FrontierHybridshelping growersproducetheirbest
ByTERESAYOUNG SpecialtotheHerald
Toanoutsider,thatbagofgrain seedisjustthat.ButtoBilly McClenneythatbagrepresents connectionstogrowersallover theTexasPanhandleandSouth Plains,includingpartsofNew Mexico,theOklahomapanhandle andKansas.
Andthoseacresoflandhave facesandfamiliesthatMcClenneyhasknownfordecadesas alongtimeemployeeatFrontier HybridsinAbernathy.Andearlier thisyear,McClenneytradedhis titlestoownerandpresidentafter heandwifeTammypurchased themajorityownershipfromthe originalfoundingfamily,Danand DonnaRyan.
Startedin1984,FrontierHybrids sellsseedofallkindsexceptcotton:corn,grainandforagesorghum,haygrazers,alfalfa,native andreclamationgrass,sunflowers,soybeansandsmallgrains likewheat,barley,ryeandoats.y
“Someofthesewehavedevelopedovertheyearsunderour ownbrand,andforotherswe serveasdistributorssuchasthe AgVenturebrandorWLAlfalfas,”saidMcClenney.“Wearean independentseedcompanyand haveservedHaleCountyingrass seedsfortheentiretimeIhave beenhere,whichis36years.”
Thecompanyhaseightemployeesonaverage,withclear seasonsofgrowing.Sincegrass seedissopopularinthearea withmuchacreagedevotedto CRP,McClenneysaidFrontier maintainsagoodamountofthat initswarehouse.Theydepend onateamofdriversandvehicles totransportproductwhereitis needed.Buttheyalsodependon businesspartners.
“Weworkwithanetworkofseed dealerstohelpselltheseed.We sellthroughthatnetwork,andwe areessentiallybusinesspartners withthosedealers,”saidMcClenney,notingthatKyleRobertson servesastheirsalespersonworkingwithbothdealersandendusers.
Itonlymakessensethenthat FrontierHybridsdependsongreat relationships,andfortunatelythat isMcClenney’sfavoritepartofthe job.
“Ienjoyhelpingpeopleandthe friendshipsthatwemake.These arenotone-and-donetypesales; thisistheirfamilybusinesstoo,
andwe’repartnerswiththem,”he added.“Wehavealotoflongtimerelationshipsbuiltoverthe years,andtherearegreatpeople alloverthiscountry.”
Asanativeofthisarea–McClenneygraduatedfromPlainview Highandearnedhisagriculture businesseconomicsdegreefrom WestTexasState–heknows thatagricultureisavitalpartof thestate’seconomy.Thecompanyworkshardtostayontopof trendsthatwouldimproveperformanceforgrowers,whichbenefitstheentirearea.
Hesaidbreedersarealways workingtoimprovesmallgrains aswellasgrainsorghum,and newchemical-resistantvarieties areonthehorizonandwillsoon beaddedtotheFrontierline.Currently,Frontierworkersaregearingupforcovercropsalesand newCRPandSAFEprograms beingreleased.AndwhileMcClenneysaidcostsarealwaysa concernforproducers,hesaid Frontierisnotimmunefromthe inflatedinputs.
“Theseedcompanyisafarmer first,becausetheseedhastobe produced.Westillhavethesame costsoffertilizersandequipment, pluswehaveregulationswehave tofollowtoensurewe’reprovidingaqualityproduct.Weunderstandallthecostssincewehave themtoo,”hesaid.
Regardless,hesaidFrontiertakes theirroleseriouslyandworkhard togetaproductthathelpsgrowersallovertheregion.
“Thefarmersaregoingtoplant somebody’sseed,andwehave tohavegoodhybridstostayin business,”saidMcClenney.“We provideserviceandtrytogothe extramiletotakecareofourguys wherewecan.It’sneattosee somethingyousellgrowandget harvestedandyouseetheend result.That’senjoyable.”
Manytransitionshavetakenplaceintheagriculturalindustryoverthelastseveraldecades.The widespreadadoptionofvarioustechnologiesover thelast20-plusyearshashelpedfarmersstreamlinetheiroperations,makingtheirfarmsmore efficient and lesswastefulasaresult.Inaddition, manyfarmershaveembracedsustainablefarming, whichisarelativelyrecentapproachtoagriculture.
AccordingtotheUnionofConcernedScientists, sustainableagricultureisacomplex,multi-faceted concept.Sustainableagricultureintendstocontributetoarobusteconomybymakingfarms profitable.Farmerswhoembracesustainable agriculturealsoaimtohaveapositiveeffectonthe
environmentandtheirsurroundingecosystems. That’saccomplishedbyembracingstrategiesthat focusonbuildingandmaintaininghealthysoil, managingwaterwisely,minimizingpollution,and promotingbiodiversity.
TheNationalInstituteofFoodandAgriculture notesthatsustainableagricultureencompasses awiderangeofproductionpractices,including someassociatedwithconventionalfarmingand somelinkedtoorganicfarming.Asaresult,sustainablefarmingshouldnotbemistakenfororganicfarming,orviceversa.However,theUCSnotes there’sastronglikelihoodthatcertifiedorganic produceatlocalgrocerystoresarebyproductsof farmsthatembracesustainableagriculture. Whatissustainableagriculture?
Howtoinvolvemoreyoungpeopleinagriculture
Theagriculturalindustrywillundergoexciting changesasitlookstoovercomedeveloping challengesinthedecadesahead.Technology willcontinuetoplayapivotalroleintheagriculturalsector,makingagricultureanevolving andexcitingcareerpathforyoungprofessionals.
Muchhasbeenmadeofprojectionsthatsuggesttheworldpopulationisincreasinglylookingtourbanareastocallhome.Thoughdata fromtheUnitedNationsindicatesurbanareas couldgrowby2.5billionpeopleby2050, morerecentUNdataindicatesthat90percent ofthatincreasewilltakeplaceinAsiaand Africa.Alltold,estimatesindicatethatrural areaswillremainhometo3.1billionpeopleby 2050.
Asizableruralpopulationandthechallenges climatechangeandpopulationgrowthwill presentunderscoreshowimportanttheagriculturalsectorwillbeinthecomingdecades. Thatmeansthereshouldbeplentyofopportunitiesforyoungpeopletomakeanimpact, especiallyifmoreeffortsaremadetoencouragethemtoconsidercareersinagriculture.
•Encourageagriculture-basedcurriculum.
AfterrecognizingthatthemajorityofKenyan studentshadnoaccesstofarmingtraining andeducation,theorganizationFarmAfrica initiatedaprogramtomakeagriculturemore accessibletostudents.Studentswhoparticipatedlearnedabouteverythingfromkeeping livestocktomarketingproduceforglobalmarkets.Similarprogramscanbeencouragedin developedcountrieswhereopportunitiesin the fieldofagriculture figuretoincreaseinthe yearstocome.
•Emphasizetechnologicaladvancements inthe field.Modernyoungpeoplearegrowingupwithtechnologyallaroundthem,but fewmaybeawareofthevitalroletechnology playsintheagriculturalsector.Youngpeople’s earsmayperkupuponhearingtermslike “robotics”technologiesarenowabigpart oflifeonthefarm.Recognitionofthatmay compelmoreyoungpeopletopursuecareers inagriculture.
•Highlightthechallengesaheadandhow agriculturalprofessionalscanhelpovercome them.UNprojectionsindicatetheglobal populationwillgrowbymorethantwobillion peopleby2050.Findingawaytofeedallof
thosepeopleinthefaceofclimatechange willbenosmalltask,butit’sataskthatwill requirededicatedagriculturalprofessionals. Educatorsandparentscanemphasizethese challengeswhenspeakingtoyoungpeople aboutacareerintheagriculturalsector,noting
thatsuchcareerswillpresentrealopportunitiestomakeadifference.
Youngpeoplelookingforrewardingcareersin anexciting,ever-evolving fieldcanbeencouragedtoconsidertheagriculturalsector.
Howagriculturaltechnologycanhelpimprovesustainability
Sustainableagricultureisanapproachtofarmingthatwillallowmodernfarmerstomeetthe needsofagrowingpopulation whileenhancingenvironmental quality.Thatcanbenefitbothcurrentandfuturegenerations,and technologywillplayavitalrolein realizingthegoals.
AccordingtotheNationalSustainableAgricultureCoalition,sustainableagricultureisdesigned tomeettheneedsofthepresent withoutcompromisingfuture generations’abilitytomeettheir ownneeds.That’saworthygoal, especiallyinthefaceofagrowing globalpopulationthattheUnited Nationsestimateswillincreaseby twobillionpersonsby2050.
Therearenumerousbenefitsto utilizingsustainableagriculture technology.
Efficientlandmanagement Modelingtechnologiescanbe utilizedtomakemoreefficientuse ofland.AccordingtoSustainable Brands,aglobalcommunityof brandinnovators,modelingtechnologiescanbeemployedina hostofways,includingtoidentify tillagepracticesandthestatusof tiledrainage.Certainagricultural technologieshavebeendesigned topredicttheperformanceof cropland,whichcanallowfarmers tomoreeffectivelyandefficiently usetheirland.Farmersalsocan employmodelingtechnologiesto
determinesoilhealthandwater needsandusage,whichcanbenefitthelandandensureresources aren’twasted.Utilizationofsuch technologiesensuresfarmerscan meettheneedsofmodernconsumerswithoutaffectingfuture farmers’abilitytodothesame.
Reducerunoff
TheUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencynotesthat runoffposesasignificantthreat totheenvironment.Whenrunoff occurs,fertilizer,bacteriaand otherpollutants findtheirwayinto streams,rivers,lakes,andthe ocean.SustainableBrandsnotes thatnanotechnologyisanefficient waytodelivernutrientstocrops thatcanimproveboththeefficacy
ofthenutrientsandreducerunoff.
Protectcrops
SustainableBrandsnotesthat agriculturalbiologicalsareinputs derivedfromnaturalmaterialsthat havelowtoxicity.Thatlowtoxicityreducestheirenvironmental impact.Agriculturalbiologicals utilizethepropertiesofsuch thingsasbacteria,fungiandeven insectstosupporthealthycrops, potentiallyimprovingyieldwithout adverselyaffectingtheenvironment.
Sustainableagriculturetechnologiescanhelpmodernfarmersand theirsuccessorsmeettheneeds ofarapidlygrowingglobalpopulation.
CountywideTitlehelping propertybuyers,sellers
ByTERESAYOUNG SpecialtotheHerald
Thecrazypaceofthepastfew yearsintherealestatemarket mayhavesubsidedsinceinterestrateshavetakenaturnupward,butthatdoesnotmean thatworkhassloweddownmuch atCountywideTitleCompanyin Plainview.
“Therearealwaysgoingtobe upsanddownsinthisbusiness. Thereisanaturalebband flow, butit’sstillgoing,”notedCarla Edwards,managerforthepast 23years.“Whenthingsaregood, we’rebusy,butwhenthingsare bad,we’restillbusy.Foreclosures meanworkforthebankswho ownthepropertiesnow.”
Regardless,Edwardsnotesthe heartoftheirbusinessstaysmuch thesame.
Therealestateabstractingand researchcompanyholdsreal estateclosings,andtheyresearch thepropertiestodetermineifany titleissuesexistthatneedtobe cleanedup.Thesecouldinclude heirstoapropertyorliensthat needtobecollected.
“Onceallofthatisdoneandwe arereadytoclose,wecanissue acleartitletothepurchaser,” Edwardssaid.
Technologyhasmademanyparts ofthetitlecompany’sworkmore efficient.Manyrecordsareavailableelectronically,limitingthe numberoftripstothecourthouse toseekoutdocumentsindusty, heavybooks.Butwhenthose visitsarerequired,newappson smartphonesmakeiteasyto scanthecontentsandemailthem
totheoffice.
Whilemostoftheextrameasures takenduringtheCOVIDpandemic havegonebythewayside–Edwardsstillclearlyremembers curbsideclosings,separating buyersandsellers,andconferenceroomsbeingcleanedbetweeneachclosing–thecompanyhasmaintainedthepractice ofsanitizingtheirentireoffice everyfewmonthsjusttokeep customersandemployeessafe andhealthy.
Whileresidentialpropertyis perhapsthe firsttocometomind withclosings,Edwardssaid CountywideTitleinterfacesoften withtheagriculturalcommunitywhenitcomestolandsales. Manyofthosetransactions,she says,involvelong-heldproperty bysinglefamilies.
“Somelandhasbeenowned
formorethan100years,andas peoplepassawaythechildren mayneedtosellitorpartsofitto othergrowersiftheydon’thold ontoitthemselves,”notedEdwards,whohandlesthebulkof theseandcommercialproperty closingsatCountywide.“Ireallyenjoyworkingwithapieceof farmlandthat’sbeeninafamily foralongtimeandwhenitsells tosomeonewhoappreciatesthat historyandthelongevity,whether theyrememberthefamilyornot.I liketoseethathistorypreserved.”
Edwardsnotedthoselanddeals stillrequirechecksforliensor titleissues,andthetitlecompany mustcheckforrollbacktaxes orheirstotheproperty.Also,a surveymaybeneedediflandis beingdividedforasaleandtaxes needtobebrokenout.
Thetitlecompanyhasanadvantagewithlong-timelocalemploy-
eesthatknowtheircustomers andtakecareofthemlikefamily. Theyalsobenefitfromtheexpertiseoftheattorneyswhomakeup theownershipgroupLOVM,LLC. Countywideisanissuingagent forStewartTitleGuarantee,who underwritestheworkandprovidesneededassistanceand updatesforthestaff.Besides Edwards,alifelongPlainviewresidentandWaylandBaptistgraduate,thestaffincludesassistant managerPamShirley,escrow officerLaurenKing,abstractersCharlotteBarronandPatricia DeLuna,clerkReneeLaird,and financialcontrollerTrentRiddle. “Weareveryblessedandthankful thatPlainviewhasbeensogood tous.Weloveourlocalbusiness andpeopleandappreciatethem,” saidEdwards.“Weseealotof peoplereallyactiveinrealestate, andwelovetocontinuetohelp themandprovidethebestservice possible.”
Companyrevolutionizinginsulation marketwithmilocreation
ByTERESAYOUNG
SpecialtotheHerald
TomMartinisuniquelyinterestedinasuccessfulsorghum-growingseasonacrossthe highplains,butit’snotforthesamereasons asmostproducers.Insteadofbeinganendproduct,grainsorghumisthestartingline forauniquebusinessnestledquietlyinTulia, Texas,butaimingtocaptureachunkofthe $10billioninsulationmarket.
MiloInsulationhasitsheadquartersinTulia,justoffUSHighway87,wherethegrain sorghumiscollectedfromavarietyofcontractedgrowers.Usingtheirpatentedprocess andmachinery,theuniqueMilexproductis thencreatedinthatfacility.Fromthere,trucks delivertheMilextothreeotherfacilitiesthat useanotherprocesstocreatetheuniqueinsulationproductthatisgettingattentionfrom homeownersandbusinessesforitsspecial properties.
“Thephilosophyisthatwemakeatrulygreen, biodegradablebyISOstandardsproduct(a plasticofsomekind)thatisbothpracticaland affordable.Wewanttoprovideagreenproducttoamarketwhereit’ll fitinandreplace what’sthere,”saidMartin,inventorandowner ofMiloInsulation.“Texashasbeenverygood tous,andwehavenearlya five-starratingon everythingwe’vedone.Theproducthasbeen verywellreceived.Ithasnodust,noitch,and it’scleanandwhite.”
Thecompanydecidedtoestablishfacilitiesin othermarketsbecausetheydiscoveredthe incrediblylightweightofMilexmeantitcould notbeshippedveryfar.Oncetherawmaterialistruckedtothethreeoutsidelocations –Denton,RockdaleandOklahomaCity–then theextrudermachineryconvertsittothe insulationmaterialthatcanthenbeinstalled inhomesandbusinesseswithina100-mile radius.AnextruderinTuliacreatesmaterialto servethePanhandle-Plainsarea.
MartinexplainedthatMiloInsulationisaverticallyintegratedcompany“fromtheseedgoinginthegroundtotheproductgoingintothe house.”Andbecausetheyowneverypieceof theprocess,theyareabletokeeptheircosts lowtopasstocustomers.Butthatisonlyone benefitoftheMilexproduct.
Uniquetothemarket
“Weprideourselvesonbeingtheonlytruly biodegradableplasticthatIknowof.Itis capableofbeingconsumedbybacteria100 percenttothepointofnotoxicresidue,” explainedMartin.“ThereisnocodeforMilex soweusethecelluloseASTMssincethat’s theclosestthing.It’snotallowedtogaintoo muchweightwhenit’swet…andthetesting revealedthatourproductcompletelybiodegradedwhenwet.
“Ithastobe fire-resistantaswell,andyou cannotmakeMilexignite.Wetossitinboric powdertomakeitmore fire-retardantandthat helpsrepelinsects.Micewillnestinitbutnot eatit.Wetooktheproteinoutsoit’sbasically pectinwithnofoodvalue.”
Withregardtoinsulationproperties,Martin saidMiloInsulationisaboutthesameascellulosebutbetterthan fiberglass.Whilespray foamisslightlybetter,henotedthecostis fairlyhighandpopularityiswaningdueto safetyquestions.HenotedthatsinceMilex cannotgonexttometalsincetheysweatand thatmoisturebiodegradestheproduct,the companykeepsrelationshipswithtrusted foaminstallersineachofitsmarketstorefer jobswheretheyarenota fit.
“Abouthalfofourbusinessisgoinginand cleaningoutthedirtandoldinsulation,then wetakecansofsprayfoamand fillanyholes intheatticoraroundpipes,thenput12”of ourMilexinsulationinthere,”notedTom.“It’s commontohearafterwardthatthehouseis moreevenlyheatedorcooledandhasfarless dustduetothebetterinsulation.”
TheTuliaplantemploysabouteight,while theentirecompanyhas35-40employees.It
wasestablishedin2014afterthe originalbrainchildofthecompany wassold.
Anideaisborn
Itallstartedwithacookieleftin Martin’sdesk,unchangedaftera yearofstorage,tossedcarelessly intoadrawer.Madewithgrain sorghum,thecookieseemed cushionyandhadno flavor.Butit wasintact.Thenanairlinemagazinearticleaboutwinegrowers usingpopcornaspackingmaterialbroughttwothoughtsto Martin’smind.
“IfIhadalightbulbmoment,thatwasit. Thisisn’tacookieorafood,sinceittastes terrible;it’saplastic,whichisanythingthat canbeformedormolded.Sowediscoveredanaturalplastic,andtheeasiestthing tomakewouldbepackingmaterialsince theshapeandweightdidn’treallymatter,” herecalls.“Bytrialanderror,weidentifiedthatcertainvarietiesweredifferent thanothers,sooutofthehundredsand hundredsofsorghumwe’vetested,we’ve discoveredwhyandfoundtwovarieties thatplasticizeunderheatandpressure.It’s theproteinchainintheseedandcertain chemicalcompoundsthatareindicatorsof expansionproperties.”
TheMilexbiodegradablepackingmaterialswereproducedinthehomeplantinTulia startingin1992,withadditionalplantsestablishedaroundthecountry.Thentherights andprocesseswerepurchasedbySealedAir Corporationin2010andsoldagainin2019to Storopack.
Whileresearchingforthepackingmaterials
process,theTuliacompanyhadrealizedthe producthadahighinsulatingfactorandbeganexperimentingwithcreatinganewproductforthatpurpose.TheysoldsharesofMilo Insulationtothe14farmerswhohadbeen growingthesorghumandcreatedaboard, startingproductoftheinsulationin2014. Interestedhomeownersmay findmoreinformationatwww.miloinsulation.comandcallfor afreeinspectionandestimateoftheirservices.
Kisercontinuestraditionof keepingarearunning
ByTERESAYOUNG SpecialtotheHerald
Theremaybeanewfacebehind theowner’snameplateatKiser AutoPartsinPlainview,butthe traditionofservingareaneighbors withautomotiveneedshasnever changed.
EstablishedatitsFifthandDate Streetslocationin1958bythe Kiserfamily,Plainviewnative RogerRosalespurchasedthe business fiveyearsagowitha commitmenttomaintainingthe servicethathasbeenahallmark ofthestore.Buthewasbyno meansastranger.
“Iusedtocomehereandbuy partsfromRoyKiserformany years,andIwasinhighschool whentheautomechanicsschool wasnearbythere,”saidRosales. “IhaveknownRoyforquitesome time.”
Rosales’ownbackgroundin mechanicsgavehimanatural familiarityinthepartsbusiness, andhe’senjoyedgettingtoknow thelongtime,loyalKisercustomersthesepast fiveyears.Roger andhissixemployeesworkhard to findpartsandgetthemto customerssotheycangetback ontheroad,nomatterwhatthey drive.
WhileRosalessaidhefeelsthe publicisprettywellversedinKiserAutoParts’readyinventoryfor trucksandheavy-dutymachinery, hesaidmanydonotrealizethe businesskeepsagreatinventory ofpartsforlightautomobilesand pickupsaswell.Kiseralsostocks specialproductsforpilotcars,a businessthathasgrownsincethe windfarmsmovedintothearea. Andheandhisstaffarereadyto helpinanyway,withextraservice likefreeinstallationofbatteries andwindshieldwiperspurchased fromthestore.
“Wehavegoodcustomerswho needsomethingdifferentevery day,”saidRosales.“Ienjoythe camaraderiewiththecustomers fromPlainviewandaroundthe area,andwelovetryingtomeet theneedsinthecommunity.”
Rosalessaidhe’squitecomfortableunderthehood,theretail sideofowningKiserAutoParts hasbeenmoreofalearning curve.Afterhegraduatedfrom PlainviewHighin1984,Rosales spenteightyearsintheArmyasa fleetmechanic.Whenhereturned home,hejoinedXcelEnergyand spentnearly19yearsasamechanicbeforestartinganelectric companybuildingpowerlinesand substationswithabusinesspartnerin2011.Fiveyearslater,they soldthebusinessandhestayed onasanemployeeforthreemore years.Allalongtheway,he’d periodicallyvisitRoyKiserasa customer.Ononevisit,Roytold himhe’d finallydecideditwas timetoretireandsell.Rosales wasinterested.
“Igottiredofbeingontheroad allthetimeanddecidedtosettle downandbuythebusiness,” herecalled,notingthathewas anASE-certifiedmechanicand learnedweldingandhydraulics duringhiscareers.
WhileRosales’customerscome fromallwalksoflife,beingpartof aheavilyagriculturalcommunity meansheinterfacesoftenwith growers,dairymenandothersin theindustry.Kisercarriesparts forirrigationmotorsandsomeof themostcommonlyneededparts fortrucks,haulersandotherfarm vehiclessotheycangetbackto the fieldandkeeprolling.
OnthebacklotofKiserAuto Parts,RosalesalsooperatesTexasTruckandTrailer,arepairshop workingprimarilyonsemitrucks
Didyouknow?
Farmersandgrowersfaceasignificantthreatintheyearstocome asindustrialagricultureoperationscontinuetoexpand.According totheNationalResourcesDefenseCouncil,industrialagriculture isthelarge-scale,intensiveproductionofcropsandanimals.Such operationsmakeitmoredifficultforsmallfarmersandgrowers toturnaprofit,andtheyofteninvolvetheuseofchemicalfertilizersandpesticides.Theuseofsuchproductsposesanadditional threattosmallfarmersandgrowers,astheUnionofConcerned Scientistsnotesthattheheavyapplicationoffertilizersandpesticidesacceleratessoilerosionandincreasespestproblems.Consumersconcernedbytheeffectsofindustrialagricultureonthe environmentandonsmallfarmers’andgrowers’abilitytoearna goodlivingcansupporteffortssuchasregenerativefarmingand organicfarms.
andtrailersbutalsoservicing heavydutymachineslikeforklifts, sweepersandthelike.Heopened thebusinesstwoyearsagoand enjoysbeingabletoprovidequick serviceforthosecustomerswith thepartsonhand.
KiserAutoPartsisopenfrom7:30 a.m.to6p.m.Mondaythrough Fridayandfrom7:30a.m.tonoon onSaturday.Theycanbereached byphoneat(806)293-3912.
Understandingsmartfarmautomation
Modernagriculturelookslittleliketheearlydaysoffarming.Allaspectsoffarminghavebeenmodifiedbytheaccess farmersnowhavetotechnologiestomeetthedemandsof theirworkandthepressureagrowingpopulationplaceson farmerstoproducequalityfood.
Farmautomation,precisionfarmingandsmartfarmingare strategiesutilizedbytoday’sfarmers.Thesetechnologies havebecomeimportantwaysforfarmerstooptimizetheproductionoffoodandimproveitsquality.AccordingtotheFood andAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations,agriculturalproductionmustincreaseby70percentinordertomeet globalfooddemandby2050,bywhichtimethepopulation couldbe9.7billionpersons.
Smartfarmingcanmakeraisinglivestockmoreaccurateand controlled.Whilefarmautomationisabroadterm,precision smartfarmingzeroesinonexactmeasurementsbetween variationsinlandconditionsandlivestock,accordingtoTechieLoops,atechnologyinformationwebsite.
Examplesoffarmingautomationtechnologyinclude:
•autonomousvehiclesandmachines
•drones
•robotics
•GPSguidance
•micro-forecastingandweatherforecasting
•soilsampling
•yieldmapping
•useofartificialintelligence
•geomatics
•statisticalprocesses,andmore.
Farmerscanemploythesetechnologiestosavetimeandalso managelaborshortages.Robot-assistedirrigationsystems, forexample,canmaximizeefficiencyofwaterdistribution whereitisneededthemost.Weedingrobotscanuseartificialintelligenceandcomputervisiontotarget fieldareasand reduceuseofpesticides.Driverlesstractorscanmakelabor cheaperforfarmersbyplottingthemachine’srouteandletting itrunthecourseautomatically.Harvestrobotsalsoexistto grabcropsgently(somewithvacuumtechnology)andreduce relianceon fieldworkers.Someharvesterscandetermine ripenessoffruitviaAItechnology,accordingtoEasternPeak, aproviderofcustomhardwareandsoftwaresolutionsfor businesses.
Technologyischangingfarminginmanyways.Innovations inautomationcanmakeoperationsmoreefficientandless costly.
DobbsPumpsimpacting thecountryfromCanyon
ByTERESAYOUNG SpecialtotheHerald
FromaquietplantinCanyon, Texas,generationsoftheDobbs familyaremanufacturing floatingsurfacewaterpumpsthatare literallydottedallovertheUnited States.Since1960,theDobbs Corporationhasbeencreating solutionsforagricultureanda varietyofotherindustries.
“Weservicemanyindustries suchasdairies,feedlots,landfills, municipalities,golfcoursesand more,”saidTiffanyGreen,sales andmarketingdirectorforthe family-ownedcompany.“Anyone thathassurfacewaterandneeds totransferit,irrigatewithitoruse ifforproductionorgeothermal applicationscanuseourproducts.”
Tiffanynotedthatthecompany firstcateredtotheagriculture communitythatsurroundsthem onthehighplainsofTexas, providingpumpsforpivotand traditionalirrigationaswellasthe dairiesandfeedlotsthatarecommonnearCanyon.Andsincethey canservicetheirproductsand helpcustomersgetmorelifeout ofthem,theypridethemselveson beingmorethanjustmanufacturers.
“Wevalueourlongstandingrelationshipswithallourcustomers. Manyofourgrowersaremultigenerational,andwelovetoget toknoweachandeverycustomer andheartheirstoryandhowthe pumpshelptheirirrigationneeds. Wekeepintouchwiththem,” saidTiffany,thegranddaughterof foundersL.R.andDorisDobbs.
“Wealsostayactiveinthecommunityaswell.Wejuststarteda merchandisestore,andwerecentlydidaraingaugegiveaway tocustomersaswell.”
TiffanynotedthatDobbshasa networkofdealersthatselltheir productnationwide,thoughsome oftheirearliestcustomersare directlyconnectedtothecom-
panyandhavehandeddowntheir agriculturebusinessesthrough thefamilyovertheyears.That’sa familiarscenarioforTiffanysince theDobbscompanyhasbeen throughthesame.
L.R.Dobbscreatedthe floatingpumptocorrectaproblem onhisownfarmnearMuleshoe, thenothersbegantowantone forthemselves.Oncethecompanywasofficiallyfounded,Doris joinedasbookkeeperandreceptionist,andsalesbegangrowing immediately.Additionalemployees,equipmentandatesting facilitywereadded,andlarger pumpmodelscreatedalongthe way.
L.R.andDorisleftthecompany totheironlychild,DebbieDobbs Green,whogrewupworkingin thebusinessandisnowowner andpresident.Debbie’sson Lanceworksforthecompany alongsidesisterTiffany,andTiffany’ssonCanonishelpingwith socialmediaandthecompany website.He’sarecenthighschool graduatestartinghisfreshman yearatWestTexasA&M.
Sincefamilyissovitaltothe Dobbscompany,Tiffanysaidthat aspectandthecareandtreatmentofcustomerssetsthem apartintheindustry.Sincethe industryhasgrownandDobbs pumpsareinstalledalloverthe country,thatpersonalrelationship hasbeenmorechallenging.But theymakeeveryefforttoserve asneeded,andeachpumpis individuallynumberedtoenable trackingofitshistory.
“EverythingismadeintheUSA andishand-builtexactlyforwhat thecustomerneedsrightherein Canyon.Wetreateverycustomer likefamilyandthatgoesalong way,”saidTiffany.“Wegetso manyneatstoriesabouthowour pumpsareused.”
ThoughDobbsemployeesvalue thevastusesoftheirpumps acrosstheUnitedStates,they
lovethatmanyofthearea’s producersthatfueltheeconomy enjoyqualityworkmanshipthat keepstheiroperationsrunning smoothly.
“Ourrootsareinagriculture,and that’showwegotstarted.We
lovemeetingthefriendsandfamiliesandbeingtheretohelpwith whatevertheirneedsareatthe time,”saysTiffany.“Wearestill abletorepairpumpssoldinthe 1960sandwecansellusedones togrowersjuststartingout.They arereallybuilttolast.”
Explaininggrangesandhowthey affectruralresidents
Localgrangesserveasacenterofrurallifein manyagriculturalcommunities.Peoplewho liveoutsidesuchcommunitiesmaybeunfamiliarwithgranges,includingwhattheyare.
Themostbasicdefinitionofagrangeisan outlyingfarmorlandwithamanorbuilding ontheproperty.When firstdevelopedin12th centuryBritain,grangeswerepropertiesthat mayhavebeenownedbyalord,whochose toliveonthepropertyorleasedittoothers. Othergrangeswereheldbythechurch,mainly bymonasteries.
ThegrangedefinitionandsystemwasmodifiedwhentheconceptwasbroughttoNorth America.AftertheCivilWarintheUnited States,OliverKelley,thecommissionerofthe DepartmentofAgriculture,realizedwhiletouringtheregionthatpoorfarmersintheSouth borethebruntofthewarÕsdevastation. Kelleynotedoutdatedfarmingpracticesthat weredisorganizedandlargelyineffectual.He consideredanorganizationthatcouldbring farmerstogetheracrossthecountrywitha spiritofmutualagriculturalcooperation.
OutofthisideatheNationalGrangeoftheOrderofPatronsofHusbandry(alsocalledThe Grange)wasestablishedasanonprofitorganizationin1867.Thegoalwashelpingrural Americanfamilieswithastrongemphasison issuesrelatedtoagriculture.The firstgrange (Grange#1)wasfoundedin1868inFredonia, NewYork.Othergrangessoonsprungup acrossthecountry.
Theorganizationoperatesonfourtiers:community,countyordistrict,state,andnational level.ItistheoldestAmericanagricultural
advocacygroupwithanationalscope. HeadquarteredinWashington,D.C.,ithas membershipinthehundredsofthousands. AccordingtoTheGrange,theirmissionis toÒstrengthenindividuals,familiesand communitiesthroughgrassrootsaction, service,education,advocacy,andagricultureawareness.”
Inadditiontoagriculturaladvocacy,The Grangehasbeeninvolvedwithanumber oflegislativeandpracticalinitiatives.For example,itcurrentlyisaimingto findways toreducethecostofMedicareaswellas helpingtoreformtheU.S.PostalService.It alsoisadvocatingforopenauctionsofspectrumfrequenciesusedforwirelesstechnologytoprovidegreateraccesstohigh-speed wirelesstechnologytoruralareas.Various Grangehallsandcentersarelocatedacross thecountry,andthesefacilitieshostevents andprovidegatheringspotsforfamilies.
Tracingtheiroriginsto12thcenturyBritain, grangesremainacentralcomponentofagriculturallifeinthe21stcentury.
Guidelinesforsaferfarming
Tractoraccidents,grainentrapmentandinjuriesfromornerylivestockarejustsomeofthe dangersagriculturalworkersfaceeveryday. Infact,theNationalInstituteforOccupational SafetyandHealthsaysagricultureisoneof themosthazardousindustriesintheUnited States.
In2016,theagriculturalindustryhadarateof 21.4deathsper100,000workers,andeach dayagriculturalworkersexperienced100nonfatal,lost-work-timeinjuries.
AgriculturaldangersarenotlimitedtoNorth America.InIreland,farmaccidentshave increasedby13percentinthelast fiveyears andby31percentinthelastdecade,accordingtoanationalsurveyoffarmaccidentsconductedbytheTeagascNationalFarmSurvey. Furthermore,97percentofallfarmaccident victimsrequiredmedicaltreatment.
Farmsaredangerousplaces,andwhilecarelessnesscananddoescontributetomany incidents,accidentsalsotakeplaceduring routine,seeminglysafeactivities.Thesefarm safetyguidelinescanhelplowertheriskof injuries.
•Knowfarmequipment.Readandfollowall instructionsintheequipmentoperationmanuals.Inaddition,attendlocalfarmsafetyworkshopstolearnmoreaboutspecificequipment andproducts.
•Conductroutinesafetychecks.Lookaround buildingsandgroundsforobvioushazards, suchas firehazardsandhazardousmaterials, includingfarmchemicalsthatarenotstored correctly.
•Practicecleanliness.Maintaincleanand neatworkareaswithtoolsstoredproperlyand outofthewayafteruse.
•Bemindfulofyourclothingandhair.Many accidentsinvolveapowertake-offsystem,or PTO,whichisacommoncomponentoflarge rotarymowers,tractorsandforagechoppers. Clothingcaneasilygetcaughtinanengaged butunguardedPTOstub.ItÕseasyforlaces orcoverallstobecomewrappedarounda spinningstubshaft.ThePTOdrivelineand otherprotrusionpointsalsocanbedangerous ifpeopledonotpayattention.
•Userolloverprotectionstructures.ROPS canbeusedontractorsandotherequipment topreventinjuries.Inaddition,wearseatbelts andemployothersafetyequipmentasadvised.
•Avoidextrapassengers.Itcanbetempting totakethekidsforaspin,butdonotallow additionalpassengerstorideonagricultural equipment.
•Exercisecautionwhenhandlingchemicals. Takeextraprecautionswhenhandlingany chemicals,includingpesticides.
•Wearprotectivegear.Wearappropriategear andequipmentasoutlinedbyNIOSHorthe MineSafetyandHealthAdministration.Make suretheskin,feet,ears,eyes,andhandsare protectedatalltimes.
•Employlockout/tagoutcontrol.Thisisa
processwhereonecanworkonequipment onlyaftereveryenergysourcehasbeen controlled,suchashydraulic,pneumatic, mechanical,andelectrical,accordingtoRural MutualInsuranceCompany.Turningoffequipmentandusingcertaincontrolsorlockson devicescanpreventequipmentfromrestarting beforeitissafetodoso.
Farmsafetyshouldbeapriorityforowners, theirfamiliesandemployeessothatagriculturalinjuriescanbereduced.
Asaparent,thereareanumberofthings youcandotohelppreventaccidents: •haveasafeandsecureplayareafor youngchildren •preventchildrenfromplayinginor aroundfarmyardsandlivestock •makesureyourvehicleshavegoodallroundvisibility
•preventallchildrenunder13yearsfrom ridingontractorsandfarmmachinery •restricttheuseofthequadandhave suitablesafetyequipment
•secureallheavywheels,gates,heavy equipmentandstackedmaterialstopreventthemfromtopplingover •makesureyourslurrylagoonissecurelyfencedtopreventchildrenfromgaining accessandmakesuretankcoversare alwaysinplace
•alwayskeepchildrenwellawaywhen mixingslurry
•keeptrackofwherefamilymembers areplayingorworkingandwhentheyare expectedback •makesureeveryonewashestheir handsbeforeeatinganddrinking keepchemicalslockedinasecurestore whennotinuse
•makesurethatguardsareinplaceto preventaccesstodangerouspartsof machinery
•makesureallfamilymembersknow whattodoinanemergency •preparealistofemergencycontacttelephonenumbers
•Ifchildrenareoldenough,tellthem aboutthedangerstheyshouldlookout for,wheretheyarenotallowedtogo,and encouragethemtoberesponsible.
Theroleoftechnologyinagriculture
Modernindustryisdrivenbytechnology.Advancementsintechnologyhavechangedhow businessisconducted,withsomeindustries undergoingdramaticchangessincethedawn ofthe21stcentury.
Whileagriculturemightnotbethe firstindustrypeoplethinkofwhenreflectingonthe changingnatureofindustry,TheNational InstituteofFoodandAgriculturenotesthat modernfarmsarevastlydifferentthanthose fromafewdecadesago.
Farmershavelongreliedontechnologyto maketheiroperationsasefficient,productiveandprofitableaspossible.Precision agriculture,whichreferstotechnological advancesdesignedtopropelagricultureinto themodern,computerizedandinformationbasedworld,ishelpingtheagriculturalsector becomemoreprofitableandefficientwhile alsoimprovingsafetyandmakingagriculture moreeco-friendly.Inaddition,theNIFAnotes thatthemodernagriculturalindustryemploys
technologysuchasrobots,temperature andmoisturesensors,aerialimages,and globalpositioningsystems.
Ifitsoundscomplicated,that’sbecause itis.Forexample,modernsensorscan detectsoilconditions,potentiallyproducinghundredsofreadingspersecond. Thesesensorshelpfarmersknowthe bestpossibletimetoplantseedsso theycanreachtheirfullpotential.That improvesboththeefficiencyofmodern farmsaswellastheiroutput.
TheNIFAalsonotesthatagricultural technologyhasreducedwaste.Forinstance, thankstoagriculturaltechnology,farmersno longerhavetoapplywater,fertilizersandpesticidesuniformlyacrossentire fields.Technologyhasshownthatfarmerscansimplytarget specificareasoreventreatindividualplants differently.Thatsavestimeandallowsfarmers touseonlyminimalquantitiesofwater,fertilizerandpesticides.Inaddition,accordingto
theNIFA,employingagriculturaltechnology inthisfashionleadstohighercropproductivityandreducesrunoffofchemicalsintorivers andgroundwater,therebyreducingthefarm’s impactonlocalecosystems.
Modernfarmsaretechnologicalmarvels wherevarioustechnologiesarebeingemployedtoproducecropsmoreefficientlyand safelythaneverbefore.
Thechallengesclimatechangeposestoagriculture
Climatechangeposesanarrayofchallenges. TheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationnotesthattheimpactsofclimate changeonvarioussectorsofsocietyareinterrelated,aconnectionthatmirrorstherippleeffectsoftheCOVID-19pandemic.Thehuman healthcrisisthataroseduringthepandemic affectedallaspectsoflife,asillnesseslimited workerproductivity,thusaffectingtheglobal supplychain,includingtheavailabilityoffood. Scientistswarnthatasimilarscenariocould playoutasaresultofclimatechange.The agriculturalsectorcouldfaceconsiderable challengesintheyearstocome.TheFourth NationalClimateAssessmentisagovernment-mandatedreportthatmustbedelivered totheUnitedStatesCongressonceeveryfour years.Amongthemanyaimsofthereportare toprovideananalysisoftheeffectsofglobal changesonthenaturalenvironmentandagriculture.Thereportalsomustprojectmajor trendsforthenext25to100years.Themost recentreport,deliveredin2018,notedthat changingprecipitationpatternscouldintensify
inthecomingyears,leadingtomoreintense periodsofheavyrainandlongerdryperiods.
Thoseshiftingpatternsandotherchanges couldleadtoanincreaseinconditionsand weathereventsthatposeuniquechallengesto theagriculturalsector.
•Flooding:TheUnionofConcernedScientistsnotesthatmanyagriculturalregionsof theUnitedStateshavealreadyexperienced increased flooding.Theeffectsof floodingon theagriculturalsectorareoftendevastating andincludeacceleratedsoilerosion,water pollutionanddamagetoinfrastructurethat challengesfarmers’abilitytogetfoodfrom theirfarmstostoresand,ultimately,consumers’dinnertables.
•Drought:TheNationalIntegratedDrought InformationSystemreportsthattheprimary directeconomicimpactofdroughtinthe agriculturalsectoriscropfailureandpasture losses.TheGovernmentofCanadanotesthat areasofwesternCanadaarealreadyexperi-
encingfrequentandseveredroughts,andscientistsexpectotherareasofthecountrytobe affectedbydroughtmoreoftenintheyearsto come.ThesamegoesfortheUnitedStates, whichtheUCSnoteshasalreadydealtwith severedroughtinCalifornia,theGreatPlains andthemidwest.Depletedwatersuppliesare abyproductofdrought,andsuchdepletion cantakeatolloncropsandlivestock.
•Economics:Theeffectsofclimatechange oncropsandlivestockmayforcefarmersto changethenatureoftheirfarms.TheUCS notesthatfarmersmaybeforcedtochoose cropvarietiesandanimalbreedsthataresuitedtothenewconditionssparkedbyclimate change.Goinginanewdirectioncouldforce farmerstomakepotentiallycostlyinvestments inmachineryandotherchangesastheymake thetransition.
Climatechangewillposeuniquechallengesto theagriculturalsectorthatcouldforcefarmers tomakesomedifficultdecisionsintheyears ahead.
