Research and Technology in Ag

Will the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone as it is commonly called, be the next high-tech tool to help farmers manage their land and improve its production? This weeks' Super Six focuses on technology and research in the agricultural industry.

• The future role of unmanned aerial vehicles is explored In a blog post by Charles Trauger with GlobalView. He believes there is mounting evidence that UAVs and the ag industry could be an excellent fit for each other.
  
  
• A USDA scientist in North Carolina has found a way to encourage more growers to use cover crops in the Southeastern United States—allow cattle to graze on them.
  
  
• In another story about cover crops, the USDA reports that using them between corn and soybean crop production in the Midwest could significantly reduce nitrate load runoff via subsurface drains. Fertilizer runoff is not only wasteful for the farmer but is having a serious environmental impact.
  
  
• ScienceDaily reports that a new UC Berkeley study shows that if biomass electricity production is combined with carbon capture and sequestration in the western United States, power generators could actually store more carbon than they emit and make a critical contribution to an overall zero-carbon future by the second half of the 21st century.
  
  
• The importance of agricultural science and technology in meeting the world's burgeoning demands on food, feed and fuel have been highlighted in a major international report, according to a report in FarmingUK.
  
  
• Farm Journal's Agweb reports on the innovative new 900 series round baler from John Deere.
  

If you are interested in more stories about the vital role technology plays in helping today's farmer, check out this blog post on how Alliance flotation tires are helping a North Carolina manure hauler.