We’ve come along way since the olden days when your average yeoman (yes, that’s the word, and yes, it is ancient) had nothing but a small shack, an acre of land, a cow and/or horse, and a sack of seeds. Agriculture has been evolving beyond anything we’ve imagined, with new technology promising better food production and bigger operations. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the latest advancements in the field of land management.
Constant Changes and Crafty Community
With the satellites, the internet, and the smartphones, the average farmer is, to a degree, protected against the elements. There are no more nasty surprises in the form of unexpected hurricanes, or unforeseen droughts. Weather warnings give us time to prepare and plan on what to do next.
Furthermore, we are now connected to other farmhands and landowners, so we can easily account for the attack of the pests, local pricing options, where and how to get farm equipment, and so on. You can even get the latest news on new varieties of grains and the latest farming regulation.
Automation – Robots and AI
There’s no robot uprising, just some very helpful machines doing the work manual labor would take a lot more time to do. This includes planting seeds, harvesting the crops, separating and dealing with diseased crops and so on.
To make the matter even more interesting, artificial intelligence has found a way to optimize how we cultivate the land and grow food. Machines can now track the humidity and nitrogen levels of plants, as well as follow the health and progress of our cattle. There may be less human workers on the farm, but the yield will certainly make up for that.
If you’re wondering just what it is these machines do that’s different from a good ol’, experienced son or daughter of the land, we can tell you that, for one thing, they can measure the level of Electrical Conductivity. This gives valuable info regarding proper irrigation and soil quality, which will provide greater output in the long run.
Micro-Changes for Macro-Effect
You may have heard about minichromosomes, and, if not, you are certainly familiar with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). While there are many who are skittish and squeamish about it, it holds a lot of potential for producing crops with not only greater output, but greater resistance as well.
Scientists are figuring out ways to improve the organisms’ strength and stability over time. Picture a plant that is suddenly resistant to cold or the one that is completely unfazed by the parasites that can ruin a whole year’s worth of work. If you still don’t want the plants to deviate from their natural form, there are also nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles are used in experiments to figure out their application in food production. Potentially, they could make the crops utilize the nutrients in the soil to the fullest, and become the best they can be without genetic tampering.
Rye In the Sky
Josh, my fellow writer, wouldn’t let me finish this piece without mentioning his favorite subject – vertical farming. This new way of food cultivation not only solves the issue of space, but it drastically enhances the yield, as all of the influences are carefully controlled, including temperature, light, and irrigation. What this means is that we can grow food and not gamble with the weather.
