Starting a New Chapter

In less than three weeks my collegiate career will be coming to an end. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Economics I hope to continue helping farmers in their financial endeavors.

This blog has helped me share the economic benefits of farming technology. From the simple tractor to many advances in drone technology. These are exciting times for farmers. New technology will continue to be introduced making it easier to feed the world.

As I won't be continuing this blog I wanted to leave everyone with some sites that I found to be helpful in keeping up to date on agriculture technology.

Successful Farming shares stories from all branches of agriculture:

• Crops
• Livestock
• Business
• Machinery
• Technology

The technology articles will keep you up to date on controversial issues along with federal regulations. This is a great place to stay informed about the usage of drones.

Another website I found helpful was Farming Industry News. They recently came out with a list of Top 10 agriculture technology of 2015. I encourage you to further look into these devices, maybe one could benefit you. Here are a few examples:

• Wearable Computers
• Sensors in Agriculture
• 3-D Printing

These past 10 weeks have not only let me utilize my degree to inform everyone of the many benefits of agriculture technologies but I was also able to enhance my writing skills. As I begin my future career I will continue to advocate and educate my community of new technologies that will emerge in the future.I now have the skills to answers those tough questions and share the stories of our worlds' hard working farmers.

http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/english/mice/exhibitions/2388-2013-advanced-agricultural-technology-expo-korea-hosts-first-agricultural

Drone Regulations

https://wiki.usask.ca/display/~pdp177/Sustainable+Technology+-+Drone+Use+in+Agriculture

In a previous post on this blog drones were introduced as a beneficial technology for farmers. Benefits were shared why every farmer in the future should have a drone on their farm and the potential increase in profits from them.

The topic of drones is huge. Drones are not just used for recreational use but for government and agriculture endeavors. As one begins to read about the many benefits of drones, articles of debate over regulations may appear.

So today this post will be about organizations that are out there fighting for the uses of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Before we jump into those advocating for UAVs, let's talk about what the issue is.

Iowa State University posted an article explaining the Federal regulations that are currently imposed on UAVs. All aircrafts, including drones, are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has stated that is is illegal to fly all commercial drones. The debate is established when thinking, what qualifies as a commercial drone?

The FAA's ban on commercial drones applies to agriculture uses of drones such as crop scouting, disease monitoring, precision spraying, and livestock monitoring. Even with this ban, farmers know of drone uses and have begun using drones.

Farmers have stated that their drones fall into the "model aircraft" category. According to the the Iowa State University article, "In the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act (the "Reform Act"), Congress defined "model aircraft" as unmanned aircraft flown "within the visual line of site of the person operating the aircraft for hobby or recreational purposes.""

After much debate within the FAA in 2014 they issued another notice clarifying the regulations of UAVs:
"The FAA states that "Determining whether crops need to be watered that are grown as part of commercial farming operation” would not be a hobby or recreational use falling under the model aircraft exception to FAA rulemaking. In contrast, “viewing a field to determine whether crops need water when they are grown for personal enjoyment” would, under the FAA notice, qualify as a “hobby or recreation” flight."

So, in conclusion, even with the regulations in place the technology is there and farmers want to use it. But in the meantime, farmers may test drive drones in their personal gardens.

To read the full article visit: https://www.calt.iastate.edu/article/agricultural-drones-need-new-regulations-take

In the fight for agriculture drone use, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is an non-profit organization set up to advancing the UAVs and robotics community. AUVSI has a whole sight set up with blogs and  articles related to the newest advances in regulations for the use in UAVs. Anyone can become a member of AUVSI. Members receive information to help them advocate in their communities.

AUVSI understands the future of UAVs and wants to make sure regulations do not hinder this advanced technology.

To become a member of AUVSI or find out more information on UAVS check out their website:
http://www.auvsi.org/home

http://www.auvsi.org/home

Fighting the Tough Times

 

https://www.proreferral.com/hg/ways-earn-money-your-property/

Five years ago it was a great day every day to be a farmer in the Midwest. Commodity prices were high and interest rates low; this combination allowed farmers to have purchasing power for new equipment or land.

 

Recently, China’s economic contraction has shown detrimental impacts on the US commodity markets. With a possible reduction of exports to China, commodity prices have fallen as of recently, but with every completed trade with China the commodity markets react positively. Lower prices and uncertain volatility affect all areas of the agriculture industry.

Jim Monke talks about the risks of credit in his book Agricultural Credit: Instituitions and Issues" (2015). Low prices have farmers in a financial frenzy. Input costs are not decreasing while commodity prices continue to decrease.

Many have recently financed farmland loans for a 15-year term but with lower profitability and working capital an increase to 30-year loans may be done to reduce per acre payments.  This is becoming a common conversation in most loan officer’s offices these past couple months. Farm debt has reached an all time high of $318 billon at the end of 2014. Data shows that this is to rise 3% in 2015. 

 Debt-to-asset ratio has been up and down the past 50 years but in the last 5 years, the ratio has been on a steady incline and is expected to be at 10.9% in 2015. Debt-to-asset ratio is used to determine the risk factor for the lender; a lower ratio shows less risk. 

In these low price, high risk times farmers try to incorporate technology as often as they can, but it is also one of the areas farmers cut back on first.

Marc Arnusch shows his sprinkler system that monitors one of the pivots in his fields. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/6/farmers-consider-expensive-tech-amid-low-commodity/?page=all

Marc Arnusch of Greeley, CO comments on the need of technology in an article from the Washington Times: "I don't see that technology is a luxury at all, I see it as important as the tractors on our farm."

Arnusch uses soil-moisture monitoring in this fields. He buries tension probes in the field that senses how much water is in the soil. Last year, he used 20% less water on his corn crop.

If farmers can adapt to ag technologies they too can see lower operation costs.

To read the full article with Marc Arnusch: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/6/farmers-consider-expensive-tech-amid-low-commodity/?page=all

Sources:
Monke, Jim. "Agricultural Credit: Institutions and Issues." National Ag Law Center. Congressional Research Service, 8 Apr. 2015. Web. 13 April 2016.

http://www.agweek.com/

Agweek.com has a variety of stories to inform you in all aspects of agriculture. The website is inviting in the beginning. There are large photos that scroll on the main page. These photos represent the latest news articles in agriculture. 

This week on agweek.com the latest topics are:

• Planting Report and Spring Safety Tips
• Agri-Weather Forecast with John Wheeler
• 30 Rules For a Healthier Lawn
• As Planting Nears, Farmers Urged to Slow Down and Think

These articles not only apply to those directly involved in agriculture but consumers as well. The planting report and tips of planting for those who farm and lawn tips and weather is for everyone.

The website is user friendly by having broad topic tabs such as, news, crops, and livestock easily accessible at the top of the page. These tabs can be used to access latest controversial issues and research news.

Along with informative articles agweek.com also provides blogs by selected authors. 10 bloggers post various articles about their predictions of markets to personal stories from their farm. These articles can bring a little bit of light into some of these gloomy days of farming.

An article by Jonathan Knutson talks about planting. He asks readers to share the earliest they have started planting. This is an interesting article to look into for farmers to reminisce over their years of farming. Those years that you couldn't get into the field because there was so much snow still to those years you were in very early and then it never rained. 

Farmers can use agweek.com to connect with other farmers from around the world.

https://www.agr.state.il.us/facts-about-illinois-agriculture/

To read Jonathan Knutson's full article on agweek.com click this link: http://www.agweek.com/columns/jonathan-knutson/3980928-ag-right-early-signs-early-planting

For more articles like those found on agweek.com, martketwatch.com is another knowledgeable sight.

The Future Is Here

A John Deere quad track is now on the market as many green lovers have anticipated for years.

This video shows the newest tractor in the John Deere line up. The link will take you to a video John Deere has created to give you full insight on why the new 9RX tractor has all the bells and whistles a farmer could ever want.  

Informative video of the John Deere 9RX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKtEQJ3HuXA

Example of benefits:

• Larger Footprint-more flotation
• Mud and debris rejection
• Doesn't require daily oil inspections
• E-18 transmission with efficiency manager adds to ease of driving
• JD Link Connect and AutoTrac ready
• Wireless data transfer

These are just a few examples of the new benefits, it even includes a refrigeration system.

In August of 2015, John Deere released the exciting news for a new tractor. John Deere has been missing a piece of their puzzle with not having a quad track but the 9RX is here to fill in that missing gap.

An article in Successful Farming by Jessie Scott, explains the heart of the 9RX, the smooth ride, and the available options.

“When we designed the undercarriage, we wanted good reliability and ease of maintenance,” explains Jerry Griffith of John Deere. “Around reliability, one of the first things you notice is the taller undercarriage and larger components used compared with competitors'. One of the main benefits of a larger undercarriage is that the belt is 20% longer, which should provide 20% longer life.”

These benefits alone can improve a balance sheet for a farmer. Most farmers buy new equipment every few years causing debt to increase. Having the time to actually pay off this tractor will only increase income for the farmer in the long run.

Jessie Scott also talks about the ease of maintenance. The new 9RX is lubed-for-life, mid-roller design allows you to go up to 1,500 hours before checking the oil level and never requires an oil change.

With this kind of technology, a farmer will be able to go longer in the field. This can maximize yields by having the seed get into the field as soon as possible. 

For more information check out these sites:

http://www.agriculture.com/machinery/tractors/new-tractor/john-deere-9rx_199-ar50011

http://JohnDeere.com/9RX

Benefits of Variable-Rate Seeding

http://www.precisionag.com/guidance/variable-rate/a-doubeshot-of-precision-ag-services/

A practice many farmers are starting to consider on their farm is variable-rate application (VRA) seeding.

This new technology is used to increase bushels in low areas, eroded hillsides, or even wet areas by increasing or decreasing the amount of seeds planted in an acre. Farmers utilize satellite images, and soil and yield maps to take a closer look at the productivity of their land.

http://www.sstsoftware.com/products/imagery-services/field-examples/

The image above is a field that shows areas where variable planting is needed. The red areas are where yields were lower and could be increased with VRA seeding.

In an article by Lon Tonnenson of Prairie Farmer, he shares the benefits of VRA seeding. On a farm in South Dakota, the most noticeable differences in yield and profits has come from the eroded hilltops. The seeding there was cut from 30,000 seeds per acre to 24,000 seeds per acre. Data collected after harvest showed yields increased by 20 to 30 bushels per acre.

Increasing bushels is the key to increasing profits in this low price market.

Reducing the seed population reduces the cost of seed per acre on the low productive areas. This increases the yields, therefore, increasing profits. Corn is a crop that on lower productive and drought prone areas will benefit from lowering the seed population to increase yields.

South Dakota State University and North Dakota State University have also been conducting research on seeding rates.

"The interaction between corn, soil, fertilizer and the weather is extremely complex, making it difficult to scientifically predict yield increases from variable-rate planting," says Kurt Reitsma, South Dakota State University Extension precision farming specialist, Sioux Falls.

Dave Franzen, North Dakota State University soil specialist has worked with variable-rate technologies, says "growers should investigate all parts of the planting process; make sure that seed spacing is as uniform as possible, as well as be able to vary seeding rates."

He also encourages farmers to work with their seed supplier when varying seeding rates with soil characteristics. This will ensure the right hybrid is placed where it is needed at the right seeding rate.

For more research information from NDSU Extension: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cpr/plant-science/soybean-row-spacing-and-seeding-rate-05-08-14

Or, to read the full article from Lon Tonnenson from Prairie Farmer: http://farmprogress.com/library.aspx/does-variablerate-seeding-pay-2/12/1783

Robotic Milking Systems

Robotic Milking Systems seem to be the talk of all rural towns. Dairies are popping up throughout the Midwest with this new technology. The question that everyone is asking, is it worth the high costs?

The robots were first introduced in 1992. Since then, 8,000 dairies have adapted to this new technology. With the needed hand labor to milk dairy cows in a parlor system, the struggle for maintaining a reliable milking staff is growing for dairies. Using a robotic milking system reduces the number of employees and increases the flexibility of labor hours. By implementing a robotic milking system a family farm could eliminate a non-family workforce.

http://www.lely.com/en/milking/robotic-milking-system/astronaut-a4_0

Robotic milking systems are a large investment to implement on a family farm. According to  Lely, a company specializing in agriculture robotics, one Astronaut A4 milking system can milk 60 cows by itself.

Therefore, having multiple robots decreases the risk of malfunctions that can delay milking. According to Iowa State Extension, a financial statement on robotic milker costs $150,000 on average to purchase. With the addition of a robot, the barn is in need of restructuring to remove the parlor and position the robot. Total cost of the investment being $210,000. With this robot installed cows may be milked on their own free will as they do not have set times to be milked morning and night anymore. A 10% increase in milk production is anticipated with improvement of herd health and increase in milk production efficiency. With happier and healthier cows, the farmer can see an income increase of $55,000.

For more information on how a robotic milking system could benefit your farm: Iowa State University Extension

Sources:
http://www.lely.com/en/milking/robotic-milking-system/astronaut-a4_0
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/dairyteam/sites/www.extension.iastate.edu/files/dairyteam/Robotic%20Milking%20Systems%2011%20Tranel.pdf