• Farmers can use Twitter, YouTube, and other media to keep updated on new farming techniques, equipment, and trade advice.¹
• Many farming decisions rely on weather. Weather forecasting apps are among the most used apps by farmers. In fact, many farmers report using multiple weather apps and place weather stations on their farms.²
• During harvest, a grain farmer can use an app to know the location of every combine, truck, and cart to eliminate delays waiting for machinery.³
• A farmer can program a drone from his phone to fly a predetermined each day to monitor crop growth.³

C3 Framework Growing a Nation: Growing Technology uses the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework's Inquiry Arc as a blueprint to lead students through an investigation of technnologies farmers use to manage their farm operations to ensure economic viability, societal benefits, and environmental quality. The Inquiry Arc consists of four dimensions of informed inquiry in social studies: Developing questions and planning inquiries; Applying disciplinary concepts and tools; Evaluating sources and using evidence; Communicating conclusions and taking informed action. The four dimensions of the C3 Framework center on the use of questions to spark curiosity, guide instruction, deepen investigations, acquire rigorous content, and apply knowledge and ideas in real world settings to become active and engaged citizens in the 21st century.4 For more information about the C3 Framework, visit socialstudies.org. C3 Table- Growing a Nation Era 5a:Growing Technology

The Information Age

The Information Age was an era of great technological and scientific advancements. Agriculture has changed drastically with the implementation of technology. The use of technology can be found in nearly every aspect of our daily lives and has revolutionized the farm. Some technology is in its infancy and some has already been adopted globally looking to a future of needing to provide food, fuel, and fiber for an estimated 10 billion people by 2050.

Examples of Technology on the Farm

• Autonomous Robots: Agriculture requires a significant amount of manual labor. What do you think a robot could do? Autonomous pickers identify and pick ripe fruits and vegetables. Other specialized robots could also find and eliminate weeds and pests that damage crops.
• Agriculture Sensors: Precise timing is key! When it comes to nutrient management, watering, pest management, and harvest; too early or too late doesn’t cut it. High-tech sensors located in fields send alerts to farmers through an app on their phone when it’s time to take action.
• Aerial Crop Imaging: Arable land suitable to produce our food is a limited resource. Aerial images taken with drones, satellites, and planes can help farmers map their fields and use the land to its greatest potential. Drones could perform crop monitoring, planting, and even spraying.
• Agriculture Data Systems: Record keeping and data collection helps farmers identify successful solutions and areas that need improvement. Notebooks are being replaced with digital platforms. Farm data such as annual crop yield, market forecasts, soil nutrients, and weather are collected and stored electronically to give farmers valuable information as they make decisions.
• Global Positioning Systems: GPS-based applications are being used for farm planning, field mapping, and more! The farmer is always present, but one of the most popular features of GPS is the tractor can drive itself to ensure perfect rows that precisely apply exactly what the seed needs to grow. Not too much, not too little.
• Vertical and Indoor Farming: Growing crops up, instead of out! Now that’s a good idea! Vegetables and fruits tend to work the best in vertical farming, but who knows what the future will hold. Vertical farming is ideal where land isn't available and it can even repurpose abandoned structures.
• Livestock Health and Activity Monitors: The livestock industry utilizes technology in a variety of ways to ensure animal health, safety, and welfare. For example, “smart collars” are used like a personal Fitbit, tracking daily activity, behavior, and health. Breath analysis can be done with high-tech equipment allowing farmers to evaluate potential health problems and diet. Thermal imaging and 3D cameras have the capability of analyzing an animal’s body muscle and weight to advise the farmer when to sell their livestock.
• Fish Farms and Aquaponics: Traditional farming requires land, water, and nutrients. Specialized fish farms involve raising fish in tanks or enclosed ponds. Aquaponic systems are a unique way to grow fish and plants symbiotically. By using a zero-waste system, waste from the fish is cycled through the system to grow the plants.
• Cultured Meats: Another alternative protein source is cultured meat. It isn’t “meat” in the traditional sense as it doesn’t come from processing an animal. It is formed in a lab using animal cells. Cultured meat uses techniques to engineer tissues to form a meat alternative.
• New Seed Varieties: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and CRISPR technology edit genes in plants to overcome a challenge such as a disease. One GMO plant takes approximately 8-10 years to research and ensure its safety, which costs around $130 million dollars to produce. There are currently 10 GMO crops approved for growing – the most common are varieties of corn, soybean, cotton, sugar beets, and canola.