If the average farming and ranching techniques from 30 years ago were compared to those of today, a person would be surprised to see the technological advancements that all segments of the production ag industry have embraced.

Three North Dakota State University Extension Service specialists, each with a different focus on agriculture, shared their views on how technology in that industry has changed in the last 30 years.

Dynamic research is the key to unlocking new and useful agricultural technologies that continue to keep producers profitable - and able to change to meet the times - in the 21st century.

With a growing population, feeding the world is not an easy task - particularly when technology can be expensive and overwhelming to the family farmers.

Even though country women have always played a significant role in agriculture, their efforts were largely unrecognized - that is, up until 17 years ago when Farm & Ranch Guide instituted its own Country Woman of the Year recognition program.

David Borlaug, Farm & Ranch Guide founder and publisher at the time, and then general manager Cliff Meyer both had a hand in coming up with the idea.

North Dakota's crop growers do adapt, and this shines through when comparing the state's crop production practices of 1980 and today.

“We've had some tremendous changes in acreage for some of the crops grown in North Dakota,” said Andy Swenson, NDSU Extension Service farm management specialist. “Crops like corn, soybeans, dry peas, canola and lentils have experienced growth.”