As America’s dairly industry endures tough times, farmers who hope to hang on are turning to every bit of technology they can find, and afford. That means buying robots that can milk cows faster and better than humans or getting planting equipment that knows where the most fertile ground is to plant seeds for food. Fond du Lac County Dairy and Livestock extension agent Tina Kohlman says technology has played an important role in agriculture for years, but its become a life and death matter at dairy farms these days low milk prices pressure farmers to seek every possible efficiency. Kohlman says investing in technology is not without risk. She says farmers have to weigh whether the technology will produce savings fast enough to cover the debt they incur.
