Farm Day Teaches Modern Ag

It’s not your grandfather’s farm anymore
Joyce Hollis
October 25, 2009
Maricopa County, AZ

Saturday’s 2nd Annual Farm Day event proved once and for all that farming has changed drastically. American ingenuity and technology is bringing farming to a new level of efficiency in order to compete in the global economy.

It isn’t your grandfather’s farm anymore. Grandfather probably drove his tractor up and down the rows of his carefully planted crops, straining to navigate the vehicle in a straight line. In the heat of the summer perspiration would stream down his face, which he wiped with the traditional red bandana. Since the tractor was open, he wore a straw hat and squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight.

Not today.

The new, air-conditioned Case tractors on display at Farm Day have wide windows front, sides and back to provide full visibility. Each tractor has double tires to increase traction. They are also automated, connected by a radio to a central station and guided by a GPS device that shows a virtual field on the computerized screen, indicating a tree or fence in the tractor’s path.

Farm Day also offered information and displays on conserving and using water efficiently, the environment, all types of bugs and germs. One of the most popular booths allowed children to spray their hands with a substance called Glo Germ. Each child placed their hands in a box lit with ultraviolet light to see the “glowing” germs. Then it was off to the hand washing station to get rid of them; if anyone wanted to check, they could try the spray and light box again. Read More

Just like your wardrobe doesn’t look like it did twenty years ago, neither does the farm. But just because we aren’t farming like our grandparents did doesn’t mean that it’s wrong or harmful. It’s essential that agriculture continues to improve it’s efficiency so we can be more productive. The best way to communicate this to our consumers is for farmers and ranchers to tell them and show them ourselves.