Robotic dairy farms are becoming increasingly common in parts of the United States, where technology is rapidly advancing to allow increased farm production with decreased human labor.
Despite bucolic imagery, the agricultural sector in the United States has always been quick to embrace technological innovation. Increased use of fertilizers and chemical aids, for example, helped propel subsistence agriculture in the United States into the market-driven behemoth that it is today. The 1940s through the 1970s saw increased use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and hybridized seeds (in a process collectively known as the Green Revolution), which ushered in an agricultural golden age.
Rather than revolving around chemical production and seed innovations, recent tech breakthroughs have hinged on robotic and automated production methods. In dairy farms across the country, robotic milking has helped cut back on necessary labor while significantly increasing production.
Robots use lasers to hone in on cows’ udders, allowing automated milking. “She’s got a transponder on the side of her neck. It shows where the teats should be, what the udders should be shaped like and it uses the laser to pick up,” said Iowa farmer Mark Hosch of his mechanized cattle.
In addition to allowing for less direct human management, the automated process allows for cows to be milked on their own schedules, helping contribute to the increased health and longevity of the herd.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmloans.com.
Follow us on: Twitter
Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer