Hello again!
As we leave January behind we are pleased we have a new farm bill, which has passed the House, and we hope will pass in the Senate, with the next scheduled vote. The 949-page bill will take some time to digest and formulate new rules, and all of us here at FSA look forward to putting the wheels of this new bill in motion for our producers.
I grew up in era of rotary dial phones, party lines and listening to the radio programs Sunday evening instead of a television. My daughters are still amused by my lack of computer savvy and trying to figure out how to use my new iPhone.
New world
We have been thrust into a new age of technology that our grandparents and great grandparents would have considered science fiction. It is hard to find a new piece of machinery that doesn’t have a computer attached to it and we will soon be moving into an age of “nano” technology that will surely change life as we know it.
Inventor
Thomas Mensah is considered one of the greatest minds of the 21st century and holds seven pioneering inventions in fiber optics technology. His innovations were critical to the broadband and fiber optic infrastructure deployed in the U.S.
Mensah is one of the leaders in advanced materials that find applications in aerospace, high speed rail, windmill blade structures and highly efficient cars.
Mensah’s inventions and innovations have been put to work in advanced systems in both Iraq and Afghanistan helping to protect and save the lives of both our soldiers and local citizens. His current work in nanotechnology will revolutionize next generation batteries for electric cars and laptop computers.
All of these things have and will continue to impact agriculture into the 21st century. The memories and nostalgia of growing up on a small dairy farm in Jefferson County, Ohio, will be with me forever, but the future of farming and feeding the world will revolve around technology.
Ag uses
The use of remotely controlled equipment, scout drones and, yes, someday soon nano computers that will be dispatched over thousands of acres to report on moisture, insects, plant growth and fertilization — and they won’t even be visible to the naked eye. Oh, if our grandparents could only see this!
As we continue through Black History Month we will continue to look at the contributions of African-American scientists and educators that have dedicated their lives to the sciences and technologies that improve and advance life around the world.
Here at FSA we will continue to bring you the latest information and programs as the new farm bill unfolds and evolves.
That’s all for now,
FSA Andy
