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LIBERTY -- Modern technology is helping farmers plant better crops, improve soil quality and reduce stress on their animals, which in turn can generate more revenue, according to Haley Shoemaker, agriculture and natural resource specialist from The Ohio State University Extension Office in Columbiana County.
OSU also has extension offices in Cortland and Canfield, and Shoemaker assists farmers in Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
She was the monthly speaker for the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society's lecture series on Saturday morning at Denny's on Belmont Avenue.
She began her talk by explaining how The Ohio State University is part of the Land Grant University program that uses a non-formal education system to address the needs of Ohio communities. OSU Extension offices focus on family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, community development, and agriculture and natural resources.
The OSU Extension also addresses state, national and global issues through educational programs combined with the needs of the local citizens and communities, Shoemaker said.
She explained how technology has improved farming and soil regeneration. For example, using technology such as GPS linked to sensors, planting seeds now can be controlled with an app.
Shoemaker said GPS soil sampling allows farmers to adjust as the soil quality changes throughout the field.
"By using this precision technology, we can kind of cater it to (each) specific field's need, and same if we're applying fertilizer," Shoemaker said. "As we're running the fertilizer over the field, it will automatically shut off and turn back on to where it thinks fertilizer is needed."
Shoemaker went on to show how farmers use the technology to make designs in their fields. She shared an example of a giant OSU-style "O" imprinted on a cornfield by using different colored crop seeds to create images or designs.
The presentation also focused on other technologies that farmers have been able to incorporate to help reduce stress on their livestock and help farmers care for livestock through continuous monitoring of vital signs using a collar linked to an app.
Farmers can use robotics to milk, feed and clean up the mess cows make without even needing a person.
Some farmers have even implemented electronic "virtual fencing," or the service of Gallagher reels, which are movable fencing that helps promote healthy biodiversity within the ecoculture of the soil. Shoemaker did note that virtual fencing does not work well on bulls, but is effective with cows, and the collars allow farmers to address livestock needs.
"We can address those health issues before they start. A lot of these things are pretty nice. They also let us know when that cow is in heat and ready to be bred, through timed artificial intelligence and everything like that. We have the capability at our fingertips," Shoemaker said.
An audience member asked what the startup costs are with farming. Shoemaker said the cost of agriculture could get expensive, suggesting that if a person is interested in starting a farm to contact her office to help with the planning.
Richard Scarsella, president of the historical society, asked Shoemaker if she could explain why the price of eggs had increased so much. Shoemaker said it was because of several factors, including a strain of bird flu and the holidays, which affected supply and demand.
In addition to Shoemaker, the meeting featured live music by Lori James, an accordion player who started the program off with a Slovakian-style Polka.
"This is one of the few places where you'll hear live accordion polka music," Scarsella said.
To learn more about the benefits of the OSU Extension, visithttps://www.mahoning.osu.edu.