In the past, the last thing a farm worried about was their internet connection. This is still probably true for a lot of farms today. This is changing though, like most things. If you are in agriculture or farming, it is time to brush up on your knowledge. As you know, technology can make things easier, optimal and more efficient. Some of the advances in precision farming software development are incredible. The applications are almost endless. It does not matter if you farm cattle, operate a greenhouse or have a 10,000-acre farm. Every advantage you can find will save you time and money. As the margins become slimmer, the more you can work smart the better. A small micro-farm can out produce a medium-sized farm through intelligent use of technology.
Precision Ag can help you be more energy and resource-efficient. It can improve your supply management and crop management. Let’s discuss some ways that technology is improving farming.
If you are in farming or agriculture, the management of your resources is of the utmost importance. Every dollar you can save, every ounce of supply you can save the better. This is especially true as our climate becomes more unpredictable. Farms are adjusting the way their energy and water are used. In high drought areas, drones can be used to send water to the most affected areas of crops. On the other hand, if an area has been experiencing heavy rain, then the irrigation and nutrients might need to be adjusted.
Water moving pumps can be automated if flooding is being sensed in one area. If there is a break in a line, an alert can be sent right away to warn someone. Livestock can be monitored from drones. There are just a few examples of how a connected farm can improve operations. Weather patterns can be analyzed to build models for the future. If you are looking to upgrade your current farm, time is of the essence.
Out with the Old, in With the New
Luckily, the tech industry is catching up with agriculture and farming. There are software developers who understand computers, as much as they do crop management. Not all tech is the same, so look for a company that specializes in precision farming software and development. A good example of an industry leader would be Digiteum.
Any company you bring in to automate your farm must keep your data secure, offer robust reporting and forecasting abilities, and offer start to finish support. A lot can go into transforming the way your farm operates. Sensors, servers, monitors, data stations must all work together. Security is also a big concern. Once you bring the internet into a process, your data becomes at risk.
The initial implementation cost will require budgeting but pales in comparison to the savings over a period of time. Reducing labor and energy costs alone are huge. If you throw ineffective supply and resource management then you will be set up for the near and distant future. You might not have thought the same thing that brings you hilarious cat videos, can change the way you run your farm.
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