This is the time of big data, big tech and big innovations—and in those departments, egg farming is ahead of the curve. You won’t believe some of the fascinating technologies farmers are using every day on their farms. Here are just three examples of some of the innovative technologies our farmers use to supply Canada with fresh, nutritious, locally-produced eggs.
Advanced analytics
The success of an egg farm depends on a harmony of factors in the barn. Every day, barn lighting is carefully timed. Temperature is tightly regulated to ensure hens’ comfort. Fresh food and water are always readily available. You can imagine that this symphony demands the maestro’s constant attention. And that’s true—farmers work hard at all hours of the day to ensure their barns are operating smoothly, and their hens are safe and healthy.
Many barns have installed sensors and other technology connected to smartphone apps. These apps allow farmers to remotely alter settings and solve potential problems early on. For example, the system can flag that a barn’s internal temperature needs to be increased as outside temperatures decrease. Technology like this can allow the farmer to do so with the click of a button on their screen, even if they are away from their farm.
Video technology
There’s another way smartphones are helping farmers run their operations—through app-linked cameras.
You might recognize these apps, linked to small cameras installed on front and back porches which connect to users’ phones. Farmers use similar technology to monitor their flocks. Egg Farmers of Alberta even provides a live stream video of the inside of a barn!
Transforming nature into a power source
Many egg farmers across Canada are embracing green energy sources to power their farming operations!
One East Coast farming family has an abundance of potential wind energy. The Jennings family of Nova Scotia live in Cobequid Bay, a particularly windy area of the province. They installed 50-foot tall wind turbines with 12-foot rotor diameters. The Jennings family are innovators in this space—the wind turbines power the entire farm with renewable energy.
Another early adopter of green technology was Abe Loewen, an egg farmer in Manitoba who installed solar panels that now power his entire barn. Abe sees his solar panels as an opportunity to “do what is good for the environment, being a good, smart steward of the land.”1
Are you fascinated by agriculture technologies? Then you’ve got to check out the Innovation section of our website. There you’ll find more about the latest and greatest advancements in the industry, featuring researchers, interviews and more.
