencing, and grazing monitoring. They fly over fields to capture images that range from simple visible-light Continue 8 photographs to multispectral imagery which helps in the analysis of crop, soil, and field. One drawback is they are not fit for poultry monitoring, as birds tend to get frightened by their movement. However, for others, like cattle or livestock monitoring, grazing monitoring, and crop cultivation, they are a cost-effective and invaluable tool for farmers to survey their lands. Startups are also working on drones capable of measuring the chlorophyll level, weed pressure, mineral and chemical composition of soils.*3” 7. Ag Biotech “A lot of crop yield gets wasted due to pests and plant diseases. Although agrochemicals are utilized in fields, they are not the best solution when it comes to sustainability. On the other hand, the application of biotechnology in agriculture improves the quality of crops and livestock. Scientific techniques like plant breeding, hybridization, genetic engineering, and tissue culture facilitate the identification of better traits in plants more rapidly. CRISPR-Cas9 is a genome editing technology that allows high target specificity with improved speed and precision. It produces transgenic plants with desired qualities like disease tolerance, drought tolerance, pest resistance, and high yield capacity. This enhances the profitability of farm production. Startups also leverage agri-biotech methods to provide solutions such as biopesticides, bioherbicides, biofertilizers, and bioplastics for fields. These solutions address soil toxicity concerns and ensure a minimal negative impact on the environment. *3” Gene manipulation has helped lower the rate of pesticides necessary for adequate protection, developed higher yielding hybrids, as well as helped keep up with growing and changing threats to crops. 8. Regenerative agriculture Known damages happen to the farm every time a crop is planted or harvested. “Conventional farming practices lead to long- term erosion and crusting of soil. Often, the plowing, tilling, and overgrazing don’t allow much time for the soil to revive before the next cropping season. Regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, causes minimal soil disturbance while focusing on improving soil biodiversity and topsoil revival. It involves different practices like no-till farming, reduced tillage, crop rotation, and more. For example, cover crops are planted to cover the soil between cropping seasons to restore soil fertility. Further, regenerative farming facilitates fields to act as a carbon sink through sequestration. This leads to fewer carbon emissions into the atmosphere and a lesser negative impact on climate change.*3” 9. Advances in yield monitoring and yield prediction technology Built-in and add-on systems for harvest yield monitoring have been available for some time, and have continued developing to produce detailed maps of field productivity on a micro level. The combine senses the real-time yield of each row and square foot of the acreage as it harvests. Computer analysis software provides modeling for next season fertilizer and pesticide application for higher productivity and yields. These “New technologies will allow farmers to quickly and accurately predict yields before Continue 8