There are many common myths about farming and agriculture, often because many people have never stepped foot on a farm. Let alone completed agricultural work. Yet it is a vital industry that provides us with a large percentage of our food sources.

In this blog we will help dispel some of the common myths about farming and agriculture.

1. Farming is Traditional and Low Tech

The agricultural industry has made leaps in technological innovations. Self-driving cars may still be futuristic for consumers, but farmers have been utilising self-driving tractors for years. Farm owners also utilise GPS to collect geospatial data so that they can monitor variations across a field in:

• Soil type
• Water use
• Nutrient use
• Temperature
• Crop yield

It’s not uncommon for farmers to use a digital platform for analysing the data of their farm. Artificial intelligence helps sort through all the data and enables farmers to maximise their performance. Advances in technology like gene sequencing and molecular markers are also helping farmers track the best traits for breeding new crops. Genetic engineering is also enabling scientists to control and move genes between species to provide more desirable characteristics.

This rise in technological advances is resulting in a higher demand for more skilled workers in the agricultural sector. Of current job opportunities 27% are now in science, technology, engineering or math.

2. Organic means No Pesticides

One of the most common myths of organic farming is that this is done without the use of pesticides. Pesticide is a generic term for a range of compounds. Some types of pesticide kill very specifically, meaning it will target certain plants but not grasses. They are also used to fight off bugs.

The difference in organic pesticides is they cannot be synthesized artificially. However, that doesn’t always mean they are less toxic. Some may be toxic at low levels, whereas others are safe even at very high doses.

3. Agriculture is a Large Contributor of Greenhouse Gasses

Because of the machinery used and livestock’s production of methane, a common myth is that agriculture is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. However, this is untrue because as the machinery technology continues to improve the fuel efficiency improves and therefore emissions decrease.

Steps are also being taken towards regenerative agriculture techniques, including regenerative grazing. This method can achieve enormous amounts of CO2 being sequestered into the ground. You can read more about regenerative agriculture here.