Pioneering Agribusiness: Empowering Future Farmers with AgTech
- Aug 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Welcome back, fellow education enthusiasts and friends! Today, following on from my previous post, I will consider what AgTech tools can be used to ensure students are well-equipped to be trailblazers in the agribusiness world. So, let's have a look at some seriously cool AgTech ideas and solutions!
Have you heard of a tractor can drive itself? Yes, this is a thing… no I am not kidding you – it’s autosteer! Just like modern cars with cruise control, lane assist and automatic braking, agricultural manufactures are producing machinery with these features to assist farmers (FieldBee, 2022). Autosteer systems are installed on farm machinery to guide them along straight, curved, parallel lines across fields. Autosteer allows farmers to plant, till, fertilize and harvest with a level of accuracy that was impossible to reach prior to its invention. The benefits are numerous when teaching students tractor operations, the most important being that rows will not overlap! Students are excited just to be sitting in the driver’s seat and when they overlap rows well that can kind of adds up to a lot of overlapped areas and autosteer assists in eliminating this issue (Bottomline Solutions, 2018). Another bonus is it assists in the prevention of driver fatigue, especially with students who may be on a tractor for a few hours in the day. Tiring to say the least. Additionally, autosteer customises things like fertilizer and seeds based on the needs of the soil and field. It's like giving the plants exactly what they ask for, resulting in efficient farming and healthier crops.
But like all good things, it does have some downfalls. Teaching students only to drive a tractor with autosteer means that when they jump into a tractor minus the autosteer they may be a little lost… also they need to know how to run lines in a field and work out how much seed and fertilizer to apply using maths as well as manage their fatigue (Shemeld, 2023). These are all extremely important skills that should not be dismissed and thrown away with the integration of new technologies in the agriculture sector.
Imagine drones not just for photography but as nature's detectives. GPS-equipped drones can spot weeds from the sky and help farmers target them with precision. No more wandering around with a sprayer – these drones lock onto the problem areas, making weed control as accurate as a hawk's eye (Shemeld, 2023). In addition, drones can assist with keeping an eye on livestock and water resources as this is essential in agribusiness. Sensors and cameras used in conjunction with drones can monitor the health of livestock and track water levels across the farm. In my school, we have cameras and sensors fitted to areas such as our cattle and equine yards and areas where our water collects (Nicoletto, 2023). This infrastructure combined with the use of drones means that our students are learning to be efficient with their time and the scrutiny of data gathered allows them to spot potential hazards and work towards finding a solution (Shemeld, 2023). It's amazing stuff!
Remember those electronic ID discs I mentioned in my previous post? Well, they’re not just for show. They're like barcode social security numbers for livestock, helping farmers keep track of each one. From birth records to health history, it's all stored in a tiny chip. It's like giving every animal its own digital diary! Each disc contains information for each individual livestock which can includes weight gain, fleece weight, breeding traits and so on (Shemeld, 2023). It comes with an e-reader and computer, that students can learn how to use. What an amazing piece of technology and just think how this could ultimately improve the breeding programs and quality of livestock in the agribusiness. Fascinating!
Now, let's talk about something hands-on. Go-Pros and Pivos, those nifty little cameras, are becoming the eyes of our students in the field. Imagine learning how to shear or crutch sheep– it's not just in theory anymore (Shemeld, 2023). Students and trainers wear Go-Pros to record their work, allowing them to review and improve their techniques.
And when it comes to equine management and using horses to muster livestock, Pivos and Go-Pros provide a rider's-eye view, capturing every detail of the process (Nicoletto, 2023). It's like having a personal tutor right there with you!
By introducing these technologies into our school curriculum, our trainers are preparing students to thrive in the agribusiness sector. It's not just about learning facts from textbooks; it's about using tools that will be their companions on the farm, guiding them towards smart and efficient practices. The future is bright, and with the implementation of these AgTech solutions into our trainers teaching repertories our graduates will be at the forefront of this tech-driven agribusiness revolution.
Anyway, I have kept you here long enough. Remember, AgTech is another fancy buzzword; but it is also much more. AgTech just like EdTech is about unlocking the potential of education for generations to come. In my final post on the use of AgTech in schools, I will look at challenges the inclusion of these tools may pose for schools and specifically in my school context. Until then, keep learning you happy and beautiful people!
References
AgThentic, G. &. (2018 ). Emerging Technologies in Agriculture: Consumer Perception Around Emerging AgTech. AgriFutures Australia.
Bottomline Solutions. (2018, June 7). Precision Agriculture: The Five Benefits of Auto Steering. Retrieved from Bottomline Solutions: https://bottomline-solutions.net/blog/precision-agriculture-five-benefits-auto-steering/.
Deschepper, S. &. (2018). Good Practice to Teaching and Learning - A Guide to Practioner Perspectives. Victoria, Australia.
FieldBee. (2022, January 25). Five advantages of automatic steering technology in farming. Retrieved from FieldBee: Precision for Every Farmer: https://www.fieldbee.com/blog/5-advantages-of-automatic-steering-technology-in-farming.
Hernandez, A. (2022, June 20). The Pivo Equestrian Edition wants to help you improve your riding skills. Retrieved from Techaris: https://techaeris.com/2022/06/20/the-pivo-equestrian-edition-wants-to-help-you-improve-your-riding-skills/#google_vignette
Maxwell, R. (2023). HOW TECHNOLOGY WILL REVOLUTIONISE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET). Retrieved from VERTO Skill to Transform: https://www.verto.org.au/blog/how-technology-will-revolutionise-vocational-education-and-training-vet.
Nicoletto, K. (2023, August 22). Technology in VET Delivery. (T.-A. Crisp, Interviewer)
Shemeld, G. (2023, August 24). Technology in Agriculture. (T.-A. Crisp, Interviewer)
Stevens & Deschepper (2018). Good Practice to Teaching and Learning - A Guide to Practioner Perspectives. Victoria, Australia.
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