It’s very easy to sit back and be content with what we know and what we have been used to doing. A few months ago I was at a meeting where we explored some of the new technology available to farmers.

To see what is available, and what is coming down the line in a few years’ time, was pretty mind-blowing for someone like me.

I am from the generation of farmers who think that you have to work up a sweat to be called a true farmer

So what should farmers do? Do we ignore it and risk being left behind, or do we embrace it with the prospect of it driving our business into the future?

I must admit, I find it difficult to comprehend some of this new technology.

I am from the generation of farmers who think that you have to work up a sweat to be called a true farmer, and that means being proficient in the use of a grape (or graip), a shovel and a wheelbarrow.

These tools are still required on most farms, and probably will be for some time yet.

The difference now is that some farmers spend at least the equivalent of one day a week looking at a laptop or a smartphone. I have to admit that I’m one of these farmers.

It doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’m determined not to be left behind. My sons catch onto this technology very quickly. It takes me a lot longer, but I will try to keep up for as long as possible.

Station

We have a weather station on our farm (as part of the AgriSearch GrassCheck project) and the technology involved with it is impressive.

It measures all the usual stuff (wind, rainfall and temperature), as well as soil temperature and moisture, and probably other things that I don’t know about.

The information is transmitted to a station in the house and through the WiFi to a central collection point at AFBI Hillsborough.

There are a large number of these weather stations all over NI feeding back data to Hillsborough, which means that there is a large bank of records being collected.

I enjoy watching what’s happening at other weather stations, and there is a certain amount of banter that comes with the weather station

When I first got the weather station there were a lot of people making fun of it. They couldn’t see any benefit in having one.

But I’m well used to being scoffed at, so I didn’t pass much remark.

I enjoy watching what’s happening at other weather stations, and there is a certain amount of banter that comes with the weather station, mostly involving differences between farmers east to west, and between those in dry and wet conditions.

While this is all well and good, the real challenge is for scientists to turn all this information into something useful for farmers.

Calves

Our most recent investment in new technology is in the calf house, where EID tags and readers are used to feed the calves.

This is also an impressive piece of kit, and the information that it catches and stores is significant.

Of course, to make best use of the technology we must also use that information to improve our management of the animals.

We also have a couple of Moocall calving sensors, plus other pieces of kit around the farm that are using modern technology.

Challenge

The challenge for everyone going forward is to continue to make these things useful and farmer friendly.

There were scoffers when the tractor replaced the horse, but now we wonder how anyone has ever survived without a tractor.

Don’t be the scoffers now. Embrace new technology – it’s the future of farming.

Read more

Full-time versus part-time farming

New enterprise adds to business' income