Activity 1: Agricultural Technology Timeline

1. Lead a discussion about the development of agricultural technology. Integrate the following points into the discussion:
   • Agriculture began around 10,000 BC when humans started domesticating plants and animals to ensure a more reliable food source when compared to hunting and gathering. At that time, most work was accomplished by hand with few tools available.
   • The introduction of powered machinery replaced work previously performed by people and animals (horses, mules, and oxen).
   • Throughout history, scientific and technological advancements have impacted the agricultural industry by increasing food production and farm efficiency.
2. Organize the students into small groups. Provide each group with a set of Agricultural Technology Timeline Cards.
3. Have each group create a timeline of agricultural technology by ordering the cards and placing the year card in the space provided on the corresponding technology card.
4. After the groups have completed their timelines, check to make sure the order is correct.
   • 1701: Jethro Tull introduced the seed drill, a device that cuts trenches and drops in seeds.
   • 1793: Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, a machine that separates seeds from fiber.
   • 1834: Cyrus McCormick patented the McCormick reaper, a grain harvesting machine.
   • 1837: John Deere invented the steel plow, which was stronger, sharper, and more efficient.
   • 1842: Joseph Dart invented and built the first grain elevator, a wooden structure with buckets used to load and unload ships.
   • 1873: Silos, structures that store grain, came into use.
   • 1874: Glidden barbed wire, an inexpensive fencing used for livestock on rangeland, was patented.
   • 1884: The horse-drawn combine, used to harvest wheat, came into use on West Coast farms.
   • 1892: The first gasoline tractor was built by John Froelich.
   • 1959: The mechanical tomato harvester, used to harvest, sort, and load tomatoes, was developed.
   • 1980: Farmers began using computers to manage farm operations and monitor weather conditions.
   • 1992: The first commercial automatic milking system was installed on dairy farms in the Netherlands.
   • 1994: Farmers began using satellite technology to track and plan their farming practices.
   • 1999: The modern concept of vertical farming was proposed by Columbia University professor Dickson Despommier.
   • 2003: Farm equipment manufacturers install GPS systems in tractors.
   • 2012: The first self-driving, autonomous tractor was unveiled at the Big Iron Farm Show in North Dakota.
   • 2015: Software, mobile devices, and data revolutionize farming potential.
   • 2016: Widespread use of drone technology by farmers.
   • 2021: Harvesting equipment becomes even more specialized.
   • Today: Progress in agricultural technology continues.

Activity 2: The Future of Farming

1. View the video The Future of Farming & Agriculture.
   https://cdn.agclassroom.org/media/uploads/2018/10/12/Farming_Challenges_6-8_4.pdf
2. Ask the students to identify the different types of technology showcased in the video.
3. Have each student choose one of the following agricultural technologies from the video:
   • Autonomous pickers
   • Robotic weed/pest eliminator
   • Weed-eliminating lasers
   • Agriculture sensors
   • Robotic soil-sampler
   • Drone-assisted crop monitoring
   • Aerial crop imaging
   • CubeSat whole farm imaging
   • Agriculture data analytics
   • Agriculture data-sharing collectives
   • High density vertical farming
   • Livestock activity monitors
   • Livestock breath analysis
   • Livestock automated thermal imaging analysis
   • Livestock 3-D camera measuring
   • Livestock health monitoring
   • Automated behavior analysis
   • Inland saltwater fish farms
   • Zero waste fish farming
   • Bacteria-based fish food
   • Insect flour and protein powder
   • Cultured meats
   • CRISPR
4. Provide time for the students to research their technology and create an Adobe Express (free online and mobile graphic design app) presentation that includes the following information:
   • Name of the technology
   • Photograph(s) or video(s) of the technology
   • Description of the technology
   • Explanation of the agricultural uses of the technology
5. Allow time for the students to share and discuss their presentations with the class.

Activity 3: Farm Scenarios

1. Watch the Agricultural Engineers video to discover what agricultural engineers do and what types of problems they are trying to solve.
2. Arrange students into groups of 4-5. Give each group one of the Farming Challenges cards so that at least two different groups have the same scenario. Ask the groups to work as agricultural engineers to propose a solution for their challenge.
3. Provide each group with poster paper. Have the groups draw a picture/diagram of their technology or invention on the poster paper.
4. Invite each group to share their challenge and propose their solution with the class.
5. Discuss the proposals, pointing out that there can be more than one solution to a problem, and that, typically, an idea must be tested and revised several times before it is successful. Even when ideas are not successful, much can be learned from the process. Use the following questions to guide the discussion:
   • How were the different solution proposals for the same challenge similar or different?
   • What are the pros and cons of the proposed solutions
   • What type of technology (robots, drones, lasers, etc.) were utilized in the proposed solutions?