(Newswire.net — March 16, 2021) —
The agricultural sector is currently enjoying some innovative new tech solutions that make their work a lot easier and as we prepare for the rollout of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), farmers around the world can automate many of their processes and by merging with AI, their businesses will be more efficient and productive. Here are just a few of the ways that technology assists the farmer with their work.
Solar Powered Electric Fencing
There are times when there is no mains power that reaches farm land and with compact solar powered JVA’s electric fencing energisers and a small lithium battery, fences can be electrified at any location. Of course, there are different models that cover a range of distances, with an electric fence station that hosts the solar panel, the battery and the control panel. There are models suitable for horses and cattle, while you can even buy a small unit to keep your dog in the garden, which is a great idea. Even when the farmer has access to mains power, they often prefer to use solar energy and a small lithium-iron battery, which powers the energiser at night.
Automated Crop Spraying
No more carrying around a heavy spraying backpack, as modern solutions use drones that are pre-programmed to run up and down the crop lines, dispensing the solution. Indeed, crop spraying drones are being developed to handle large fields and further distances, which really does save both time and money.
Drones for Crop Inspection
Drones can be used by the farmer to take close up hi-res images of crops, which allows the farmer to assess how things are going, plus the farmer can see the HD screen showing video of the crops. This eliminates having to drive to the fields and manually carry out the inspection and the drone can cover a lot of area in a very short time. If you are stuck for a gift for a friend or family member, here are a few ideas.
Seeking Quality Grazing
Some farmers have such a large spread, it can be time-consuming to drive out and find the next good grazing area, while the drone can easily perform this duty and send the footage back to the operator, who can then make a decision on the next grazing rotation. The farmer can also use the drone to check on a herd, especially when the young are born; should there be any issues, the farmer can visit immediately.
Drone Cattle Herding
We first used men on horseback, then came the helicopter, which is noisy and spooks the animals and now we have large, agile drones that silently herd the livestock to where you want them to go. Of course, this type of drone is constantly under development and improving all the time; flying longer distances, with more speed and less energy required. Click here for Australian government guidelines about recreational drone use.
Greenhouse Farming
This is one aspect of farming that can be completely controlled by AI; temperature, humidity, water and nutrients can be managed by AI and all the farmer needs to do is pick the crop and replant. In Israel, for example, farmers have their greenhouses automated using solar power and the farmer rare has to even enter the greenhouse.