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Imagine the efficiency gains made by coupling a farm-wide information and control system that constantly monitors the critical attributes of the farm operation, such as water and pest conditions, equipment operations and the status of orders and markets, relaying to the manager only information of consequence, filtering out the rest.  Crop plants better adapted to very local conditions, reducing the need for additional inputs – saving time and energy, and allowing the farmer to better concentrate on the most critical needs.

Future farmstead addresses the development and use of advanced technologies to improve the net output of food fiber, bio-fuels and other energy forms from our Nation’s farms.  Today we recognize a greater portion of our energy supplies must come from renewable supplies, and we also see a greater need for a safe domestic food supply.  To accomplish these goals U. S. farmers will need to improve efficiencies along with yields, coupling advanced genetic materials with new communication and controls technologies. Many of the technologies and techniques that will be required to achieve these goals already exist. Others still need to be developed or modified to meet specific agricultural needs.  The challenge is to identify those that can be robustly inserted into current farming operations so that a net gain increase is realized.

To help meet this challenge the University of Georgia will join with 4 other regionally distinct universities to form collaborative advanced research and implementation teams that will provide working examples to farmers for use on their farms today and into the future.  We expect these teams to accelerate private sector and University research into the efficient production of food, fiber and the renewable fuels and to help educate the industry, students and the general public.  The measurable outcomes will include gains in food and fiber produced per unit of energy consumed and higher net yields of energy coming from agriculture, and forestry.  The project will develop smart information systems that enable farmers to better manage their often sprawling operations in a shorter time and with less energy used and are accessible from anywhere at any time.  The farm home will be intelligent, helping people make better decisions, monitor the farm operation and better manage their time.  The home will take advantage of its rural setting and be economically, environmentally and energy positive - smart biologically and technologically.

Advanced Internet monitoring and control systems for farm operations will reduce vehicle mileage and labor costs, small fuel efficient autonomous “tractors” that can work 24/7, improved locally adapted crops with higher yields, and small on-farm energy systems will also be used to help decrease the overall energy dependence of our food supply. Software will be designed to help monitor and control many operations in the background, informing the farmer when needed.

The model farm house and associated buildings and land equipped with these advanced technologies will serve as an education, demonstration, and research facility, and as a residence for graduate students whose focus of research is related to either renewable energy or energy conservation technologies.

Project Leader: Craig Kvien
Contact Info: ckvien@uga.edu
Affiliation: University of Georgia
P.O. Box 748
Tifton, GA 31793
(229) 386-3170