Critical Issues Luncheon // February 3, 2022

The population of the world continues to grow. With that comes the demand for food and resources. The fact of the matter is, the amount of land available to grow crops and raise livestock is limited. So how can our neighbors in agriculture continue to meet the demands of an ever-growing population?

Attendees at the February Critical Issues Luncheon heard firsthand about the incredible technological advancements that have been made in the ag industry to answer that very question.

"Ag is not often looked at as being a cutting-edge industry," said Kaden Eisenbraun with Western Dakota Tech. "It's known for cows, sows, and plows." But things are changing. As younger generations begin to take over generational farms and adopt new technologies, the amount of food production is increasing despite the decrease in farming operations.

C-Lock is a Rapid City-based company that is giving producers and researchers tools to better understand the intake/efficiency of cattle as well as the output they have on the environment. This gives producers the data they need to identify the most feed-efficient animals in their herd. Researchers in more than 30 countries around the world are using C-lock technology to track the carbon dioxide, methane, and oxygen output of cattle. This data will play a major role globally in the net-zero initiative.

Raven Industries is a Sioux Falls-based company that helps farmers get the best yield from their crops. Farmers are great stewards of the land, they are always looking at the seeds, fertilizer, moisture content, and other variables to see what impact it had on their yield. They are then able to incorporate new technology and farming practices into their operations to not only keep costs down but also produce more to help feed America.

People may be surprised to know just how much research goes on in the ag industry. SDSU has been working on an incredible virtual fencing initiative at the Cottonwood Research Station. It would allow cattle producers to use satellites, GPS technology, and smart collars to identify the land sections with the best foliage and move the cattle without the need for horses or ATV. With less strain on labor needs, it also gives ranchers the opportunity for a better work-life balance.

Lastly, but certainly not least, there must be a way for the food that is being produced to get to the consumer. South Dakota is one of the top cattle producers in the country but the lowest in the nation for meat production. Empty meat shelves during COVID-19 showed just how difficult it is to make meat available. Wall Meats has been working to change that. Throughout the pandemic, they were able to give locals access to local meat when the grocery stores couldn't. And as they expand their operations to a larger facility, technology will allow them to process even more. For example, an automated accounting system would allow for better tracking of how much product comes from an animal, saving time from the butcher having to manually track just how many steaks and ground beef they got. "We will still always need people," said Ken. "But taking away some of those minor things allows wages to go up."

All these pieces work together, too. While not every operation is able to invest in the technology, the more knowledge that becomes available, the better all producers are able to shift their operations. But it's those that are the early adopters that have an edge against their competitors, whether in the region or right next door.

From the food on the table to the sheets you sleep on, we can all be appreciative of the products our ag industry makes accessible to us.

Register for the next critical issues luncheon at elevaterapidcity.com/events.