Hawaii farmers and ranchers are adopting new forms of technology at a rapid pace, which state agricultural officials say is a good sign for the future.
The use of livestock-tracking devices has increased by 6,000% since 2019, and farmers and ranchers have increased video surveillance on their properties by more than 200%, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
This uptick in technology adoption is paired with a thirst for more technology, driven by a desire to increase efficiencies, production and profits while mitigating pervasive agricultural crime, Hawaii agriculture officials say.
The amount of video surveillance equipment deployed by Hawaii farmers has doubled during the past six years, with 4,700 units in use. Respondents to a USDA technology survey say they want almost 5,000 more.
Paired with other technologies, like motion sensor lights and vehicle-tracking technology, the security measures come as the state pays greater attention to agricultural crimes. Gov. Josh Green this year enacted “Duke’s Law,” dedicated to toughening penalties for trespassers and implementing a farming-focused pilot program under the Department of Law Enforcement.
There has been a spike in tagging livestock using radio frequency identification technology, known as RFID, with more than 26,000 devices being used across the state compared to fewer than 100 six years ago. RFID technology was mandated for animals destined to cross state lines in 2024 to help the federal government better address disease concerns, among other things.
Additionally, almost 5,000 GPS-tracking devices are being used on Hawaii livestock, a theft-prevention measure. Ranchers who responded to the survey want more of those, too, seeking an additional 10,000 trackers.
And it’s not just livestock producers adopting technology, as demand rises for sensors to monitor soil and plant conditions, such as moisture levels. The number of users has increased for field sensors by over 250% during the past six years, with 899 users and more than 1,600 more wanting them, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service data.
State agriculture director Sharon Hurd said she was heartened by the demand and farmers’ adoption of technology to help cope with the “increasingly difficult agricultural environment.”
That difficulty is not just climate-related, as the agriculture industry contends with myriad economic and workforce factors.
Some agricultural advocates have looked to technology advances to deal with the pressures of farming in Hawaii, encouraging the industry to consider becoming an incubation site for technological advancements in tropical agriculture.
Hawaii farmers have meanwhile been interested in unmanned farming equipment, with some coffee farms on the Big Island deploying drones to help monitor operations and apply pesticides. The unmanned aircraft are being used on 173 farms currently, but more than 700 others have expressed interest in adopting them.
Hawaii farmers have even started using unmanned farming equipment, with 301 farms using autonomous tractors, harvesters and planters.
The agriculture department’s analysis of the data showed support for further technological adoption.
“By integrating these technologies thoughtfully,” the report says, “Hawaii farmers and ranchers can strengthen productivity, reduce losses, improve quality and consistency, access premium markets, and build resilience — all contributing to economic development of both farm operations and surrounding communities.
Story originally published by Honolulu Civil Beat and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
HPD Photo
