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Precision farming promotes more responsible management

An ag technology specialist says farmers are quickly adopting digital solutions to stay ahead of potential farm management regulations.

Ryan DeMorrow, Great Lakes Technology Specialist with Wilbur-Ellis, points to work underway in the Western Lake Erie Basin.

“Using topsoil mapping, getting a better idea of what that actual acre is holding in terms of phosphorus,” he explains. “And then being able to create good variable rate prescription maps for manure spreading and or phosphorus application.”

He says soil moisture monitoring technology can benefit farmers as irrigation and water use faces scrutiny.

“Being able to see what that ground is actually capable of holding in terms of soil moisture I think is important,” he says. “We’re exploring that as a tool to put the right amount of water on the right at the right timing.”

He says the Natural Resources Conservation Service has funding available for irrigation management technology which he believes is driving faster adoption by growers.

DeMorrow says he’s excited to see technology evolve at the granular level in the future, and he expects precision management to take place based on individual plant needs.