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Smart Farm Cooperative: Technology & Agriculture

DRN ReadiTech owns 8 acres of hay land that needed to be broke up and replanted. We decided the best thing to do was to form a team of experts, devise a plan that could showcase how technology is being used in agriculture and host educational events. 

Kent Schimke
DRN ReadiTech CEO & General Manager

The goal is to demonstrate how the soil nutrients change by utilizing different crop mixtures. We will be including cover crops that will be friendly to pollinators and wildlife as well. 

Dean Rithmiller
Co-Op Farm Chairman

Farms and ranches operate far differently than those a few decades ago, primarily because of advancements in technology, including sensors, devices, machines, and information technology. 

Today’s agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices, precision agriculture, and robotic systems allow businesses to be more profitable, efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly. 

DRN ReadiTech has partnered with several local agricultural agencies and businesses to create a Co-op Farm, located north of Ellendale just south of DRN ReadiTech’s headquarters.

Our coopertive partners have been collaborating with DRN ReadiTech on ways to showcase various technology that is currently being used in agriculture.

In 2020 various cover crops were planted. “The goal is to demonstrate how the soil nutrients change by utilizing different crop mixtures,” said Dean Rithmiller, Co-op Farm chairman. Farmers Union Oil agronomists will conduct the soil samples two to three times during the growing season. “We will be including cover crops that will be friendly to pollinators and wildlife as well,” said Rithmiller.

2021 brings a year to evaluate and examine. This growing season will be year two for the cover crops and soil evaluation. There are a few trees that need replanting. 

Technology being incorporated into the farm include drones, GPS, weather stations, cameras, and soil sensors. 

DRN hopes to host a plot tours and educational events throughout the summer/fall.
Cover Crop Plots

Learn about each of the cover crop plots and why they were selected. 

Tree Grove

Learn about each of the trees planted in the grove and why they were selected. 

Live View - Coming Soon!

See a live view of the farm and weather conditions. 

Watch Live (coming soon)

Current Weather Conditions


COOPERATIVE MEMBERS


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