LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Thousands are flocking to Lincoln this week for the annual Nebraska Ag Show, which began on Tuesday.
More than 800 exhibits from 27 states will be on display at the newly renamed Sandhills Global Event Center.
Officials expect up to 28,000 farmers and ranchers to attend.
The expo started in 2007 and has become the second-largest ag expo in the country.
This year, it’s featuring some of the latest technology the ag world has to offer, including drones, electric vehicles, wind turbines and autonomous robots that can work the field.
With all the new technology, experts said farmers and ranchers can innovate and maximize efficiency.
Alex Haug, who’s part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Machine Automation and Agricultural Robotics Lab, said the industry is making a shift toward digital agriculture.
“Instead of treating per acre, we’re treating on a per-plant basis,” he said. “So even in those drought years, we’re giving each individual plant exactly what it needs to grow to give you the best possible yield.”
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Hunter Allemand, co-founder of Smooth Ag, said much of his company’s tech isn’t about making life easier, but making it more productive.
The company’s remote cattle feeder, called the Ranch Rover, can autonomously drive out to the pasture, count cattle and deliver feed.
Allemand and Haug said that with automation, farmers won’t have to worry as much about labor shortages.
Allemand added that while some are hesitant to adapt, modernizing tech can draw a younger generation into the industry.
“We’re just at that crossroads of tradition and modern efficiency,” he said. “And we like to tell our old-fashioned guys, if you want to ride your horse behind the Ranch Rover, go ahead.”
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Jon Schueth with Cutting Edge Agronomics said interest is high right now, which can make farming expensive.
And with climate change making dry years more common, it can be hard for farmers and ranchers to make the right choice on what to even grow.
“It’s hard to have a good idea of what your bottom line is if you don’t know exactly what’s happening in your fields,” Schueth said.
SEE ALSO: Nebraska farmers forced into early harvest after drought and heat
But despite current challenges, Schueth said many in the industry are optimistic about the future.
“Even though there are things in the market and in the world right now that are counterproductive to agriculture, there’s a lot of things going on in the background that are helping us out and being the countertrend to that,” he said.
The expo runs through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Thursday when it ends at 3 p.m.
During the day, there will be a several educational sessions on a variety of topics.
Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door.