Over the years, agriculture has undergone various shifts. This may be attributed to the ever decreasing farming spaces as more land continues to be consumed by the real estate industry. New breeds of livestock have also popped up over the years. The number of workers required on the farms has decreased. The primary reason for all such changes is technology.
Land preparation and harvesting
Pruning and harvesting offer a great challenge, especially when dealing with tall trees. Currently, there are many machinery businesses offering Hydralada machines that farmers can acquire for use on their farms. The equipment can also be used for tilling. The main aim for tilling is to change the structure of the soil so that you can prepare it for farming. When preparing your land for planting, you can also use a moldboard. The mouldboard plough can be used to break any type of soil and cover any crop residues. During harvesting, consider using machines such as reapers and threshers. They are used to cut cereals and separate seeds from the plants respectively. Harvesting machines reduce the time required to clear a farm with minimum yield loss.
Livestock genetics and breeding
Over the years, technology has facilitated the improvement of previous livestock breeds into hybrids. For instance, the genetic breeding of livestock ensures that animals can adapt to different climatic conditions. The breeding improved the productivity of animals, temperament, and meat quality of the animals. Even now, the technology used to breed animals continues to improve, which gives hope of far superior breeds in the years to come. Scientists are coming up with ways to identify and manipulate specific elements within the genes of different animals in a bid to influence their development toward a more desirable end. The goal is to improve animal growth and health.
Crop genetics and pest management
Similar to livestock breeding, a lot of progress has been made regarding the improvement of plant genetics over the years. Most farmers use plant selection and breeding to ensure satisfactory crop yield. Scientists are currently working on ways to improve germplasm. It is a way of developing seeds that have superior characteristics, which provide some guarantee of good yields despite the type of soil used or the climatic conditions in an area. This means that crops will be able to adapt to the various conditions where they are planted. Scientists are also looking into the possibility of combining both the traditional and modern methods of breeding to achieve superior results. For instance, marker-assisted breeding is a modern breeding method that is applied to speed up time with the aim of getting the desired results. It also improves the genetic engineering of the seed. The genetic technology ensures that the seed is pest-resistant, drought-tolerant, and disease-resistant.
Farming has changed a lot over the years. To get a good perspective, consider what the future holds and compare it with where it all began. The use of modern technology has helped farmers a lot. People can now look forward to higher crop yields whenever they plant their crops. The size of a farm is no longer a key issue.