Renewable Energy and New Technologies Save Time & Money

If you’ve driven through Ellsworth County, Kansas, on Interstate 70, you’ve seen the giant spinning turbines that rise up above the fields. The Smoky Hills Wind Farm is the biggest wind farm in Kansas, but there are a number of other locations that make use of Kansas’s notoriously strong winds.

Many farmers have resisted accepting such a sizeable project on their properties; however, you don’t have to invest in such a large operation to make use of renewable energy and new technologies.

There are plenty of smaller-scale opportunities that can help you save money and increase efficiencies:

  • Smaller wind turbines are great for producing energy to cover personal power needs. In many instances, individuals can produce enough energy to power their homestead. If they produce more energy than they need, the power company pays them for the excess, and they can supplement their income in that way. It’s a win, win!
  • Solar power is frequently and simply used for hot water heaters and to power electric fences. However, there are also opportunities to use solar power to power small motors and fans, to pump water, or to charge batteries.
  • Geothermal energy can be used to heat or cool buildings and water. However, this is typically a better option when you’re working on new construction projects because geothermal energy systems can involve an extensive installation process.
  • Drones are helpful for keeping tabs on your land. Individuals are making use of drones to monitor fields, feedlots, and to gather information on cattle. Sending out a drone is faster and more energy-efficient than driving around to each field to conduct inspections. Some drones are even able to run temperature scans that you can use to check the health of your cattle.
  • Cattle ear tags allow farmers to remotely track their cattle. The tags provide data about cattle location, movements, and temperature monitoring. These can be used to monitor the health of the animal, as well as to ensure that cattle are not lost or stolen. In addition, individuals use it to track how quickly cattle go over to feed and how long they stay there. This gives better indications of which feed the cattle are most receptive to.
  • Irrigation systems: New irrigation systems produce significantly less waste than traditional circle irrigation systems. Some systems can even be run by using an app on your smartphone. The app allows you to remotely monitor water levels in your fields and turn the system on or off, as needed.

Regardless of the size of your farming operations, there are opportunities for integrating new technologies that will help you save time and money.  Call today to set up your consultation!