PHOTO: PETER ROEK
PHOTO: XAG
GLOBAL VIEW ▶▶▶
For example, manned aircraft have all of the latest tech on-board; GPS, precision applica- tion technology and electrostatic spray sys- tems. They’ve got the most expert applicators, who have years of experience. Manned aircraft can also treat hundreds or thousands of acres in a day – for massive fields, it is by far the most efficient way to spray.
For drones, the operating cost is usually under $ 10 an hour, and maintenance is simple. Spray- ing drone operators also appreciate the added safety of staying on the ground! Plus, smaller fields can now reap the benefits of aerial appli- cations (instead of resorting to backpacks).
Adding a drone to the spraying toolbox can help ag aviators say yes to more business.
Covid-19 outbreak will give a boost to farm digitisation
BY WADE BARNES T
his is the first time in my career that peo- ple not involved in agriculture have come to me, asking “Will farmers
be planting this year?” People are now wor- ried about agriculture and, in some ways, that’s a good thing, as people used to take it for granted.
Now how do I and my company Farmers Edge view the impact of the Covid-19 virus? First, there are the inputs. By some estimates, 80 percent of crop protection products contain at least one ingredient from China, where the vi- rus has caused a slowdown in production. I un- derstand that the availability of fertiliser and phosphorous isn’t something farmers need to be concerned about. But the active ingredients in fungicides, and the products themselves, need to be formulated and shipped now; any slowdown in production could have a ripple effect and result in shortage. Technology can help you better plan for such shortages and growers can adjust application rates. Our Ad- vanced Benchmarking Analytics, for example, can provide growers with data to back up any last-minute crop change decisions. We’re also
Farmers will get more digitally connected as a result of the corona pandemic; shoulder-to- shoulder contact will be replaced by remote contact.
starting to see more uptake in Variable Rate (VR) Technology’.
I’m convinced that the pandemic will boost the digitisation of farms. Many advisers used to visit farmers. Shoulder-to-shoulder was the standard way to do business, but not anymore. Our commitment has always been to foster a digital connection between growers and their trusted advisors. We’ve had to make some ad- justments along the way to ensure there are no interruptions to our services. I expect these
remote contacts will intensify. And why not? I do find some comfort in the story of an older farmer who had his first-ever Zoom video call and then said: “Wow, that wasn’t so difficult!” Farmers will embrace more digital solutions to scout their fields, to work with agronomists, and to digitally connect with insurance agents and banks. A connected farm can make better informed decisions. This will highlight the fact that the suppliers, retailers, and dealers farm- ers choose to do business with will need to adopt digital solutions, too.
▶ FUTURE FARMING | 22 May 2020 67
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