Agricultural technology is the digital innovations supporting crop and animal production. Agriculture has economic and social significance. Conventional farm practices have become inadequate for food since the global population is growing. The labor shortage in farms is rampant, and traditional farming practices cannot satisfy the demand for food. Additionally, climate change is challenging farm productivity beyond the farmer’s control.
However, agricultural technology is providing solutions to tackle these problems. For instance, greenhouses, vertical farms, and the automation of routine operations are increasing productivity and efficiency. Farmers are optimizing returns from small pieces of land and a manageable number of animals while preserving the environment. Various new technologies are helping farmers enjoy these benefits.
Drones and satellite imaging are improving farm management. Drone technologies are enabling the monitoring of large-scale farms. With unique imaging resources, drones can monitor crops and provide clear images and videos to farmers. They can identify plant health issues and allow quick response to avert losses. Moreover, farmers can monitor plant density and decide if replanting is necessary.
Additionally, drones facilitate spray application and planting. Farmers can now spray their fields on a large scale or in specific areas using this technology. Drones also navigate inaccessible farm areas, such as tea plantations on steep hills, enabling farmers to utilize them effectively. Besides, drones can plant approximately 400,000 seeds daily, significantly minimizing operational costs. This application is valuable to forestry, harmonizing lumbering rates with new tree seeds in bare forest areas.
Drones are also crucial in farm security. Farmers can easily monitor farm operations remotely, track the use of agricultural equipment, and reinforce perimeter demarcations to mitigate theft. Ranch owners also monitor their animals to identify injuries and illnesses and maintain records to identify losses.
Soil and water sensors are valuable technology in irrigation. Farmers can install these gadgets in the ground to determine water and nutrient levels. Aerial and satellite sensors are also available and can feed data without interfering with farm operations. These parameters determine productivity in irrigation, grain quality, and water conservation rate.
Utilizing this technology is economical for large-scale operations. Determining soil moisture contents is a routine activity that saves energy and labor. With the data from sensors, farmers decide when to water and fertilize their plants and the next period to check on them.
Robotic innovations are another important farming technology. Autonomous tractors provide labor precision and release workers from repetitive driving. Driverless tractors are programmable to run through specific lengths of the farm, avert obstacles, and turn around using a mobile application.
In addition, automatic planting, feeding, and watering devices resolve labor shortages on the farm. This robotic development saves time and costs since they can work for long hours under remote management. Chicken farmers rely on autonomous feeders to attend to their birds, enabling their growth and expansion. Farms only require a few employees to operate and maintain these gadgets.
Besides, weather tracking informs farmers’ decisions to improve yields and avert risks. Weather is an essential factor in the success of crop and livestock production. Weather radars detect precipitations and map out the level of rain farmers can expect throughout the calendar. Large farms invest in precipitation centers to determine appropriate times to plant and avert losses.
Moreover, weather radars can predict the speed of precipitation to warn farmers about oncoming floods or droughts. Meteorological uncertainties no longer hinder productivity, and crucial decisions, such as when to increase flock size, are becoming accurate. Climate change is a significant issue in modern farming, but sustainable food production is possible with this technology.
