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ILLUSTRATIONS BY BEN RANKEL
Some of these crop traits have been de-
veloped using traditional breeding practic-
es. Others are products of biotechnology,
or Bt, that involve genetic modification.
As a farmer, I know that using biotech
seed has reduced the amount of chemicals
that my family and I are exposed to. It
also means the amount we till is greatly
reduced. The end result for me is less pes-
ticide, healthier soil and less soil erosion.
Did I mention I can grow more food using
the same amount of land and water?
For livestock, most advancements have
been the result of traditional breeding by
selecting for specific traits, such as leaner
meat, faster growth and improved hardi-
ness. The arrival of gene-editing technol-
ogy represents a potentially powerful new
science for plant and livestock genetics.
ROBOTICS
Robotic milking machines are used on
many Canadian dairy farms and it’s an
amazing thing to see in action. A neck
collar carries an electronic tag unique
to each cow. The milking robot is also a
feeding station so when the cow enters
the station looking for a meal, the ID tag
transmits the cow’s information and she
receives a meal customized to meet her
exact nutrient needs. While she is eating,
the robot attaches suction units to each
teat and the cow is milked without stress
or human handling. Time farmers previ-
ously spent milking two or three times a
day is now spent monitoring and ensuring
herd health and comfort.
On the crop side, small robotic tractors
are also starting to find their way into
fields where they can work 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, to remove weeds or
perform other tasks.
REDUCED TILLAGE
Traditionally, farmers would plow or till
their soil to prepare the land for planting
or seeding a crop. This took a lot of time
and fuel, and has a negative impact on
soil health. Zero- or no-till equipment
has changed this by allowing seed to be
placed in the soil without tillage of any
kind. Crop residue from the previous
year is left in place to hold down the
soil and prevent wind and water erosion
over the winter months. Leaving the
residue on the soil surface also encour-
ages healthy activity from soil-borne
organisms that feed on the residue and
enhance soil health. Long-term, adopting
zero-till practices allows farmers to build
organic matter and enhance
soil productivity, resulting
in a lower carbon footprint
overall. Zero-till practices
also capture carbon dioxide
in the soil, thus contributing
to a reduction in greenhouse
gases.
BIO-MONITORS
It’s like FitBit for animals—
bio-monitors are devices
that have been developed for
horses, pigs and cattle to de-
tect and wirelessly share body
temperature, movement,
respiration rate, stress levels
and more with the farmer.
For some species, bio-mon-
itors help the farmer know
when the individual animal
should be bred. If incoming
data is outside of normal ranges, it can be
an early warning of a specific disease or
health issue for the herd.
DRONES
A UAV (unmanned aircraft vehicle) or
drone with a camera can provide a bird’s-
eye view of large fields. Most are GPS-ena-
bled, so if there is a problem area detected
via the drone’s camera, the farmer can
access the GPS co-ordinates to visit the
spot and investigate further. Some drones
use an infrared camera that can measure
plant health and identify stressed areas
that are not showing visible symptoms.
Thermal detection cameras can help
ranchers find individual animals by
detecting body heat. And there are drones
that have been equipped with a small tank
and the ability to spray herbicide on indi-
vidual weed escapes across a field, elimi-
nating the need for a full field treatment
with a big sprayer. We’re still in the early
days of drone technology, but farmers will
find creative ways to put them to work.
Peter Gredig is a corn, soybean and wheat
producer near St. Thomas, ON. He is also
a partner in AgNition Inc., a Guelph-based
mobile development company focused on
building agriculture apps and solutions.
Follow Peter’s tweets
@agwag.
The Food Issue
2016
grainswest.com41