Meeting the moment, modern irrigation technology and farm equipment are evolving quickly to aid today’s farmers. That effort was evident at this year’s Husker Harvest Days farm show in Grand Island, Neb., where nearly 500 exhibitors showcased their latest devices designed to overcome the many challenges U.S. farmers face — from declining aquifer levels to labor shortages.
More immediately, its fair-like atmosphere provided farmers a brief respite amid a challenging year and a chance to catch their breath before harvest.
“High input costs, high land values, high equipment expenses: The bottom line is that return on investment is not great with our current values,” said Ryan Reedy, a brand rep for Pierce Center Pivot Linear Pipe and Parts, who grew up on a Kansas farm. “Meanwhile, we’re seeing less and less technicians and whatnot coming into the field, as in every trade. We also have a very big gap forming between farmers coming in and farmers leaving this industry.”
Garbed in a white homemade star-spangled-banner suit, Reedy balanced this weighty perspective with levity. His upbeat demeanor captured the resilience American farmers maintain as they enter a particularly challenging season.
“We’re going to have to find new ways to be more efficient and make the most out of dollars by buying equipment that’s going to last longer and get more done,” he said, referencing the brand’s remote pivot management system, iControl, as one example of how machinery brands are solving problems with advanced technology.
Creating connections
Each year, Husker Harvest Days helps facilitate these solutions by connecting ag tech experts with their customers, according to young Iowa farmer John Schutte, who was exploring the more than 2,500-acre showgrounds in a golf cart and stopped to chat.
“Farm shows provide the opportunity to connect with manufacturers and suppliers in one place to learn about new technology and innovations that can bring ROI back to my operation,” Schutte said.
To that end, brands from across the United States showcased their latest equipment at booths and in action during field demonstrations. Farmer David Odom traveled from Ashburn, Ga., to see the corn harvest.
“We don’t have big a corn harvest as y’all do up here,” he said. “We just came to see the combines and stuff, and learn a little bit more about it.”
What’s at the top of his mind this fall?
“We need better prices for our commodities. That’s the main thing,” he said.
Matt Jungmann, senior director of events at Farm Progress and an Illinois farmer, said equipment plays a vital role in helping farmers get through economic slumps. It’s important to know what’s on the market.
“There is constant evolution and advancements made in agriculture. A lot of those have to do with efficiency. We’re in an environment with razor-thin margins, if any margin at all. Every little bit helps.
“Equipment that is now commonplace was not commonplace before advancements were made, such as row-by-row shut off, which saves on costs, or autosteer.”
Likewise, Jungmann said some new products could become on-farm standards if they reduce costs or increase profits. Some of the products unveiled at this year’s show included:
- Reinke’s Rain Cloud 3 platform
- Valley’s Icon plus smart panel
- Lindsay’s Tower Watch system
- T-L’s Auto-Reverse Linear Hose Drag
Jungmann emphasized the value of technology to aid farmers amid challenges. That’s the value of farm shows like Husker Harvest Days. And after a “tremendous” and well-attended farm show, he, like Reedy, is pivoting toward harvest with a positive attitude.
“The crop is good, not great this year. I’m heading home to climb into an auger cart for the next couple of weeks to get the crop harvested,” Jungmann said. Husker Harvest Days “is kind of like one last preharvest party to get away from the farm, come, look, dream, learn, and then go home and get the crop into the bin.”