For decades we've heard about how robots are the future.
For the agriucultural community, it appears as though the future has arrived.
In the Dairy Innovation Centre at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show, robot milkers, scrapers and feeders run a live fully-automated barn.
Dan Schreiner, Product Manager for Lely says the technology came quickly, as it became more and more necessary.
He notes each farm situation is different.
For most, changing to robotics is all about a return on investment.
Schreiner feels automated feeding can reduce labour efficiencies and lower feed waste as sensors can feel how much feed is leftover, and adjust output as needed.
The product manager admits that robotics may take away from the agricultural workforce.
But he points out some farmers implementing the technology have told him they do it because finding help for a seven-day-a-week industry is becoming increasingly difficult.
