By Tanner Hood

Technological advancement waits for no one — including farmers — as micro-displays and handheld-supercomputers have largely replaced clunky desktops and massive monitors of yesteryear.

Most modern farmers constantly upgrade technology not out of desire but necessity, said Autauga County farmer Andy Wendland.

“Everything was all mechanical for so long,” Andy said. “Suddenly, somewhere along the way, there are all of these systems, and if you don’t have a cable and a computer, there are certain things you can’t do.”

Andy’s front-row seat to these changes began while growing up on Autauga Farming Co. in Autaugaville. He began farming full time in 1989 and said the evolution he’s witnessed over the years is nothing short of astonishing. 

“Dad was not very techy,” Andy said. “He might not have always been on the leading edge, but he was an early adopter of new technology. He was cautious.” 

Andy’s father, the late Milton “Buzz” Wendland, was known for old-school ways. Whether it was the pocketbooks in which he recorded the days’ events or the tally books used to track cattle, the elder Wendland was known for meticulous records.

“We saw a real advancement when I got out of Auburn and started recordkeeping with spreadsheets,” Andy said. “Dad would always do stuff on legal pads or those wide accounting registers. He would double check my work, and if there was something off in my formula, he would let me know.”

Leading the innovative charge, Andy said the progression was slow rolling at first but has exploded over the last 20 years. Incorporation on the farm began with cattle production and electronic identification (EID) tags — streamlining decision making. 

“We’re running about 12 herds of cattle, and using EIDs allows us to know so much about one cow and track their progress throughout the year,” he said. “We can also track some cows through buyers and feedlots and know what quality of meat we are producing. Knowing more information allows us to make better decisions on how to raise that animal for peak efficiency.”

Now Andy’s son, Dan, handles most of the cattle operation. He added that raising livestock will always require hands-on involvement, but applying new technology to make the job easier, improve decision-making or process more information is worth it. 

Introduction to new technology was slower going on the row crop side of Autauga Farming Co. Andy said he relied on John Fulton — former Alabama Farmers Federation professor of agriculture at Auburn University — to help with the transition.

“Advancements began to creep in slower for our equipment,” he said. “We kept up with stuff on computers, but the actual in-cab equipment came on much later. Our biggest leap in the old days was getting a Data Transmission Network (DTN) market machine where you could keep a timely eye on commodity markets with satellite connectivity.” 

Like everything else, technology eventually exploded for their equipment and row crop production. 

“We’re info-junkies,” Andy said. “Our manufacturer has reports that allow us to see idle time, fuel consumption, acres covered and much more. That information is eye-opening. This way, we can accurately track our cost per acre to determine how effectively and efficiently we use our equipment.” 

As Andy once served as the avenue for innovation for his father, that role has now shifted to Dan and his brother, Drew, who manages row crops and equipment. Andy’s middle son, Will Howard, helps farmers across the state adopt innovative techniques through work with Greenpoint Ag. 

“When I got in, it was a rudimentary level, but now that Drew and Dan are here, they’ve taken it and run with it,” Andy said. “What started for me on hefty computers in the office has transitioned to cellphones that are always in our pockets. There’s no telling what’s out there for the next generation.” 

As part of the next wave, Cleburne County farmer Ben Hunt has started thinking not only outside the box but deep into the atmosphere.

“We used to have internet that was 3 megabits per second, which was not fast at all,” said Ben, a cattle and poultry farmer from Heflin. “That’s when we started looking into Starlink and the opportunities it could open for us in countryside.” 

The addition of Elon Musk’s satellite-based internet has been a game changer on the farm, he said. 

“I’m now able to operate my poultry houses from my phone,” Ben said. “I’m able to attend more of my kids’ ballgames and be present for the important moments in life because I don’t always have to be so close to the houses. I’m afforded a peace of mind because I can always know what’s going on.”