Trends Which Will Impact Agricultural Technology in the Next Decade

Predicting the trends which will impact agricultural technology in the next decade is surrounded by a degree of uncertainty. The broad long-term trends of population growth, food demand, developing technology and resource depletion can be predicted. Economic recessions and international crises are less predictable. All of these factors affect the generation and adoption of new agricultural technology. Other factors affecting agricultural technology include economics at the farm level, energy availability/cost and the types of crops grown. Computer technology and educated farm managers will have an influence on the adoption of still other technology. Taxes, cost of labor, cost of land, demand for agricultural products, electronic sensors and innovativeness in manufacturing and on the farm will all influence agricultural technology and its adoption. It would appear that very large factors in the adoption of new agricultural technology in the next decade will continue to be innovative farm and ranch managers.