by Angela Guess
Today’s farms are getting a big dose of data, and the information has the potential to significantly improve profits and environmental efforts. The article states, “Modern farming gear doesn’t just plow fields. It also harvests data — and in such growing volume that equipment makers aim to make big strides in finding better ways to manage the information haul. Some farmers even install data servers on site, giving new meaning to the term ‘server farm.’ Companies such as Agco (AGCO), Deere (DE) and Lindsay (LNN) make tractors, combines and irrigation systems. But they’re finding that if they don’t also provide ways to help their customers handle the data their equipment produces, farmers will shop elsewhere.”
It adds, “‘Most farmers did not become farmers so they could work with computers,’ said Bruce Erickson, agronomic education manager for the American Society of Agronomy. Agricultural equipment is poised to get more techie. Farmers soon expect to be able to buy gear that monitors diagnostics and more, in real time, and provides live video. ‘That means more data,’ said Lindsay CEO Rick Parod. Environmental regulations for reporting water and chemical usage also drive demand for more data management, Parod says.”
The article continues, “Food safety concerns and a desire among health-conscious consumers to know how their food is grown add to data-management needs, says Matt Rushing, Agco’s director of global product management for advanced technology and engines. ‘It’s massive amounts of data,’ he said. The application of information technology to farming really began to grow in the 1990s. Then, companies paired GPS navigation systems with products that let farmers plot more precise routes for spraying and seeding. Farmers boosted efficiency by reducing the amount of farmland that got skipped or covered twice.”
