IoT
Internet of Things in agriculture. How the smart farming “solution” wave is transforming agriculture for better or for worse.
Enjoy,
David Proctor
Agriculture’s Internet of Things-Solutions
by David Proctor
September 19, 2024
Urban Farm Lifestyle Magazine Published Weekly
The task of farming can be very costly and laborious, especially in large operations.
Who would not want the technology used on tractors for planting, fertilizing, and spreading herbicides and pesticides?
With the new age of monitors, drones can fly down rows of crops and spray exactly the target weed or pest then fly off to the next one.
Animals can have chips inserted and they can be monitored for estrous cycles, health, identity, and even location.
Drones can follow herds for tracking, and grazing patterns, and determine water and feed requirements.
Self-driving tractors have been around for some time.
This all translates to a more efficient, labor-saving, greater profit, saving the environment, along with tighter supply chain fulfillment.
You might wonder how anyone could find a problem with “smart farming”?
Future Farm
I love to fly drones.
I have never flown one for this purpose but just for fun.
I can see how sending a drone up to check on the herd could be fun and time not in the field but spent elsewhere.
This is where I see the disadvantages.
Time not spent in the field to have a hands-on with your livestock or to see the plant and soil condition; to me is a disadvantage.
I am looking at this topic from the small farmer’s point of view.
Monticello Garden
If I had a very large farm or livestock operation, this view might be different.
For the homesteader or person on a few acres, I have trouble seeing how this could be a benefit over the personal touch given to raising crops or livestock.
In fact, to me, this is not farming but just factory production on a large floor plan.
I hate to think of how many transmitters and receivers are required to make this Internet of Things work on a farm.
What happens if the internet goes down?
What happens if you get hacked?
Grass Fed Beef
So now your farming operation is being analyzed by AI?
How expensive is all this monitoring and if you have a cash flow problem will the farm collapse?
What if you cannot afford the monthly fees and upgrade costs?
Are you allowed to work on or repair this new technology?
Who removes the chips from the animals we eat and what happens if we consume the chips?
So many things on a farm require the skill and experience of a farmer who cares about their crops or livestock.
I do not see any resemblance to nature and natural eco-farming in this techno approach.
How is the livestock below ground being monitored, our microbes that help build soil and feed the plants and animals?
I am sure that the Internet of Things works perfectly for some operations.
Do we really need more EMFs on our farms?
5G
What is the long-term effect on the farm family from all the 5G and future 6G transmissions needed to make this all work?
We still hear the same old mantra that we must feed the world!
Then why are we growing less nutritious food with greater inputs and we end up growing “Go Foods”; carbonaceous, instead of “Grow Foods” which have more protein?
This is a very sterile hands-off form of agriculture.
I believe we should grow or raise for nutrition per acre or animal instead of commodity bulk per acre or animal.
We need to get our hands in the dirt and smell and touch the soil.
Worm Farm
We need to touch our animals with a caring hand and watch, listen, and learn from them.
Next time you are out at your place, leave the cell phone off.
Remember what it was like to not be tethered.
Fear in the name of “SAFETY” in outbreaks of contaminated food products is being used to push a mandate for this type of monitoring of farms.
Even though these outbreaks come from large or mega operations.
This could have the potential to close down or eliminate small farms.
Chicken Tractor – Egg Mobile
Check It Out!
Advanced Agri Gears
Quick Tip
Bibliography:
image Smart farms
Linkz ai Solution inc
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/smart-farms-linkzglobal/
Image
https://techvidvan.com/tutorials/smart-agriculture-using-iot/
Team, TechVidvan. “Smart Agriculture Using IOT.” TechVidvan, TechVidvan Team, 24 Jan. 2022, techvidvan.com/tutorials/smart-agriculture-using-iot/.
IoT Solutions
image
https://tektelic.com/expertise/future-of-agricultural-industry-iot/
Tektelic. “The Future of Agricultural Industry Using IOT.” TEKTELIC, 13 Aug. 2024, tektelic.com/expertise/future-of-agricultural-industry-iot/.
image IoT_Ag
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