Tama Assist Embracing Agtech: smart solutions for modern farming
First of all, what is agtech? Agtech – agriculture technology – is the use of technology to gather, monitor and analyse on-farm data. It allows the farmer to enhance traditional farming knowledge with modern farming technology.
As a farmer, you deal with farming challenges such as unpredictable weather, limited resources, and environmental problems while optimising efficiency, productivity, and sustainability.
Smart farming solutions could include ear-tag technology, water sensors and automation but it is mostly a combination of farm management software, smart devices, and data analysis tools.
Farm software:
Farm management software is like mission control for your fields and crops. It allows you to plan each crop cycle and monitors the use of resources like water and fertilisers. By reducing guesswork, this software helps you make informed decisions.
Smart devices:
Smart devices are sensors that constantly monitor on-farm conditions such as nutrient levels and soil moisture. For example, drones can capture valuable data about irrigation needs and crop health. This enables you to deliver the exact amount of what your crop needs at the right time.
Data analysis:
Data from on-farm smart devices are used by data analysis tools to give valuable insights. These ‘advisors’ can, for example, predict crop yields. Likewise, it offers recommendations to boost productivity and economize resources.
To stay competitive, you can use agtech to make data-driven decisions about your operation.
Here are some examples of how agtech is utilised:
- Precision farming: Use GPS, drone imagery, and data analysis to plan crop planting, watering, and nutrient management.
- Big Data Analytics: Analyse large data sets to predict disease outbreaks, best planting times, and resource use.
- Automation: Improving consistency and efficiency, automated farm machinery are used for precision planting, automated irrigation, spraying pesticides, and harvesting.
- Internet of Things (IoT): IoT is widely adopted in farming and is in essence, about the Internet controlling farming operations. It connects agricultural devices to collect data such as soil moisture, plant health, and livestock health.
- Vertical farming: Growing crops vertically in stacked systems with LED lighting and hydroponics maximises space.
- Bioengineering: Biological engineering is the genetic editing of plants and animals to create new cultivars resistant to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses.
- Aerial imaging: Aircraft and drones provide aerial imaging to identify growth stages, disease pressures and fertilizer response.
- Smart sensors: Ground sensors provide real-time data on soil conditions such as moisture content.
Modern farmers are adopting agtech because it allows for highly efficient resource use on the farm, lowering inputs costs and increasing profits.
Tama is very knowledgeable about the latest agtech innovations in crop bailing. Contact our team for advice on using modern tools to reduce waste, improve yields, improve sustainability efforts, and more.