A Look At How Technology Has Changed Farming

Innovations in technology have rapidly and greatly changed agriculture, especially in the past 70 years. Below are some manifestations of these changes.

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The Green Revolution took place in the 1960s, led by Dr. Norman Borlaug who worked since the 1940s on a growing process that permitted plants to thrive with new irrigation and crop- management techniques. This new approach reached its height in the ‘60s as new wheat varieties were made available in various countries in the world.

By 1975, the first rotary combines went into production. Their twin-rotor system allowed crops to be cut and separated in a single pass over the field. This especially benefited the harvest of corn, as it separated not just the husk and ears, but shelled kernels and chopped the stalks. Rotary combines drastically improved the efficiency of harvesting all over the globe.

1996 saw the introduction of the first GMO crops to the commercial market. Produced by Monsanto, soybeans and insect-protected cotton became available to farmers everywhere, sparking a worldwide debate on how they affect human and environmental health. This ultimately will give rise to more alternative farming methods like managed grazing and organic farming.

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Today, as the new year approaches and the third decade of the new millennium, new hi-tech innovations like drones, aerial satellite imagery, greenness sensors, and soil maps are being introduced. Farmers who are quick to adopt these innovations should yield the most benefits, going forward.

Geoffrey Morell co-founded the Weston A. Price Foundation back in 1999. It is a nonprofit organization that specializes in research for better meat and dairy products. For more on alternative farming methods, go to this blog.

Environmentally friendly reasons why you should opt for organic meat and dairy

Whatever your diet preference is, opting to go organic is a truly great decision for a variety of reasons, primary of which are personal and environmental health. Here are more specific reasons why you should go all-out organic for your dairy and meat. 

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One, organically grown foods offer more nutrients, from vitamins and minerals to enzymes and micronutrients. This is because, unlike commercially grown foods, organic farms manage and nourish the soil following sustainable practices. Consider this data: organically grown foods provide 21.1 percent more iron, 27 percent more vitamin C, and 29.3 percent more magnesium on average.

Choosing organic meat and dairy also helps us avoid harmful chemicals, most of which have been sadly approved for use by the EPA before extensive diet testing. Keep in mind that over 600 active chemicals are registered for farming use in the U.S. alone. This means that the typical non-organic food consumer gets an average of 16 pounds of chemical pesticides per year. 

Going organic likewise means distancing further from genetically engineered (GE) food and genetically modified organisms (GMO). Since organic food cannot be genetically modified, it is the only way to prevent future health and environmental risks from the lab-replicated genes of GMOs. GMOs are taken from other plants, animals, and even viruses to give plants new characteristics like better resistance to insects or extreme heat. But there has yet to be a definitive study which can prove that GMOs do not harm both people and the environment. 

Finally, organic foods taste much better, too, because well-nourished and well-balanced soil leads to healthier and tastier produce. There are even organically grown plants that are grown more for taste over appearance, particularly the heirloom varieties.

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Geoffrey Morell co-owns the P.A. Bowen Farmstead, alongside Sally Fallon Morell. He likewise co-founded the non-profit organization Weston A. Price Foundation, which does research on the best food source for farm animals. For more on alternative farming methods, drop by this blog.