High-Tech on the Farm

The Illinois Farm Families took us to four farms this year. All four farms grow corn and soybean crops to either feed their livestock, sell as a commodity, or both. We learned about the different forms of technology they use and the ways in which it helps them to be more productive and efficient.

A field in spring 2014, farm buildings and grain bins beyond

It may come as no surprise that large farms in the U.S. rely heavily on computer technology. Farmers have always made informed decisions, but today’s technology gives them access to more data and analysis than ever before. Technology is being used to solve problems as well as conserve energy and resources.

Showing Field Moms how technology 

is applied on the Jeschke Farm

Of course, the computer updates come at a price, but most farmers find the benefits worth the cost. As you’d expect, the larger the farm, the fewer years it takes for the technology to pay for itself. It may take a large farm just two or three years to make up the cost of the investment.

There are several different forms of tech and gadgets that we learned about. The first is GPS guidance, which is used for steering control guidance, as well as field mapping. The second is hardware and software that is used for data collection, specifically harvest/yield data and soil data. A third is equipment that is designed with variable-rate technology, which enables very precise applications of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as unbelievably precise planting - with spacings measured in tenths of an inch! 

They also use desktop and laptop computers, in-tractor monitors, tablets, and smart-phones equipped with programs or apps linked to their data. They monitor and evaluate weather data using this hardware and real-time weather apps, as well. They are also starting to use drones, or UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), to monitor the crops during the growing season.

Matt Boucher demonstrating how a UAV

is used for crop monitoring

The GPS system enables farmers to create a map of their field, collect data referenced to the map, and then put that data to work to save energy and resources and be as productive as possible. 

GPS unit atop a tractor cab

One feature of the GPS guidance is that, with the flip of a switch, the tractor operator can let the tractor drive itself. This is particularly useful, when driving thousands of acres, to keep rows nearly perfectly straight and allow the farmer to turn around to monitor equipment, like a planter, for example.  As I rode in the combine, during corn harvest, we were riding on auto-pilot guided by GPS for most of the row.

Field, mapped by GPS, gridded for soil test

Every two or three years, a testing agency tests the farm soils. A grid is over-laid on the field map and samples are taken in the field from each quadrant of the grid. 

Field map showing soil organic matter levels

The report comes back to the farmer with colorful maps detailing each of the nutrients and recommendations based on what crop will be grown thereafter. The report informs the farmer on the questions of soil health and fertilization needs. It may also influence the questions of planting - what, where, why, and how.

Image of in-cab sprayer monitor 

showing pesticide application

The most surprising aspect of all the technology we saw was the variable-rate technology that is used with the sprayers and planters. As the name implies, it has allowed them to get away from blanketing fields with fertilizer or pesticide and they can, instead, control the flow rates with amazing precision. 

Sprayer on the Jeschke Farm

The hardware is sophisticated so that each nozzle is independently controlled by the computer technology. The farmer only puts fertilizer or pesticide where it is needed, saving costs. It also contributes to sustainability efforts which include using fewer resources and lessening pollution of our waterways.

The planter on the Jeschke Farm

On the Jeschke Farm, a particular corn spacing was 6.1 inches. Planting is very precise and that is important for reasons that were explained to us.

Along with soil data, farmers collect yield data. The combines have on-board computers that collect real-time harvest yield data and immediately upload it to the cloud.

 Real-Time Yield Data (corn harvest 2014)

The photo above is actually a tablet in the farmer’s hand as we sat in his pick-up truck near the field. He was using an app to pull the real-time harvest data from the cloud so that we could look at what the combine, in the field, was doing in real-time. It was fun to watch. This same exact screen image is also in the cabs of the combine and auger tractor where the operators watch the data as it is collected.

Combine & Auger Trailer on Martz Family Farm

In October, I rode along with Chris Gould in his combine as he was harvesting corn. Watching the corn stalks get sucked into the combine is a little repetitive after not too much time, so I was pondering what it would be like to do this all day, and I asked him, “when you’re up here in the cab, is there anything in particular you are looking for as you drive through the field?” He said that most commonly they look for pest damage, often root worm, and explained what that might look like. Just a few minutes later, we came to a rather large swath that was knocked over, just as he described. He pointed out on the computer monitor how big of an effect that swath had on his yield. The swath went from green to yellow on the screen and the bushel count dropped significantly. To a farmer who is always trying to make each field as productive as possible, that is a let down. It’s wasted time and resources with little or no return on investment.

Corn Harvest 2014 on Martz Family Farm

After they’ve collected the yield data and put it together with the soil data, they use the technology to evaluate what seeds are working where, what soils may be lacking nutrients, what areas are problems – maybe with insect pests or weeds, what worked and what didn’t, and then the cycle starts once again as they plan for the next planting season and create their prescription maps for fertilizing, planting, and crop-protection.

Farmer with a Manicure

We learn a lot on these Field Mom farm tours from what is said, but there are many more things we learn by observation and listening beyond the words. And it’s not all just about the animals, the crops and, ultimately, the food. Sometimes, it’s a “people” thing. Who are those unknown people raising our food, anyway?

When we hear the word “farmer,” it undoubtedly conjures up a mental image. I’m not sure what the image in your mind looks like (we all come from so many different places), but the person, whatever age and behind whatever clothes you’re imagining, is probably a man, right? How often does “farmer” conjure an image of a woman? Probably not too often. Did you know there are more than 288,000 women farmers here in the U.S.! According to the USDA’s latest census, 14 percent of the principal farm operators are female.  This, compared to 67 percent of the secondary farm operators (partner, likely a spouse) are female.

On our last farm tour, the Field (city) Moms rode the bus together to the Larson Farms Partnership in Maple Park, IL, a custom (beef cattle) feedlot. We were joined on the bus by two Farm Moms who manage and operate cattle farms.

One of the Farm Moms on the bus with us that day was a woman farmer – the one with the manicure. She is not joined in her farming venture by her husband or brother. She is the farmer. She is a tall slender woman, with straight blond hair, great taste in cowgirl boots, if that’s what you’re into, with an impeccable manicure. By appearances, she was more hip than half the city moms on the bus (myself included). She told us that twelve years ago – if my math is correct, at the age of 38 – she decided the work-life “off the farm” just wasn’t what she had in her heart to be doing. She decided to return to the life of farming that she knew growing up. That part of her story is an inspiration to anyone thinking about changing gears (or career) later in life!

As a woman (and daughter of a farmer), I have thought of dozens of reasons why it would be extra difficult to be a farmer and the greatest challenge for me would be strength. Machinery and equipment is heavy, maintaining fences and pulling wires require brawn, other farm tasks require great strength for lifting and endurance to do it all day (think haying or moving produce around), animals are heavy. I could go on. She explained to us that, because she is female – meaning a smaller frame and less strength than a man – she has to do things a little differently on the farm. One thing she does different than most is that she trains her cattle to walk on a lead. This way, if she needs to move them around, she can use the lead, sort of as you would a dog. She also described how much she loves her animals – even though they are raised for food. Maybe it is because she is female, or a mother, or something else, but she described her softness for the animals and how difficult it is for her to say good-bye to them. She actually has another person take the animals from her farm to market so that she doesn't have to do that part of the job. She's a woman who has figured it out and seems to be making it work.

That Farm Mom wasn't the only woman farmer we met that day. Lynn Martz and her husband Mike are partners, along with other family members, in the Larson Farms Partnership, which is a custom feedlot. One might assume Mike is the primary operator and Lynn is secondary, but actually, Lynn manages the grain and crop operation. She is another Farm Mom who is really interesting to learn from and is clearly passionate about her work and life.

Lynn Martz with her grandson explaining the 

beef cattle feed rations to us (Field Moms)

I recently read someplace that a teacher asked some families, “How well do you know your doctor? How about your dentist? Maybe your banker, accountant, or family attorney? How about, how well do you know your farmer? How well do you know the person who grows your food?” I think that is a great question and we Field Moms can definitely say we are getting to know our farmers – men AND women!