Agriculture in the present day is very different from that of a few decades ago, thanks primarily to advances in technology. Temperature and moisture sensors, aerial photography, GPS guidance, and even robotics are routinely used in today’s farming methods. These advanced devices help farms become more profitable, efficient, Eco-friendly, and most importantly—safer. Let’s look at a few ways that technology has changed farming!
It takes the guesswork out of crop management.
Today’s farmers face some pretty big challenges. The global population is growing, with the United Nations and USDA predicting we’ll increase to 2 billion people within the next 30 years. The climate is shifting, with an increase in extreme weather events such as drought, wildfires, and flooding. Pests are becoming more resilient, and even the soil quality is changing.
All of these variables significantly impact a crop’s yield and the farmer’s livelihood. But how are they expected to track, monitor, and effectively plan for these changes? That’s where artificial intelligence technology comes into play. AI software solutions work together with sensors and cameras, gathering real-time data and processing it in a way that farmers can easily use.
It helps them manage their crops at the plant level.
The average size of a farm in Canada is 778 acres. Traditionally, farmers view and manage their crops at the field level—but artificial intelligence technology now allows them to consider every individual plant. This allows farmers to significantly improve the quality of their crops, producing consistently high-quality yields year after year. Farmers can use AI insights to determine where certain crops will be successful, which plants require additional nutrients or protection from pests, and more.
Farmers can also use AI solutions to identify and manage weeds, eliminating the need to spray the entire field with herbicides. Computer vision and machine learning technology can accurately detect individual weeds. Once a weed is identified, the AI will send a signal to the sprayers, activating the nozzles to precisely deploy the herbicide.
It makes the harvest season more efficient.
During harvest, the combine separates the grain from the rest of the plant. However, since this process takes place inside giant machinery, farmers cannot see what is going on—and there’s no way they can inspect each kernel or seed for quality.
With artificial intelligence systems, farmers can get detailed insights into the health and quality of their harvest. Small sensors mounted inside the machinery scan the harvest, monitoring and processing the information. This data can then be used to make effective adjustments to the combine’s settings.
All of this technology requires a strong, stable computer network! BSC Solutions Group has been designing, installing and supporting computer networks for over 30 years. Contact us today to book a free, no-obligation consultation.
