Technology

Many farmers use an immense amount of technology and computer skills in their everyday farming operation. Computers help drive the tractors straight even in the dark and blinding dust. Farmers can reduce seed, fertilizer and herbicide costs with prescriptive computer programming while doing field operations. They can remotely monitor grain dryer operation and grain storage facilities, livestock facilities and the operating functions of newer tractors, combines and trucks.

I am not one of those farmers. The adoption of newer technology that relies on computers can be overwhelming for dinosaurs in the industry like myself. When I was in high school, computers were just starting to become relevant. I thought a Texas Instruments calculator was amazing. The C.B. was a huge hit, and a cell phone was not even a thought. Do you want to go down memory lane with me?

I remember when vinyl records were giving way to the cassette tape. The 8-track tape came and went about the same time if I remember correctly. I still have tax records stored on floppy discs and home videos on VHS tapes with no way to retrieve the recordings. I was not involved in the DVD and Blue-ray debate. Today, the television and dish remote can make me so mad that I give up on watching TV.

Why does learning new technology have to be so hard and frustrating? I know I must not be alone. It is stated that the average age of the American farmer is about 58 years old. That means many of us were born when computers filled an entire room and before a smart phone that fits in your pocket existed.

Perhaps my life is more difficult because our family became Apple users about 18 years ago when the kids were entering high school. I was not involved in the whole VHS or Beta conundrum, but I was caught up in the Mac or PC decision.

I remember when our computer graduated to 32 GB of ram and the Pentium chip was going to solve all of our computer issues. For several years I have thought about taking a computer class at Joliet Junior College. Perhaps I could learn in a classroom. Here is a conundrum. How do you go back to school to learn about computers when a virus has forced classes to be held on-line using the same computers you need help learning to use? Insert the smacking my head emoji here. Well, I at least know what an emoji is.

For farmers, many winter meetings and specialty licenses and renewals have been relegated to Zoom. I tried to partake in a Zoom meeting last Monday. My computer tried, unsuccessfully, to add the Zoom software. Later I found out that Zoom was already installed on the computer. I missed the meeting. I suppose the majority of the blame is operator error.

If Covid doesn’t kill me, the stress from trying to figure out a zoom link or adding app’s on my phone may do it. “Beam me up Scotty, I am no longer useful down here.” Wait a minute Scotty, if vinyl can make a comeback, maybe I can too.”