New technology changed agriculture when global positioning service (GPS) first became available about 20 years ago.
GPS allows farmers to map fields for fertilizer and chemical needs and reduce or increase these inputs as necessary.
The year 2021 may become known as the year agriculture once again adopted new technology to improve performance, market products and meet environmental standards.
Best known for its phone and telecommunication business, Telus launched a drive into expanding use of technology on farms in Canada.
The company has an agriculture division with more than 1,200 experts. Dating back to 2004 and with a dozen acquisitions over the years the service has operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia.
Telus’ ag division has helped manage over one billion acres of land for 150,000 plus growers and worked with more than 3,300 food companies, according to the company website.
The service assists farmers with data storage and updates in a variety of areas — among them crop planning, crop protection, weather, crop input use, to scouting fields for insects and trapping them.
The data analytics became possible with development of a technology called artificial intelligence.
The special software positions the farm or food operation to improve profitability and efficiency.
Telus is not alone in this endeavour.
Tractor manufacturer John Deere acquired Harvest Profit of Fargo, North Dakota last year to develop an analytic insight for farm operations.
Chemical giants BASF and Bosch last year announced plans for a joint digital venture in agriculture data analytics.
A Manitoba-based nonprofit, EMILI, is building an intelligence and data platform with funding from the industry.
In the United States Cargill has decided to farm more acres with regenerative agriculture, which requires intensive data analytics.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
