Mike Pearson would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! He takes a look at how technology brings consumers their Thanksgiving Day staples.

Cranberries-- a Thanksgiving Day essential with their vibrant colors and tart flavor are grown in low lying wetlands with acidic soil.

However, they have came a long way thanks to technology. Growers use precision irrigation like soil moisture sensors to ensures the right amount of water is used and conserves water while maintaining high yields.

Pumpkins are the stars of the holiday and pies wouldn't be the same without them. But to grow pumpkins, Producers lean on pest management.

This includes biological control, targeted pesticides and crop rotation to help stop squash bugs or powdery mildew.

The turkey-- the center piece of the table is dependent on technology as well. Producers use technology for feed efficiency which is a major focus of the poultry

industry.

This includes feed integration systems that optimize nutrition, growth rates and reducing waste.

Plus, data driven barn monitoring system are also common. They track temperature, humidity and air quality int eh barns.

This ensures birds are raised in the best condition and both consumers and producers see the best outcomes.

And sweet potatoes can't be forgotten.

Related:Farm Progress America, Dec. 10, 2024

Producers utilize GPS planting equipment to maximize yields and utilize less land to grow more of them. Plus, harvest used to be labor intensive but it has been revolutionized by mechanical harvesting equipment.

Technology helps bring the necessary ingredients to our dinner tables.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.