There’s growing interest from outside the traditional agriculture world in what’s happening on the farm and the arrival of new ideas and people will change the sector in ways we can’t yet predict. I continue to hear stories from people about academics with no connection to agriculture becoming involved in agriculture research. Consultants say they […] Read more
Tag Archives technology — page 16
Editorial: Will agriculture seize the moment?
Hydroponic system offers year-round on-farm feed solution
The vertical farm system can make sense where land is expensive and dairy feed scarce
Imagine having a steady, fresh supply of livestock feed available daily that’s not subject to price fluctuation or unpredictable weather. That’s the vision behind HydroGreen’s fully automated system that applies the principles of indoor vertical farming to producing livestock feed. “In agriculture specifically, we have some very important dilemmas where farmers are being asked to […] Read more
How to get drones into fields, doing useful work
The value of the tech has often been oversold, despite potential for useful applications on farms
For some ag-tech enthusiasts both, realizing the full potential of drones on farms and ranches requires a better overall understanding of the technology’s limitations in agricultural systems, as well as less marketing misdirection. The financial and time commitments required to accrue, process and act on drone-derived data has been a significant barrier to achieving the […] Read more
AgScape reach increases with digital resources
Teachers looking for online programming have increased use of digital options
It was a farm tour that would boggle the mind in real life. But luckily for Cassi Brunsveld, the 18,000 students and 990 teachers who had signed up for the YouTube live stream weren’t going to arrive on her dairy farm in person. Brunsveld, program and resource assistant with AgScape, and a dairy farmer, took […] Read more
Instant expert access allows better decisions on the farm
AGVisorPRO brings diverse expertise in agriculture into one app
There are many experts in the agriculture sector with valuable input and advice to share, but making the connection when and where it’s needed is often difficult. For Patrick Walther and Robert Saik, the solution is a virtual platform to bring farmers and agribusiness professionals together in real-time. The two co-founded AGvisorPRO last year in […] Read more
Farm automation likely adopted in high-value crops first
Ontario crop service company creates agriculture robotic division
The growing number of new crop automation products coming to market are finding their first uses in high-value crops, like vegetables or grapes. Several farm robots featured at the recent AgRobotics and Automation event hosted by the RH Accelerator focused on higher-value crops instead of corn, soybeans or wheat. The interest is creating new players […] Read more
Solar-powered trap hunts what bugs crops
Insects pose for mugshots and get identified in a digital lineup before the scouting call gets made to the farmer
Glacier FarmMedia – Metos Canada offers remote monitoring of crop pests with a lineup of IOT (internet of things)-based devices, called iScout. Why it matters: Crop monitoring tools can help farmers protect fields and avoid yield-damaging pest incursions. The devices are built by Austrian technology firm Pessl Instruments, which sells a roster of wireless sensors […] Read more
What’s new in planter technology
Manufacturers look to better precision, compaction reduction – and speed
In the hunt for higher yields, equipment manufacturers are combining more digital tech with in-field iron to alleviate a variety of planting challenges – from compaction to uneven planting depth. Addressing localized compaction For Shawn Livingston, Eastern Canada regional manager for Precision Planting Inc., the impact of localized compaction on crop root development has been […] Read more
How viable is mechanical pollination?
Pollen collection, not just distribution, is a major hurdle for those trying to help insects
An Israeli start-up company has developed a mechanical pollination system that it says will help ensure the continued production of nutritious food. There is concern about the decline of pollinators and its effects on food production. Pollinators play a critical role in moving pollen from male to female parts of the plant that result in […] Read more
Satellites to change rural internet delivery
Low earth satellites help solve latency issues of earlier satellites
Elon Musk’s Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) network has been awarded US$885 million over 10 years to build rural internet access in the United States. This amounts to an almost billion-dollar vote of confidence in a service that is at the preliminary consumer testing stage. Why it matters: Better quality internet will help drive more […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
