HAVE YOUR SAY:

Is technology moving too quickly for you?

Farmers Forum staff

Technology is moving at such a rapid pace, it can be overwhelming. We’ve already got robotic weeders, seeders and drones, GPS and auto-steer. The latest big advancement is A.I. (artificial intelligence) that can give you much more than an accurate crop report.

There’s an app for everything and you can just text your agronomist while standing in a field. There is a mountain of new technology to improve your life but can you even keep up? Farmers Forum asked Western Ontario farmers: Is technology moving too quickly for you?

Gary Piggott

Petrolia cash cropper Gary Piggott summed up the sentiment of many. Technology is coming too quickly but it’s more than a good thing. “I truly believe it’s going to be the saviour of this industry,” said Piggott, noting that it will resolve labour shortages and allow farmers to get things better and do them faster. “Just because we can’t keep up with it doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea. But at my age, it’s hard.”

Let’s talk about drones. Technology is moving faster than the regulations. That is a big concern to me for the security of our property. These drones range up to 2 km. Where is the traceability and the accountability for the people flying drones? You don’t want to get too excited because criminals are also able to leverage the technology to spy on farmers and figure out where the weak points are … that’s where my mind goes.“Then look at robotic tractors. I don’t want robots taking my favourite job. Working on the fields is my favourite thing. There is no replacement for good management. The question is, ‘What will artificial intelligence never be able to replace on the farm? What’s more complex than farming?”

Noah Nyenhuis
Sebringville, Ont., Dairy farmer

“Yes, there’s a lot of advancement in technology, but the price is too high. We would love to use more and more technology in terms of more automation but the price point for farmers (is difficult) because their margins are smaller and smaller.”

Nathan Obeid
Delhi, Ont.
Vegetable farm associate

“For me, probably, but not the younger generation. I’m not a real techie dude, but I think the younger generation, they love it and they’re good at it.”

Jan Veldhuizen
Norwich, Ont.
Tree farmer

“It’s always moving fast. it’s a struggle to keep up. But there’s such cool stuff out there, so many choices. You just want to be getting that advice to help you pick what’s actually useful instead of what’s really cool or interesting.

Scott Archer
Mount Pleasant, Ont.
Livestock and crop farmer

“There are good and bad advancements. I feel there are good examples that maximize efficiency for field work. However, there are things farmers can’t fix by themselves. It requires an actual technician to come out. Whereas 10 or 20 years ago, that wasn’t as big a deal. You could pull your tractor to the side and just fix it. With all of these computers, that’s tougher. I sort of have mixed feelings. It can be good, it can be bad.”

Austin Bieman
Belgrave, Ont.
Cash crop, beef and sheep

“Yes, but I’m an older fellow. I still farm because I get to drive the tractor. But the younger generation, it’s certainly their strength. I sell seed, and my larger customers, they’re very much into the technology. From yield monitors to the variable rate and field mapping.
“My strength is trying to look after the soil and find the right tillage equipment. I just purchased one of the latest and greatest pieces of equipment this past spring, a Great Plains Terramax.”

Leroy Bryan
Granton, Ont.
Cash cropper

“For myself, yes. For the older generation, most definitely. I’m still old-school. But, it is what it is.”

Randy Fisher
Queensville, Ont.
Duck farmer

“I’d say, no, it’s not. But it is a challenge to keep up. I can think of two or three things I’d still like to see.”

Ken Smith
Wyoming, Ont.
Cash cropper

“No. Technology is very interesting. We’ve just got to keep up to it. With all new ideas, you have to pick through the ones that are viable and the ones that are BS.”

Robert Eedy
Huron County, ON
Livestock and cash crop

“Yes. I’m not a big fan of putting a computer on something just because you can. I run a lot of machinery and the machinery is too often held hostage because a sensor is having a bad day, and the sensor isn’t necessarily integral
to the operation of the machine. I read a great deal and I’m trying to keep with this A.I. … but too often technology is taking things off the farm where we used to be able to fix things. I’ve seen this on a tractor when a blower goes down. You end up with a technician in there, and he’s in there for an hour just reading the computer.“I see the flaws, I see the downsides, I see the risks.”

Dan Douglas
Glencoe, Ont,
Custom harvest operator