3 ms·

Alfalfa is baled by machines, no?

• Scoundreller 6y ago
  It’s asparagus I was thinking about. Was an issue in Germany: https://m.dw.com/en/seasonal-workers-flock-to-germany-for-asparagus-harvest-under-covid-restrictions/a-56919559 https://m.dw.com/en/seasonal-workers-flock-to-germany-for-as... As with many labour-intensive crops, people want to eat it, but not do the work involved themselves.
  • nitrogen 6y ago
    As with many labour-intensive crops, people want to eat it, but not do the work involved themselves. Ah, yes. The best asparagus is hand-picked the day of consumption, and it would be ideal if picked by the people eating it. I grew up in an area that used to have asparagus fields, so asparagus grew "wild" along the fences and ditchbanks. I would occasionally help my parents cut the day's wild asparagus for dinner. I hated it as a kid, but really grew to appreciate how good fresh asparagus is when compared to what has to be mass produced and shipped, because, as you say, nobody wants to do the labor.
  • zokier 6y ago
    I wonder how much improved robotics will change the picture. Labor intensive practices and crops might become more feasible if we can get robots to do that labor. Afaik agriculture is already moving in that direction with very fancy advanced tractors etc (I don't actually know anything about ag). One issue that I foresee is that if something needs a very specialized robot, then the market might not be big enough to warrant the development cost. Undoubtedly it makes lot of sense to automate something like wheat or whatnot bulk crop because there is just tons of that around. But asparagus or something might be too niche?