Throughout history, the farm has been a breeding ground of new technology. From the first true automobile, the steam-powered tractor of the late 19th century, to the genetically modified produce of today, the farm has been at the bleeding edge of scientific advancement for hundreds of years. As the 21st century has already seen great advances in Internet-connected devices and alternate energy, the application of these technologies to the agricultural sector is sure to enhance production and spur further innovation in the years to come. The following technologies are just a sample of what happens when the Silicon Valley meets the fertile land of the American heartland.
Smart Irrigation Systems are Here
The irrigation system has been a hallmark of the farm for a long time, but it is about to get a major upgrade thanks to the Internet of Things. Smart irrigation systems will harness the power of consumer cell phone technology to connect themselves to the Internet and continuously pull weather data from satellites. No longer will farmers have to manually monitor the various conditions of their fields, as the integration of weather data with that from soil moisture sensors, photosensitive sunlight sensors and air quality sensors will be used to create optimized water schedules, specific to the needs of each crop.
As these technologies are based on components of available consumer electronics currently on the market, their impact on the farm is imminent.
Electric, Self-Driving Vehicles are Coming
As many farmers have begun to implement solar panels and wind turbines on their property to sell alternate energy back to the grid, these savvy entrepreneurs will soon be able to harness this energy for themselves. Electric vehicles will reduce the consumption of fossil fuels for farmers, freeing up funds to reinvest into their business. The advent of the autonomous vehicle will also eliminate labor costs associated with planting, maintenance and harvesting of crops, as self-driving tractors will take over these duties.
This technology, however, is not quite ready for the masses. As electric motors currently cannot produce torque equal to that of traditional diesel tractors, this technology is still in the pipeline. But the energy efficiency of today's diesel engines means modern agriculture equipment is miles ahead in reducing its carbon footprint when compared to the tractor of yesteryear. For modern agricultural equipment, contact a professional distributor, like Creel Tractor Company.
As the future looks bright for solutions to today's energy problems, look to the farm for early application of this tech.
Share8 July 2015
