Innovation in the heartland

The presence of innovation in the heartland is probably not surprising to the hardworking farmers across the United States. Still, during a recent trip to Harlan, Iowa, I discovered how much science, technology, and innovation are involved in the farming industry.??To be clear, I’m a city slicker raised in a big city.??Corn, grain, beans, and other agricultural products came from the supermarket, not from a complex ecosystem of soil and crop cultivation, financial and risk planning, ecology, and sustainment.??For those not in the know, it’s worth reading on to learn a bit more.

The purpose of my trip to Iowa was to join a workshop of business leaders, farmers, educators, and community leaders hosted by?Oak Road Consulting?to discuss cyber workforce opportunities in Harlan and the surrounding area.??Harlan has fiber infrastructure (even out to the farm), world-class educators, involved families, and the innovative farming spirit of capturing new opportunities to grow the community in a positive way for a continuing bright future.??I loved participating with a small inspirational community to help plot a path to something extraordinary.??Besides, Jim Shelton , my old buddy from our days in the military, had been trying to get me out to “the farm” for a while.??I wasn’t expecting to see the use of technology in such innovative ways.

Agriculture innovation isn’t new.??In 1862, President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, under which Congress granted each state representative and senator 30,000 acres of land to support and maintain at least one college related to the “agricultural and mechanical arts.”??That same year, Iowa became the first state to adopt all the new law provisions.??It has been a minute since the Morrill Act was passed, and farmers are using technology and data to grow better crops, gain efficiencies, and care for the environment.?? Arlin Sorensen , CEO of Oak Road Consulting and a farm owner/operator, said, “technology is the future of farming.”??Before we consider how farmers use technology and data in their industry, let's consider some agricultural complexities.

It has been said that the only place where you can gamble more than in Las Vegas is in farming.??Farmers depend on many factors for success: selecting the proper seed genetics for their fields, proper and accurate seed spacing and depth, fertility and condition of the soil, and even a little luck!??They depend on favorable weather, hope that the insects will find something else to eat, trust that a sometimes unstable supply chain will deliver, and must have their equipment ready to go at a moment’s notice.

What kid, or big kid in my case, doesn’t love a big tractor???I had never been in a tractor, let alone ridden in one, and this was my chance.??Peter Sorensen offered me a ride, but he had already got word I was a lousy driver, so there would be no driving the tractor.??What jumped out to me was that the cab was more like a cockpit, complete with digital monitors and even a stick.??Pete explained it used to be a badge of honor for how straight a farmer could drive and plant rows in their fields.??But he confessed this tractor didn’t need to worry about that because Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment kept the tractor on a straight trajectory within one to two inches.??This technology helps them conserve fuel and ensure perfect seed spacing.??Note: I struggle to keep my driving straight even with GPS and sensors in my car.??Maybe I should learn to drive a tractor.??I was still buzzing from the tractor test flight when we were shown the quad drones used to spray crops.??????

The drones are just under 52 pounds and can carry a load to cover twenty acres with incredible precision.??A two-person team can operate up to six drones with the help of software, including reloading.??Drones are also used to monitor soil, monitor crops, and collect other necessary data for the health and production of the farm.??Think about the efficiencies this brings to either a small or large farm.??Less fuel, greater accuracy, and more data to make informed decisions.??Next to the drone is the seed planter.??With the assistance of software and GPS, this equipment can plant millions of seeds in precisely the right place and depth.??Seed spacing, seed depth, and soil compaction can make or break that crop.

In these examples and many more, the data collected is vast.??What is the potential of the data analysis for even greater yields, protecting the environment, and reducing carbon footprint? The data is there, the intelligence in the data is an untapped resource, but it’s not the only untapped resource.??The workforce of tomorrow in the agricultural industry must continue to be multi-skilled, including building, using, and protecting the technology that enables farmers.??Harlan is focused on equipping professionals starting with today’s high school students.??They will ensure that today's students can harness tomorrow's opportunities through partnerships with business, community, and education.??These opportunities will cascade to grow other businesses and improve existing infrastructure for a bright future.??Harlan is blazing a trail for other communities to follow.??At its core is innovation in the heartland.?