Cornfed: Investing in Today’s Technology for Tomorrow’s Success
If you are in the agriculture business in Kentucky, you know Brandon Hunt and
his family. As a fourth-generation farmer, it was never a question for Brandon Hunt to work on the land he
grew up on. Brandon’s family operation spans decades: His grandfather, Wayne Hunt, at the age of 81, is
still at the mechanical shop six days a week and got Brandon hooked on the farm at a young age. His decision
to return to the family farm is one he’s proud of, and now he’s already hard at work training the fifth
generation of farmers in western Kentucky.
The many generations who have cared for this farm have
seen a lot of change over the years – from how they care for the dirt and seeds to the machinery and tractor
maintenance, very little has stayed the same.
“With the scale that we're farming,
technology is a foundational principle.”
Farmers know adapting to technological advancements is a non-negotiable on
today’s modern farm, and for Brandon, it’s the cornerstone of his family’s operation. For many, farming is a
large-scale operation – and any small incremental improvements that could permanently increase yields can
compound and have massive results over time. Brandon’s family farm is intentional in the changes and
investments they make, allowing them to take advantage of modern innovations across the board:
- Using state-of-the-art GPS technology to help with farm yields and schedules for feeding and soil
sampling
- Finding and implementing new planting techniques and technology
- Applying regenerative ag practices to build water-holding capacity in the soil
Corn farmers are investing in technology to grow more with less. Today,
farmers like Brandon are using their land more efficiently than ever – in fact, the amount of land required
to produce a bushel of corn decreased by 44% between 1980 and 2000.
“My dad and granddad were fantastic.
Farmers set me up for success out of the gate. I want my son and my daughter, if they so choose,
to be on the farm [to be set up the same]. I want them to have an even better
start than I had, which is a really tall measuring stick.”
Corn farmers are investing in technology to grow more with less. Today,
farmers like Brandon are using their land more efficiently than ever – in fact, the amount of land required
to produce a bushel of corn decreased by 44% between 1980 and 2000.
At the end of the day,
Brandon's hard work and investments in his farm are all about setting up the next generation - his son
and daughter - for success, on or off the farm.
