The latest data show that United States agricultural production is highly developed and competitive. Less than 2 percent of the total population of the country engaged in agricultural production, but to meet the food needs of 300 million Americans, and is the world’s largest grain exporter, the reason for this is that the United States took the early train of modern agriculture, especially the large farm model is not to blame.
In the United States, at an altitude of less than 500m plains account for about 55% of the land area, most of which belongs to the subtropical and temperate climate, the land is fertile for the growth of a variety of crops, and this unique natural conditions coupled with low-priced diesel fuel and other energy sources, U.S. agriculture presents clear energy and technology-intensive features. Today, many of the United States plowing and sowing machinery has been developed unmanned, very conducive to mechanized farming to expand the scale of a single agricultural product, the average labor force of only 1.6 people, and most of the farms have been achieved on a large scale and intelligent.
Many U.S. agriculture and food enterprises are from the development of family farm-style operations. Family farms accounted for 98.7% of the main body of the U.S. agricultural business, of which, according to the classification of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service Kent Lanclos, large family farms accounted for 2.9% of the annual income of more than 1 million U.S. dollars; medium-sized family farms accounted for 6.1% of the annual income of 35-1 million U.S. dollars; small family farms accounted for 89.7% of the annual income of less than 350,000 U.S. dollars. Intelligent operation of such a large-scale farm is essential, so what technologies are used in a well-run benchmark farm?
Application of Laser Weeding on US Farms
The laser weeding equipment in the news video does not look too sci-fi, but there is something inside, it is equipped with a series of high-tech equipment, and the whole system of automation is very high. A high-resolution camera and sensors are mounted on the chassis near the ground, like a pair of sharp eyes that scan the ground in real-time. As the device is activated, it begins to quickly and accurately identify and locate weeds.
When the device finds the location of the weed, it acts like a precision shooter, aiming the laser beam exactly at the root of the weed. A powerful laser beam shoots out of the device (a bit of Star Wars) and when it hits the target instantly, the weed is cut down under the action of the high-energy beam. The whole process is fast and efficient, so people can not help but marvel at the magic of modern technology.
This laser welding equipment can shuttle in the farmland on its own, for farmers to free up a lot of manpower and time so that agricultural labor in the very heavy weeding operations becomes more relaxed and enjoyable.
The laser welding technology used in American farms relies on advanced automated equipment that allows farmers to say goodbye to traditional herbicides. These automated devices are equipped with high-energy laser units that are capable of accurately identifying and locating weeds and using laser beams for targeted irradiation that destroys the weeds, thus achieving the effect of weeding.
Laser weed control is an innovative and compelling agricultural technology that offers many unique advantages over traditional herbicides. Through advanced image recognition and machine learning algorithms, the technology can identify weeds with a high degree of accuracy, focusing the laser light only on the weeds and avoiding damage to crops.
Of particular importance, laser weed control technology does not produce harmful chemical residues, effectively reducing the risk of contamination of the environment and agricultural products. In addition, the automated nature of this technology reduces the labor burden on farmers and increases the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production.
The workflow of the laser welding technology equipment is not complicated. Images and data of the farmland are acquired in real-time through high-resolution cameras and sensors. Next, with the help of advanced image recognition and deep learning algorithms, the system can accurately identify the weeds and determine their location and range. The laser beam is then precisely targeted and shone on the weed, destroying the weed’s cellular structure through the high-energy beam, thus achieving the effect of weeding.
Laser weed control technology has a wide range of applications and it can deal with all types of weeds, including those at the seedling stage and those that have already matured. Therefore, both orchards, vineyards, vegetable growing sites, and field crops can benefit from laser weed control technology.
Overall, the adoption of laser weed control technology on U.S. farms has yielded several results and achievements. The technology has improved crop quality and yield while reducing the use of chemical herbicides and protecting the ecological environment. This provides useful reference and inspiration for the introduction of this technology in Chinese farms.
The Rise of Digital Agriculture
Driven by big data, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and other technologies, digital agriculture has become an important trend in the U.S. farm model. Digital agriculture achieves comprehensive digital management of soil, climate, and other agricultural resources through the application of precision agriculture and intelligent farm machinery, and improves the efficiency of agricultural production. For example, through high-resolution cameras and spectral sensors carried by drones, real-time data on farmland can be obtained to provide farmers with precise planting recommendations.
Biologisation to Crack Agricultural Problems
The biologised farm model solves agricultural problems, such as pest and disease control and soil improvement, through the use of biotechnology. By selecting and breeding good varieties that are resistant to diseases and pests, farmers can reduce the use of pesticides. In addition, biochemical farms use biological agents such as microbial fungicides to improve the quality of soil and increase the yield and quality of crops.
Exploration and Development of Transgenic Technology
Transgenic technology is one of the representatives of modern biotechnology, and its application in the field of agriculture has great potential. Through transgenic technology, crop varieties with greater resistance to adversity, higher yields, and richer nutrients can be cultivated. At present, the United States is in a leading position in the research development and application of genetically modified crops, but there are still controversies about the safety and ethical issues of genetically modified food.
The Rise of Eco-agriculture
With consumers’ increased attention to ecology and environmental protection, eco-agriculture has gradually become a new trend in the U.S. farm model. Eco-agriculture focuses on protecting the natural environment, replacing chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers, and replacing chemical pesticides with biological control to achieve ecological and green agricultural production. This model is conducive to improving the quality of agricultural products, improving the soil environment, and protecting biodiversity.
Exploration and Practice of Vertical Agriculture
Vertical agriculture is a new type of farm model, which combines high technology with agricultural production to achieve three-dimensional planting and efficient use of crops. Vertical farms are usually located in inner cities or nearby areas and achieve factory production of crops through artificial light sources and intelligent irrigation systems. This model is conducive to easing land resource constraints and increasing the self-sufficiency rate of urban agricultural products, while at the same time providing fresh and safe agricultural products for urban residents.
