2020 Spring Farm Outlook

Page 8 2020 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS March 19, 2020 Fast forward 10 years, with the push of a button, all that stuff in his head is now visible on the computer while riding in the combine cab, and the data being collected is sent to software that will allow the producer to analyze the field outcomes in the comfort of his home office. Irwin said that record keeping is much more finite today thanks to technology, and farmers are studying and learning how to profit from all the new technology available to them. It isn’t a simple task to learn it all and put it all to good use, but those who are doing so are seeing the benefits. Technology has also relieved a lot of the physical work of farming and improved farming efficiency. Irwin talked about the self-steering technology and said there are many advantages to this technology. For example, during planting season, Irwin noted that we seldom see crooked rows in the field. It is because that guidance system within the tractor is much more precise behind the wheel than human hands and eyes. Back in the day, the operator would set his sights on a mark at the far end of the field and drive to it. A distraction in the cab could cause him to veer off mark for a period of time. Also, the goal of keeping the field straight put a strain on the operator physically with the challenges of keeping mental and visual focus, to man handling the steering wheel on rough ground, the job was much more tiring than one would expect. Today’s self-steer technology relieves a lot of that pressure and strain and makes it possible for operators to do their job better. Irwin added this technology is also an advantage for the multi-generational farms where son, dad and grandad may all be behind the wheel. For the son just getting started out, it makes the task easier and he does a better job. For grandad, it makes the task easier and he does a better job as well. And for dad, perhaps the best part is it helps relieve the worry about the younger and older components in the family. And, when granddad reaches the point that he needs to stay home, he can still be in the loop in real-time. Irwin said that today it is not unthinkable that grandad can be at home in the easy chair watching the field progress through data being collected and transmitted to a laptop, note pad, or even a phone. In the office, the producer can look at all the data collected and understand what varieties did the best on what fields, where the weak spots are in a field, and how weather Continue 4