Comment – Technology and news

Often your correspondent finds himself casting around for relevant stories to share or comment on in this venerable piece.

So imagine my surprise when I headed to the Technology section of the BBC news website (other online news services are available) and the following terms were in all the headlines encrypted data, TikTok, Google Maps (Gulf of America), TikTok (again), AI, AI(again), Elon Musk..  I dont know about you, but none of this so called ‘technology’ resonates very much with my world.

For some reason I thought that the Beeb (“c’mon, Dear BBC, Why, oh why, oh why etc..”) might at least have paid some regard to the dictionary definition of Technology: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, and machinery and equipment developed from the application of scientific knowledge. 

Murmuring over, there’s a lot in the news about solar farms, and I met one farmer this week who had embarked on a new sheep farming enterprise to graze his 40 acre solar farm!

On my travels, I enjoyed a couple of days on farm, speaking with growers regarding soil structure, subsoiling (and subsoilers), plus the merits or otherwise of conventional vs regenerative farming practices. It’s fair to say, everyone I spoke to, despite in most cases having a direct drill, had a plough and a combination handy too. The main headline I took home was that despite the drive towards minimising establishment costs, when push comes to shove, and its a matter of establishing vs not establishing a crop, the old ways win out.

Sadly now back from balmy Cornwall (5 degrees and 15 mph winds) to the Cumbria uplands (5 degrees and 15 mph winds).

Have a good week, it’s dry enough to travel, so it’s time to spread some muck!

Andy

PS interesting to see that AGCO have contracted SDF for their next gen of sub 85hp utility tractors. See  here for the full story.