New Technologies Are Helping to Green Canada’s Farms
Picture this: a summer day with smouldering heat, a vast farm field, and a farmer toiling away on a dusty tractor. Those days are long gone. Today’s farmers are likely to be using hightech pieces of equipment that could only have been dreamed of in years past. Advanced technology is being used to power cleaner burning engines, computers that automate operations to ensure greater work efficiency, and GPS technology that positions tractors in the field for optimal coverage.
Sustainability is not just a buzzword
The driving force behind the planting of new technology on Canadian farms is sustainability: the sustainability of farming as a business, and the sustainability of the land on which every one of us — farm- ers and consumers alike — depends. “We have a rapidly growing global population, which is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030. So naturally, the importance of efficient food production is greater than ever,” says Carl Heinlein, the General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Kubota Canada.“The world’s survival will depend on getting more from the land, while using less to produce it. That’s why Kubota is innovative in its development processes and we always explore new technologies to provide farmers with the best equipment possible.”
Being one of the rare Canadian- based companies in the agricultural equipment industry, Kubota has been meeting the needs of the agricultural community in Canada for over 40 years, and investing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in research and development. As a result, the company has quickly become a leader in the development of green technology, which is not only more sustainable and energy- efficient but helps farmers’ bottom lines while exceeding the governmental emis- sion standards. Kubota’s global direction is For Earth, for Life. In food, water, and the environment area, the Kubota Group promises to continue supporting the prosperous life of humans while protecting the environment of this beautiful earth.
Creating more efficient farms
“Our role at Kubota is to support farmers by providing them with the most productive equipment possible” says Heinlein. “That’s why we’ve designed some of our tractors with power monitors to help improve productivity with everything from tilling, seeding, and spraying to harvesting the field. Farmers see the benefits of performing equipment.” While there is a cost to this new technology, it can easily be offset by reaping higher yields while using less fertilizer and fuel while respecting the environment.
Companies that can meet the social demand for environmental sustainability will survive and thrive. The latest green technologies bring both sustainability and efficiency. “With the use of technology, we can ensure the soil uses only what it needs,” says Martin Carrier, who grew up on a family farm and is now a Product Man-
“Companies that can meet the social demand for environmental sustainability will survive and thrive.”
ager for Kubota Canada. “Today’s farmer is more educated and has access to information coming directly from the equipment that previously wasn’t available.” By using this data, farmers can be more efficient and help protect the environment by cutting emissions and not overusing chemicals.
Carrier likens modern- day tractors to powerful computers on wheels, with diesel engines. And in many ways, they’re just like an office anywhere, with climate- controlled cabs for all types of weather conditions and comfortable seats. “When you’re spending 12 hours a day on the equipment, comfort is important,” says Carrier. “You don’t need as much power as you once did, because we’ve automated many of the controls.”
Kubota’s goal is to surpass emissions regulatory requirements, from the moment a tractor drives out of the factory and throughout its entire lifespan. There is a strong commitment at Kubota not only to develop functional and efficient agricultural equipment but to be a partner with the farming community in being good environmental stewards. “We have to take care of the land,” says Carrier. “If we don’t treat it right, it won’t treat us right.”