THE LATEST GIZMOS
There is a big economic incentive to keep chemical
additives at a minimum, quite apart from any
concerns about ‘natural’ systems. Glen, sales
manager for McIntosh & Son, gave me an industry
perspective.
Green Seeker and Weed Seeker are both systems
using advanced optics and computer circuitry that
can maximise the effectiveness of the chemicals
put on the land by specifically targeting problem
plants, identifying high and low yield zones, and
recognising pest and disease infestations. This type
of technology acknowledges that resources such as
phosphorus, a critical ingredient of fertiliser, is in
limited supply, with the world expecting to hit peak
phosphorus production within a few decades.
Glen pointed out that if a farmer is working over
thousands of acres, absolute precision of machinery
and tracks can represent a huge saving with inputs.
Over 50,000 acres even a small overlap of a seeding
machine onto a row can mean acres of wasted
seed and fertiliser. For the big farmers able to
upgrade and access the latest machines and gizmos,
technology can save them money and time.
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