Technology and Agriculture: History and Future

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What were the most predominant crops in Ohio 100 years ago (1919)? What are the most predominant three crops in Ohio today? Why did these change?

Ohio land use over time

Agricultural demographic has shifted in the 20th century Was labor intensive, many small farms Relied heavily on animals (22 million) Five commodities per farm 21st century demographics Small number of farms, one commodity per farm Fewer workers, 5 million tractors

Technological Advancements Mechanization in agriculture Less reliance on animals for farming Less need to produce feed (oats, hay) Increase in other crops (soybean) Use of tillage Early civilizations Thought to “nourish the earth” Ard (upper) and Roman plow (lower)

Results of Tillage Burying crop residue can increase microbial cycling and decomposition Incorporation of oxygen can stimulate microbial activity Increased residue mineralization Net release of nutrients available for uptake http://www.tikp.co.uk/knowledge/material-functionality/biodegradable/fibre-degradation/

Modernized tillage Moldboard plow Jefferson John Deere Increased in use with the “steam horse” Early tractor

Unintended Consequences of Tillage Accelerated soil erosion Water Wind Increases exposure and susceptibility Surface sealing can occur Inhibit germination Decline in soil productivity Nutrient loss Soil C loss Compaction/ Structure Acidification Dust Bowl Tillage + Drought

1935: Soil Conservation Service -Now the NRCS

Till vs. No-till debate Maximum number of plows produced and sold in the 1950s-1960s 75,000 to 140,000 annually Major topic for debate “Hottest farming argument since the tractor challenged the horse” – Time Magazine

Evidence of the debate

Northwest Ohio Tillage, 2006-2010 Tillage Type Corn Soybean Wheat Total No-Till 210,636* 979,917 303,438 1,493,991 Mulch-Till 133,098 139,203 23,201 295,501 Conventional 746,690 414,557 101,960 1,263,207 1,090,424 1,533,676 428,599 3,052,700 Northwest Ohio Tillage, 2006-2010 Tillage Type Corn Soybean Wheat Total No-Till 210,636* 979,917 303,438 1,493,991 Mulch-Till 133,098 139,203 23,201 295,501 Conventional 746,690 414,557 101,960 1,263,207 1,090,424 1,533,676 428,599 3,052,700 *All values are the acres (1 acre = 1 football field) with this tillage employed in the Western Lake Erie Basin No-Tillage = acres in which the soil is not stirred and more than 30% residue is left at planting Mulch Tillage = acres in which the soil is stirred and which leaves more than 30% residue cover on the surface at planting Conventional tillage = acres stirred extensively (chiseling and disking, etc) such that there is less than 30% residue  and/or clean till acres that have been moldboard plowed

Chemical Control Herbicide technology Herbicide resistant crops Salt (pre-Roman) 2,4-D Many more chemistries (Hundreds of products) Selective Low use rates Low environmental persistence Herbicide resistant crops Targeted insecticides and fungicides

What are other ways technology is used in agriculture? Discuss with two others about this question Try to come up with at least three items

What are other ways technology is used in agriculture? Optimizing production practices Planting date and seeding rate Variety selection Monitoring growth and development Weed, insect and disease management Integrated Pest Management Optimizing fertilizer use Fertilizer recommendation guidelines Fertilizer calculators Precision technology Vary application rates based on need Components of Precision Agriculture

Precision Agriculture

Production Practices Planting technology Mechanical planters Create furrow with plow Hand plant Close furrow Mechanical planters 40” between each row Accommodate horses Tractors allowed for narrower row spacings 30” (corn, soybeans) 15” (soybeans) 7.5” (soybeans, wheat) More plants could be grown per acre farmed Less bare ground

Precision Planting Technology Vacuum seed meter: https://www.google.com/patents/US6748885

What makes a seed lot high quality? Improved Seed Quality Uniform, successful establishment No weedy crops, diseased plants, or uneven maturity What makes a seed lot high quality? -the required cultivar (varietal purity) -free from weeds, other seed and inert matter (analytical purity) -good plant establishment (germination & vigor) - freedom from disease (tested & confirmed) uniform, successful establishment do not want to see weedy crops diseased plants uneven maturity we want high quality seeds! That means: the required cultivar (varietal purity) free from weeds, other seed and inert matter (analytical purity) good plant establishment (germination & vigor) freedom from disease (tested & confirmed)

Crop Yield Gains and Biotechnology Yield of specific crops has increased over time 1 bu grain = 56 lbs for corn, 60 lbs for soybeans Improved breeding efforts Improved seed quality Improved production practices Corn, soybean, cotton, potato, papaya, squash, canola, alfalfa, apple, and sugarbeet (10 crop types)

Components of an IPM program Sampling and monitoring Identification Determine the need for control Evaluate the control options available Implement a control program Evaluation and record-keeping

Initial Scouting Path – Foot vs Aerial Provides overview of what is present Enables more focus on specific areas

Establishes a break-even value Economic Threshold Control cost Crop value Potential pest damage Establishes a break-even value Use this to set the threshold value http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/potato-leafhopper-alfalfa

There are 18 recognized modes of action for herbicides

Improved spray technologies Individual nozzle controls Drift reducing technology Specialized spray patterns Over-application (blue) and skipped areas (red) without nozzle control Over-application (blue) and skipped areas (red) with nozzle control

Fertilizers Haber-Bosch Process

Crop production Give every plant the best chance to grow unimpeded to maximize the yield it can produce Use precision techniques to increase success Planting date Temperatures Precipitation Available light Planting rate Is the number of plants optimum? Crop scouting We will hear more about technology use to optimize production during the session

What are the careers in agriculture? Discuss with two others about this question Try to come up with at least three items

Modern Production More than 90% of farm household income is derived from off-farm sources Impact on household well-being is declining Fewer than 25% of farms receive payments tied to program crops Farming has become a “secondary occupation” Supported commodities only account for 34% of cash receipts

New Career Opportunities Production Support agronomists Breeders Environmental protection Seed production Law Consulting Teaching Data analytics Research Sales Marketing Management https://www.purdue.edu/usda/employment/