Next Gen Ag FARMING AND AGRIBUSINESS LEANING HEAVILY INTO TECH

BY DWAIN HEBDA

When it comes to the science of growing and commoditizing food, the ag sector has never been more tech-forward.

If you walk back the narrative 60 years, Nebraska’s independent farmer was supposed to have gone the way of the dodo bird by now. The state’s legacy of family farms was long ago to have yielded to market pressures and the buying power of deep-pocketed conglomerates, which were going to gobble up land and streamline the path from the field to markets all over the globe.

And while it is true that the number of family farms has decreased over the years, it is hardly a situation where the family farm is on the brink of extinction. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “Rumors of independent farming’s death have been greatly exaggerated.” In fact, Nebraska farmers, not unlike the state’s ag sector overall, are arguably more in control of their destiny than at any other time in the history of the state, despite stiff challenges over labor shortages, market fluctuations, financing and international unrest.

And why? Technology; tools that not only help producers raise more and better foodstuffs more efficiently and cost-effectively, but also help plug them into the agribusiness ecosystem that brings their products to the nation and the world. As the latest generations of farm families employ digital technologies, each individual operation becomes exponentially more savvy in terms of management, marketing and a host of other profitability measurements.

“There are tons of ag opportunities in this state as some kids might help the family farm more by becoming an ag advisor, drone applicator, precision ag specialist or a mechanic,” said Andy Chvatal, executive director with the Nebraska Soybean Board. “Technology plays a very vital role with nutrient application, irrigation timing and optimal seed placement. Satellite imagery provides another set of eyes to create layers and zones. It’s not a one size fits all mentality anymore; our growers need to be precise in all aspects of their operation.”

“Producers continue to adapt to the changes in the market and what it demands from them,” agreed Josh DeMers, Combine program manager with Invest Nebraska. “We see family farms adopting technological tools that help improve yields, reduce water usage, monitor fertilizer, understand the moisture levels, et cetera. This results in advantages for each party involved.”