Imagine waking up one morning to discover that pests had caused irreparable damage to some (or all) of your crops overnight. Or worse: Watching your crops wither away in the scorching sun and heat and knowing the situation could have been avoided had you made the right adjustments to your irrigation system.
These heart-breaking and financially devastating issues have always plagued farmers.
But, with a growing population and increasing demand for food, it’s more important than ever for farmers to find ways to maximize their yields.
The dangers of unchecked farming practices
The other challenge today’s farmer faces? Keeping up with demand without hurting the environment.
That’s because centuries of traditional farming practices have taken a toll on the planet. The “old” way was not only resource-intensive, but it also led to soil degradation, water pollution, deforestation, and a host of other environmental problems.
What every farmer needs: good weather and farm management apps
Thankfully, technology is quickly changing the industry.
These tools and apps offer a variety of features that support every aspect of the business, from planning to harvesting.
For example, real-time information about weather conditions, soil moisture, and pest infestations has removed much of the guesswork that goes into farming – all of which helps improve their yields while reducing their environmental impact.
Another example: farmers can use farm management apps to adjust their use of fertilizers and other resources, reducing waste and costs. They can also monitor weather conditions and soil moisture in real-time to adjust their irrigation schedules and avoid water waste in the process.
And with traceability tools, farmers can track their crops from planting to harvest – which is especially important for crops exported or sold to large retailers, as they often have strict food safety and quality requirements.
The future of farming
Your grandfather might have scoffed at the idea of management apps, but precision agriculture is simply becoming the way farming is done these days, as it also reduces farming’s environmental impact. Some apps even include features for carbon farming, which can help farmers store carbon in their soil and reduce their overall carbon footprint.
