Introduction of Smart Farming Technologies in Field Crop Management in Tokachi District, Hokkaido, Japan: Effects and Future Prospects

Abstract

Increasing of farmwork burden is pointed out as a reason for serious problems such as farmer’s aging and reduction of farmer’s number.Smart farming with key technologies for solving of farmwork burden have been introduced into field crop production systems in Tokachi region, Hokkaido, Japan. By questionnaire survey from farmers who introduced smart farming technologies, the reduction effects of farmwork burden were investigated. The degrees of fatigue, both physical and mental, in the smart farming technologies were reduced approximately 40% compared to before the introduction of smart farming technologies. Especially, automatic steering system showed a significant effect, and the introduction of such technology is expected to increase.Furthermore, other smart farming technologies such as section control, variable fertilization, pesticide-spraying drones, and robotic tractors, are also expected.