Partners in Agriculture highlights how industry is embracing technology in ways surprising and familiar – West Central Tribune
WILLMAR
— Electric tractors, robotic feeding systems for beef and dairy herds, drones that spray fields with pesticides, and a machine that uses infrared energy to dehydrate food waste allowing it to be “upcycled” as human food or processed into a biodegradable material to replace plastic.
Agriculture’s embrace of technology was on full display as the
MinnWest Technology Campus
and the
Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission
hosted the annual Partners in Agriculture conference Tuesday on the campus in Willmar.
Also on display: Innovation and entrepreneurship.
Look no farther than west central Minnesota to find both. Samantha VanHeuveln, of Kerkhoven, told the story of how she and her husband, Clinton, grew their business,
K & S Poultry and Meats
.
What began as a small room for butchering their own chickens has grown into a licensed and state-inspected meat processing shop where they now process beef and pork as well as poultry.
A desire for social justice motivated chefs and partners Erin Lucas and Mateo Mackbee to co-found two businesses in St. Joseph. Lucas operates
Flour & Flower
in St. Joseph, where she create pies and pastries for take-out. Mackbee, a Cajun chef with his roots in New Orleans, offers a wide range of cuisine at
The Krewe
restaurant in St. Joseph.
Now, the two are also turning their energies to
The Land
in rural Spicer. They spoke of providing farm-to-table meals and of Mackbee’s interest in raising local foods. Plans include diversifying the trees in the apple orchard at the popular site.
Technology is playing a big role in how
Hanson Silo
in Lake Lillian continues to evolve. Started in the 1920s to erect its signature silos, the company is a leading manufacturer of precast concrete bunkers and silos for storage.
Mike Hanson, a fourth-generation family member, told of two recent innovations. The company produces an automated feeding system for livestock confinement facilities and a “bubbler,” or aeration system, for the liquid manure captured below the buildings. The aeration greatly increases the nutrient value of the manure while reducing odor issues.
Environmental stewardship and technology are the driving forces for
NetZero
, headquartered in Minneapolis. Sue Marshall, company co-founder, said its infrared technology makes it possible to “upcycle” food wastes into new revenue-producing products.
She described how the company’s system can be used to help turn used distillers and brewers grains into edible products. In one example, she showed how the grains can be made into drinking cups that are like sugar-cones for ice cream. They can be either composted or consumed after use.
Joseph Encinas,
ABC Drones LLC
of rural Rochester, Minnesota, demonstrated how his company’s drones allow farmers to monitor their fields and even take over aerial spraying operations. Its largest drone can spray 50 acres an hour at two gallons per acre.
The biggest trends for on-farm technology are in sensors to collect more data for farmers, and automation to reduce labor needs, according to Curt Yoose, agriculture instructor with
Ridgewater College
.
While the conference made evident the new opportunities for agriculture in today, it also included information on some of the modern-day challenges agriculture faces.
Dustin Kotrba, with
Christianson CPAs & Consultants
, Willmar, addressed the many tax issues farmers must navigate. He warned that the trend is upward. “Tax rates are unlikely to come down and become cheaper,” he said.
Meeting labor needs is another growing issue for farmers. Nancy Miller, of
Vinna Human Resources
in Willmar, outlined changes and the expansion in labor laws. There are few exemptions for agricultural workers, and employers have new responsibilities with the state’s new Earned Safe and Sick Time, Paid Family Leave and Women’s Economic Security Act legislation.
She urged employers to be diligent about learning and complying with the requirements they now have. The penalties for not meeting the requirements are significant, and retroactive, she warned.
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