Technology advances production agriculture
The face of American agriculture is changing– more rapidly now than ever before. From a team of horses and a good memory in the early 1900s to tractors with the power of 40 to 300 horses and computers with spreadsheets today, American farmers provide consumers with better quality food at a lower price. U.S. consumers spend roughly 9 percent of their income on food compared with 11 percent in the United Kingdom, 17 percent in Japan, 27 percent in South Africa and 53 percent in India.
All Americans are asked to enjoy and admire the wonders of American agriculture as National Agriculture Day is celebrated on March 20.
The agricultural industry has become increasingly sophisticated. Today’s farmers work nearly threeand one-half times more land than their predecessors from 1900. Their needs are different, the crops are different and the rules governing production practices are different.
“There is an on-going consolidation in agriculture that results in fewer farmers farming more acres,” says Doug DeVries, Sr.. vice president agricultural marketing for North America, Australia and Asia at John Deer in Moline, Ill. “Their needs for equipment are changing. Their expectations for what the equipment will do for their farming operations are also changing.”
DeVries adds that John Deere, as one primary example, has had three of its largest product introductions ever in the last four yours–despite tough economic times. “We’ve almost revamped our entire product line to provide more efficient production operations transferred directly from the equipment in the field to a Web site for easy access later. This can greatly improve their efficiency and increase the life of their equipment by ensuring more timely maintenance.
GreenStar AutoTrac is a satellite guidance system that was introduced to farmers by John Deere in 2002 and expanded again in 2003. This assisted steering system is extremely accurate (within 4-inches pass to pass accuracy) and guides the tractor in a straight line down the row. The operator still turns the tractor at the end of each pass, and must also steer around obstacles such as trees, ditches and waterways. This technology helps farmers by reducing fatigue and benefits consumers by reducing input costs so the end product costs less when it reaches the shelf.
Farmers use computer and satellite technology to map their fields for production inputs. This increases yields and reduces crop inputs like fertilizer and crop protection chemicals. “Most farmers use some form of mapping process in their operations,” says DeVries. “What we at John Deere have done is provide them with advanced technology to efficiently use those maps and track their production information to help make wise, data-driven decisions about their farming operation.”
Today’s agriculture is rapidly changing. The Internet is a great source for more information on advances in agriculture. The following sites provide extensive information on equipment technology, renewable resources, biotechnology and food safety.
• www.whybiotech. com
• www.ncga.com • www.agday.org
These are just a few of the sites available. They contain links to other sites with specific information on the various aspects of agriculture, biotechnology and food safety.
Today’s farmers understand the importance of improving the quality and quantity of food available to the world. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it is estimated that there will be 7.5 billion people in the world by the year 2002 (it’s currently at 6.2 billion). It’s agriculture’s job to find a way to feed those people. Advancements is equipment technology, crop technology and information management will make that possible. American farmers and others involved in the agriculture industry have met and will continue to meet this challenge again and again.
