By Ainsley Kratochvil
Agricultural operations, particularly multigenerational farms, have always relied on a balance of tradition and innovation. As younger generations take a more active role in their family’s farming operation, technology poses an opportunity and a challenge.
Jessup Hunt, a 20-year-old, third-generation corn and soybean farmer from Monticello, Ind., recognizes the blend of tradition, responsibility and adaptation that is required to keep his family’s operation looking toward the future.
Having grown up actively working alongside his grandfather and father, he always knew he wanted to join the operation one day. Now pursuing a precision ag specialist certificate from Ivy Tech Community College, Hunt represents the intersection of conventional farming knowledge and modern technological advancements.
“We’re all working toward the same goal to advance the operation further,” Hunt says.
Always adapting
Hunt’s family is committed to conserving resources while optimizing yields, which has led them to adopt various technologies. In 2010, they introduced auto-steer technology and electric row shutoffs on their planter. This move paid off almost immediately, saving them significant amounts of seed by preventing overlap.
Hunt notes how these changes improved efficiency and reduced waste, recognizing that technologies like auto-steer allow them to plant more precisely by returning to the same AB line year after year.
“It takes the guessing out of it,” Hunt says.
They also use Ag Leader's AgFiniti system for mapping and sharing application data across their equipment. This seamless integration allows them to monitor and manage the farm’s operations more effectively.
Hunt appreciates how these innovations take the guesswork out of tasks such as spraying, where they can set precise rates and apply chemicals with accuracy.
Looking to the future, Hunt is excited about the potential of autonomous equipment but admits that the idea of operating machinery without a human driver still is intimidating.
“It would be cool to someday in the future look into that and see how helpful it can actually be,” Hunt says. He also is interested in integrating systems such as John Deere See & Spray, a technology that identifies and targets weeds with cameras during spraying, to potentially save money and reduce chemical usage.
Managing differences
However, introducing new technology isn’t always smooth, especially when navigating generational differences.
Dennis Buckmaster, a professor of agricultural and biological engineering and the Dean’s Fellow for Digital Agriculture at Purdue University, has experience with the differences in the adoption of new technology between generations.
"Tech comes in different layers and packages,” Buckmaster says. “You might buy a new combine or tractor that has new tech on it, but it’s relatively narrowly defined. The younger generation is more likely to adopt those things because they’re just familiar with the change.”
This idea reflects the broader trends seen in agriculture today, where younger farmers often are more tech savvy and comfortable with digital platforms. Older generations may be more hesitant despite understanding the potential benefits.
Hunt says that although his grandfather supports advancements that enhance efficiency, he finds it more difficult to use modern technology due to spending most of his life without it. His father, on the other hand, shares the responsibility of managing the farm’s technology.
Resources available
To help farmers bridge this gap, Purdue’s Digital Agriculture initiative provides a range of resources. The Digital Agriculture Resources Toolbox, housed on its website, contains information about spreadsheets and other resources that can help farmers take advantage of technology available to help manage their operation.
One beneficial tool is Airtable, a private database platform that allows farmers to track everything from field records to machinery maintenance.
“Airtable is very universal, and it’s incredibly cost-effective," Buckmaster says. "It has the ability to help a farm go digital in a very mobile-friendly way.”
By using tools such as Airtable, farmers can document events such as planting, spraying or harvesting. That creates a digital log that provides valuable insights over time. Farmers can then easily analyze these records to make decisions that affect future operations.
Adopting new technologies isn’t always easy. There is a learning curve involved. Although Purdue Digital Ag does not work directly with individual farmers, Purdue Extension educators are well-equipped to assist.
"We’re in a continual mode of upgrading the skills of Extension educators so that they can, in turn, help their clientele, the people in their community," Buckmaster says.
Find what works
Buckmaster’s advice to farmers is to research different options and ask themselves whether the technology is the right fit for their operation.
“How difficult is it going to be for me to actually make use of the technology?” Buckmaster says. “Do I have the commitment myself, or within my farm, to fully exploit the capability that I’ll have?” He adds that if the time and effort required to learn and implement new technology is too great, it may not be the best fit, even if the technology itself is sound.
Buckmaster also believes that artificial intelligence is set to revolutionize agriculture in ways that experts are just beginning to understand.
Tools such as generative AI, including platforms like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, are already enabling farmers to analyze data in ways that were previously unimaginable. These tools allow users to pose complex questions in plain language and receive meaningful insights based on their farm’s unique data.
"You don’t actually have to be a data scientist now,” Buckmaster says. With AI, you can achieve some good results without needing that expertise.
Until then, Hunt says, it’s important to remain patient with parents and grandparents when navigating different generational dynamics. Balance respect for traditional methods with the potential benefits of new approaches.
“They know the way they’ve always done it,” Hunt says. “You maybe want to try to adapt to certain things, but it comes down to what works best for your operation.”
Kratochvil is a senior in agricultural communications at Purdue.