Of course, such steps have to be taken with a view of the larger picture.
In terms of energy, there is the element of preserving stocks for key sectors over the longer term, and of course, the environmental impact of extracting and processing oil and gas reserves versus whatever technologies develop as an alternative.
Nothing we do as human beings happens without it having some impact on the natural environment we live in, and that is a fact of life that cannot be overcome completely.
What is required of us, as a species, is to limit our impact because we rely on this planet to produce food, to supply water, and to have clean air to breathe.
For agriculture, that will mean looking to adopt new technologies as we move forward.
One area that is intriguing for farmers is the idea of electrically powered machinery. On-road electric and hybrids vehicles have become common, if not at least on the radar these days. Most consumers may not look at an electric car as their first choice but to know they exist as options.
The off-road market that includes agricultural applications, for example, tractors, is not as developed.
It might never be as widely reasonable given the power required, but there are going to be farm applications where electric will be a viable option.
The agriculture machinery sector has always been an innovative one with an ability to go into the shop with a problem in mind and emerge later with a viable solution that could be manufactured for farmers to use.
One only needs to look at the zero-till equipment of today. There was a time when producers could not envision being able to seed directly into heavy trash cover, but today it is an accepted practice.
We will see the same evolution in terms of electric power for farm equipment. However, at present, it is difficult to envision precisely the scope the development will encompass, and of course, the timeframe of the arrival of various elements to the marketplace.
Certainly, in this era, we are aware development can often happen far more quickly than we might imagine.
Technology is increasingly moving forward at a startling pace, and we are likely to see that in the case of electric equipment for the farm.
- Calvin Daniels
Comment on this article at lmtimes.ca/calvin
Disclaimer: opinions expressed are those of the writer.
