Satellite Controlled Planting Machines

by Neil Verwey

This year, rice farmers will benefit from an automatic, satellite-guided rice-planting machine that can sow a mid-sized field in less than an hour!

For those who continue to plant rice seedlings by hand, the work is especially arduous. On the other hand, those with conventional planting machines spend long hours guiding them around the fields.

Another problem is the flight of young people to urban centers, resulting in an acute shortage of labor in rural areas. Therefore machines are increasingly necessary in the paddy fields.

There are machines that can automatically harvest rice crops by following the stalks of the plants, but since there is no obvious target in the sowing process, that technology could not be used in planting. Now the same technique for guiding cars is being used for planting rice!

The rice planter first drives around the perimeter of a field, recording it’s shape by longitude and latitude. The machine continually updates its position with signals from the satellite. One can plant up to six rows of seedlings simultaneously. With it’s high-precision receiver, it is accurate to within three centimeters.

Amazing!

To sow and reap is becoming easier and easier.

However, to sow and reap the seed of the Word of God in the hearts of men & women is never easy.
Those who sow in tears

Shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping,

Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126:5,6
We will go out weeping but return singing, carrying our sheaves!