Modern Agriculture Technology

The agricultural and farming community is made up of generations of people very familiar with the need to adapt and adjust; be it from the weather, new crop demand, insects, broken equipment, high-tech equipment, sick animals, banking discrepancies, or poor harvest, modern agriculture technology will be able to lend aid. For farmers, entering into a digital age is just another adjustment that may alter their work and lifestyle, but it is an adjustment that could offer benefits that many farmers are not even aware of.

This so-called digital age is comprised of the electronic technology and devices that have become so prevalent in our everyday lives. Online shopping, Facebook, iPads, Netflix, paperless billing, online banking, Google, and much more make up the digital world that whizzes around us. It may seem that modern agriculture technology wouldn’t directly influence the farming industry, but the connections and opportunities available from a digital world provide an extensive world of possibilities for all industries.

So what specific digital resources can members of the agriculture and forestry industry take advantage of? Here’s a list of a few…

• Twitter: Follow Twitter accounts like the USDA (@usda) for updates and news. The USDA has a good reputation for responding to questions directly posed to them on Twitter and uses this social platform to assist farmers. Other useful accounts to be considered include @JohnDeere, @FarmingFutures, @machinefinder, and many more.
• Farming Blogs: Several farmers, farm hands, farmer wives, and farming community members share information, experiences, stories, photos, and advice via online agriculture blog posts. By subscribing to a farming blog you will be updated whenever new information is added to a blog that you find relevant.
• Smartphone Apps: If you’re a farmer with a smartphone or tablet, then you are aware of how many exciting apps are at your fingertips; these apps can include useful farming information and tools as well. Agriculture Apps like “SoilWeb” give the most recent USDA soil report for your location, while “Growing Degree Days” determines the maturity of your crops based on past growing data. The next time you go to click on Words with Friends, take a second to browse through the library of farming and agriculture apps to see what your mobile device can do for your farm.
• Buy and Sell Online: Sites likes Machine Finder provide a space for farmers to search used John Deere tractor equipment from dealers and shop around for the best price and quality. Shopping for equipment on the Internet opens up a much wider market filled with options that you might not have locally.

We understand that change is hard and not everyone wants to embrace modern agriculture technology and new ways of thinking. For those of you who are interested in testing out how the digital age can work for you, we highly recommend you give it a try; you may be surprised by the result.

photo credit: iStockPhoto.com/[shotbydave]