The greatest advantage of autonomous agricultural equipment is probably productivity. A less obvious benefit is that it largely eliminates the requirement for skilled operators.
With the shortage of skilled operators in agriculture, these people can be expensive to recruit. Seasonality and low equipment utilisation during off-periods also mean that they are required for only a few months of the year, which further compounds the operator supply and demand conundrum.
One way in which equipment manufacturers have responded to these challenges is to invest in the development of the ‘driverless’ tractor.
Globally, agricultural shows are seeing a steep increase in displays of robotics and autonomous equipment, as seen at the recent AgriTechnica trade fair in Hanover, Germany.
To an outsider, agriculture might appear to be the ideal enviroment for autonomous machines, and one would expect development to be way ahead of any other sector. Yet this is not the case, as there are a number of unique challenges in agriculture.
Firstly, connectivity in rural areas is often inadequate. Secondly, agriculture has variables that farmers know all too well: soil composition can vary in a land, saturation can be a problem, and the weather constantly changes, so a balancing act is required.
All of this makes the autonomous tractor a dream project (or a nightmare) for an artificial-intelligence or machine-learning developer. The first to succeed will indeed be worthy of some recognition.
THE NEWCOMERS
It’s interesting to see how many newcomers find an opportunity to enter the equipment market through an autonomous solution. In fact, it may be easier for these designers to arrive at solutions, as they have the freedom for more out-of-the-box thinking than the design departments of existing manufacturers. For the latter, considerable adaptation is required.
Denne historien er fra December 20, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra December 20, 2019-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
