Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
Rimless Frame Driving Sun glasses Buy Now
Wedge Sandals Buy Now
Womens Strappy Square Neck Tank Top Tummy Control Buy Now
Acer Aspire C27-1700-UA91 AIO Desktop Buy Now
Womens High Waist Yoga Pants Cutout Ripped Leggings Buy Now
Women's Summer Tops Buy Now
Swarovski Subtle Bracelet Buy Now
Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan Buy Now
Casio MDV106 Diver's Watch Buy Now
Gildan Cotton T-Shirt Pack, Style G2000 Buy Now
Women's Joggers Pants Buy Now
Ribbed Turtleneck Fitted Long Sleeve Tops Buy Now
Kate Spade Kiya Sunglasses Buy Now
ELEMIS Pro-Collagen Overnight Matrix Buy Now
Cotton Military Outdoor Jackets Buy Now
Chiffon Muslim Head Scarf for Women Buy Now
Small Crossbody Shoulder Bag for Women Buy Now
Carhartt Odessa Cap Buy Now
Fashion Wallet Chain Buy Now
JMIERR Mens Cotton Linen Shirt Buy Now
Rimless Frame Driving Sun glasses Buy Now
Wedge Sandals Buy Now
Womens Strappy Square Neck Tank Top Tummy Control Buy Now
Acer Aspire C27-1700-UA91 AIO Desktop Buy Now
Womens High Waist Yoga Pants Cutout Ripped Leggings Buy Now
Women's Summer Tops Buy Now
Swarovski Subtle Bracelet Buy Now
Long Sleeve Open Front Cardigan Buy Now
Casio MDV106 Diver's Watch Buy Now
Gildan Cotton T-Shirt Pack, Style G2000 Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Self-driving tractors to robots: Farmers turn to automation to address labour shortage

Self-driving tractors to robots: Farmers turn to automation to address labour shortage

CBC
Sunday, October 27, 2024 11:25 AM GMT

Ken Sarauer is driving his combine through a field of barley on his Saskatchewan farm. His hands are largely off the steering wheel.

The machine can harvest a row autonomously, allowing him to focus on several screens showing real-time data on his crops.

"I see it as lane assist in your car," he said. "Everybody worries about automation taking jobs. But it allows you to do your job better."

Sarauer's family farm in Annaheim, Sask., about 125 kilometres east of Saskatoon, is one of a growing number turning to automation in face of a persistent labour shortage. 

One-third of jobs in Canadian agriculture — about 100,000 — are expected to be automated in the next decade, according to new research from The Conference Board of Canada. Technology is now being used for everything from killing weeds and tracking crop health to self-driving grain carts and tillage equipment.

Darrell Petras, CEO of the Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network, said the industry is seeing robotics benefit farms of all scales, especially those in need of labour. His government-funded organization provides grants for early-stage projects.

"Maybe the temporary foreign worker component is a factor, but I also think it's motivation at the farm level to drive a few things: productivity, profitability and sustainability," said Petras, who is a former beef, dairy and grain farmer.

That drive toward automation comes as many manual farm tasks continue to be difficult to find labour for. More than 100,000 jobs are projected to be vacant by 2030, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council predicts in its recent labour market report.

Farmers and agricultural tech companies say advances in automation are not putting people out of farm work. Instead, the new tools are freeing up existing workers tied up with often-monotonous tasks and allowing them to spend their time elsewhere.

On Sarauer's farm, an automated camera device called SWAT CAM is attached to his sprayer. It replaces many of the manual tasks once done by an agronomist, including counting plant stems and weeds in the fields, by taking photos and using machine learning to process them.

Derek Rude is vice-president of research and development with Croptimistic, the Saskatchewan-based company behind the product. He says there's a lot of interest from farmers in getting more reliable data on their crops, without having to spend extensive time scouting their fields.

"We're not totally getting rid of the agronomists. We're wanting them to do the higher skill analysis work," he said. "These automation tools are just complementing what they're already doing."

PTx Trimble, a precision agriculture company in Winnipeg, is also trying to help farmers do more with their existing labour.

A team of engineers and software developers are fine-tuning self-driving grain carts and tillage equipment.

Read full story on CBC
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
Could your beach reads actually be therapeutic? Bibliotherapy suggests they might

This story is part of CBC Health's Second Opinion, a weekly analysis of health and medical science news emailed to subscribers on Saturday mornings. If you haven't subscribed yet, you can do that by clicking here.

Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games postponed to 2026 due to wildfires

The Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games (MISG) that were scheduled to begin next week in Norway House Cree Nation, have been postponed to next year.

What is the essence of cool? A global study narrows it down to 6 key traits

Cool is cool, no matter where you are in the world.

How some students with disabilities avoid the 'transition cliff' after high school

For the past 10 months, Toronto student Danial Young rose at 6 a.m. on weekdays to attend a program vastly different from what he'd known, leaving friends and familiar teachers behind as he ventured into new spaces and was challenged to develop new skills. 

Ancient Saskatchewan archaeological site falls victim to illegal scavenging

A crucial archaeological site in Saskatchewan has become a target for illegal scavenging.

Decision to refill Lake Pisiquid coming with side-effects, say some Windsor residents

Some Windsor, N.S., residents say a two-year-old decision to close the gates of an aboiteau and keep Lake Pisiquid filled with water is unnecessary and causing other problems.

First Nations opposition to Bill C-5 draws comparisons to Idle No More movement

As more First Nations voice opposition to Bill C-5, some are drawing comparisons to the 2012 Idle No More movement. 

Islanders are being asked to help track the rare smooth greensnake this summer

If you spot a smooth greensnake in the wild on Prince Edward Island this summer, the province's Forests, Fish and Wildlife Division wants to hear from you.

News got you down? Counsellors explain why doom scrolling is so easy — and how to limit it

Western Canada glaciers melting twice as fast as in previous decade, research says; Nigerian judge convicts man of sextorting B.C. teen who died by suicide; Overdose deaths tick up to 165 in April: B.C. Coroners Service; Her husband died after a lung transplant. Now she has to sell her home to pay the bills; Gaza health authorities say Israel kills 44 waiting for aid as war's death toll passes 56,000. 

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
How researchers are mapping genetics in N.B. to detect inherited diseases sooner

Researchers at Vitalité Health Network imagine a health-care system where patients are screened early for a disorder or disease they inherited from their parents, and mothers know exactly what health problems they could pass down to their children before ever getting pregnant.

Debate on forced mental health treatment continues as one woman's costs top $800K

In the fight to better help people with severe and persistent mental illness in Ontario — which can sometimes result in costly detention in jails and hospitals — two opposing camps are lobbying the Ministry of Health in very different directions.

Astronomers capture 1st close-up photograph of new interstellar visitor

It's out of this world. Or, more accurately, this solar system.

E-scooter injuries on the rise across Canada, data shows

Hospitalizations related to injuries from scooters and e-scooters have risen, according to new Canadian data, as emergency physicians warn the two-wheeled vehicles aren't toys.

Native Women's Association of Canada sells off assets, promises transparency

The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) says its current management has "discovered serious and significant financial irregularities" that its board was unaware of, as it shutters businesses and sells off property worth millions of dollars.

Deep Rooted doc sheds light on mental health struggles in agriculture

First-generation Sask. rancher Kole Norman says he went through some dark times dealing with the stresses of the job and had trouble finding help.

Advocates denounce plan to cut federal Indigenous services budget

Cutting billions of dollars from the Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) budget could worsen the quality of essential programs and may spark lawsuits that would cost Ottawa more money in the long term, some Indigenous advocates say.

Scientists have detected the largest black hole merger yet. What it is and why it matters

It was a bump in the night. A big one.

Canadians could get more affordable version of Ozempic in early 2026. Here's how

Cheaper versions of medications to treat obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy, could be on the market in Canada as soon as January.

PM's upcoming First Nations summit on Bill C-5 seems 'rushed,' say chiefs

More details have been shared about a summit between the federal government and First Nations chiefs planned for next week on the major projects bill, though some chiefs say plans for the summit seem as rushed as the legislation. 

Researchers retract, then re-publish study linking wildfire smoke and dementia

Last year, researchers said they had identified a link between wildfire smoke and increased risk of dementia. 

Young Inuit take to the skies in pilot training program with dreams of serving Nunavik

An enthusiastic applause greets Melissa Haney as she walks into a classroom at Iguarsivik high school in Puvirnituq, Nunavik. She was just introduced as the first Inuk woman to captain a Boeing 737. 

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us