By Luke Ressler
Farming is quite a bit different from when my grandparents and my parents started their farming and ranching careers. While the end goal of feeding the world remains the same, technology has completely changed how we do things around the farm. The development of ag technology over the years has helped us become more efficient with our time and resources.
We are fortunate to have so many options when it comes to utilizing different technologies. Today’s farming equipment helps us cover more ground in a shorter amount of time. By using GPS and auto steer we are able to be more precise and continue working after the sun sets. Soil sampling technology has evolved to where we are able to break up fields into zones based on soil types, topography and productivity using yield data, satellite imagery and overall knowledge of the field. By doing this we can maximize our use of seed and fertilizer by varying the amount to meet the needs of each acre which saves time, money and resources.
On the cattle side there are programs that help track how much feed you have fed as well as your feed costs. This is extremely helpful especially as a beginning farmer to figure out what your costs. It also helps you identify areas where you can improve feed efficiency.
These are just a few examples of the countless technologies that are available to farmers and ranchers. At times, it can be frustrating when your equipment is broken due to a technology issue, but when things are working we can get a lot done. My grandparents would sure be amazed at how far we have come.
Luke and his wife, Elli, farm and ranch near Hillsboro. The Resslers are the District 2 representatives on the NDFB Young Farmer and Rancher Committee.