From pitchforks to cell phones: agribusiness reaps technology benefits.

• Author: Creager, Janine S.
• Position: Techknowledge

Today's farmers and ranchers are a far cry from the stereotype found in Grant Wood's classic painting "American Gothic." While Utah agribusiness owners may still use pitchforks and overalls, as depicted in the painting, they are also technologically-savvy and Internet-wise. They view the terrain and boundaries of their farms on Google Earth, access laser technology to perfectly level their fields, use satellite imaging to know when to water and fertilize their crops and follow product prices at home and abroad online.

"It's interesting to go to farm conferences and hear them talk," says Seth Winterton, deputy director of Utah's Own. "We make fun of farmers and stereotypes of agriculture. But people don't realize how educated farmers are. Farmers are always working on something."

Agriculture has been at the heart of Utah's history since American

Indians and pioneers plowed the desert sod to plant crops for the coming season. In the intervening centuries, the introduction of machinery such as tractors and harvesters made planting and reaping easier. But with the recent advancements in technology, the state's agricultural industry has become more productive and efficient than ever before.

Growing Technology

One central issue to the current and future state of agribusiness in Utah involves water: where it comes from, and how it is used.

"Water demands in Utah have escalated as populations have grown," says Randy Parker, CEO of Utah's Farm Bureau Federation. "Agriculture is still the primary user of water resources. Back to settlement, most of the irrigation practices were flood irrigation, a less than efficient use of the water. Most, if not all, commercial farms have moved to other more efficient ways of irrigation. [They are] more costly, but a more efficient use of the resource. [Farmers are now] moving to drip irrigation, rather than flood or sprinkler."

Beyond the mechanics of moving water from one location to another, Parker believes that technology, and more specifically biotechnology, will help solve water issues in the future. Efforts are being made to produce plants that are more drought-tolerant and able to adapt to Utah's unique climate.

"That's going to be a major player," he says. "I think it's going to be huge."

Biotechnology, and its inherent genetically-motivated organisms(GMOs), are definitely on the forefront of what is to come. Whether used to increase yield and production of crops or to reproduce livestock with specific...