The need to reduce labour requirements and increase time efficiencies saw significant and rapid advances to tractor technology over the next number of decades.

From the addition of PTOs to the coming of front loaders, all these developments have changed the face of agriculture and brought about a shift in how tasks on farms are completed.

However, since the 1950s, industry-altering advances have been few and far between, with the focus shifting to producing larger and more powerful tractors, with the average tractor today well over 100hp.

However, the coming of the information age to tractors could mean that we are again in the middle of a period that sees a drastic shift in the average tractor on an Irish farm.

While the car industry is currently seeking a way to produce a driverless car, the agricultural industry is already there in terms of tractors.

The arrival of auto-steer and GPS-coordinated tractors means field work can be carried out without a driver.

While drivers remain in the cab for the time being, from a safety point of view, it is envisaged that tractors could be operated from a smartphone or tablet in the near future.

Even things like soil mapping have resulted in huge advancements in efficiencies on farms. Using satellite maps, tractor operators are fully aware of their position in a field at all times and by means of a simple heads-up display can easily avoid double covering an area.

This ensures no seed, spray or fertiliser go to waste.

Information technology has the capacity to make a huge impact on Irish agriculture and there are sure to be more innovative advances in the coming years.

Read more

Special focus: tractors 2017