Crop Production: 100 Years Later
By Bryce Jackson
In the past 100 years, growers have increased both the quality and quantity of their crop through improved crop
production. Robotic tractors, genetically altered seeds, and polymer-coated seeds will help farmers produce better
crops, making farming more profitable in the next 100 years.
Tractors equipped with robots will save farmers money in the future. It may take a considerable time before we
see driverless machines in the field, but tractors with robots to assist the operator will be in use in the near
future. These robots will take over steering controls to allow the farmer to concentrate on controlling the sprayer,
planter, or any other implement. Every pass across the field will be accurate to within an inch, eliminating missed
strips and overlaps that will save farmers time and money. Robotic tractors will also help farmers avoid crop damage
during inter-row cultivation. Combined with light beam sensors that identify the exact location of the plants,
the robot will guide the machine between the rows without tearing out any of the valuable crop. This system will
not only save the farmer dollars, but will also allow him to come in at the end of the day without feeling fatigued
from focusing on the rows all day. From experience, I know how tedious this job can be and how easy it is to take
out seven rows of beans with the slightest movement of the wheel! This will be an impressive improvement in over-all
in-field accuracy.
Farmers will be growing more of their crops from genetically modified (GM) seeds. Included will be herbicide-tolerant,
disease-resistant, and insect-resistant varieties of all crop types grown. The farmer will save money through reduced
herbicide, pesticide, and fungicide use. He will be able to apply lower rates and utilize fewer applications of
herbicides. No more emergency applications of pesticides and fungicides because of disease or pest outbreaks will
be required. The farmer will earn more money through GM crops because weeds will be controlled better, causing
less crop stress and, therefore, more yield. Crops will not be susceptible to disease or insect damage and will
put more bushels in the bin and more money in the farmer's pocket.
Another change in future crop production will be polymer-coated seeds. These are seeds that have a special polymer
coating that will allow crops to be planted in the fall and then germinate in the spring. This will allow farmers
more planting flexibility. Crops can be seeded in early October when soil conditions are drier than in early spring
so soil compaction can be reduced. This technology will allow alfalfa fields to be sown in late fall and emerge
in the spring without any threat of winterkill. Corn or soybeans can be planted in the early spring and then begin
to grow when the ground reaches a pre-determined temperature. This gives the crop an early start and will spread
to farmer's spring workload over a longer period of time. Polymer-coated soybean seed can be no-tilled into winter
wheat in the spring to get a head start on double cropping. With early wheat harvest the past two years, many of
my neighbours in Lambton County have tried this practice with varying results. By making use of polymer-coated
seed, harvesting two crops from the same field could become a regular occurrence in my area. This new technology
will change future planting scheduled by turning traditional ones upside down.
In the past 100 years, crop production has changed drastically from horse power to diesel power. Farmers can expect
more change in the next 100 years as robotic tractors, genetically modified seeds, and polymer-coated seeds aid
farmers in producing a greater quantity of high-quality crops to make farming more profitable and productive.
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