This year has been tough - and though the bad seems to outweigh the good in 2020, the crops stood tall and the construction industry was booming. Looking back on the accomplishments and hardships of 2020, we wanted to bring a bit of joy and hope by highlighting a few of the good things that have happened.
Great Weather Leading To Great Harvest
As we think back to the 2019 harvest season, we may all remember the difficulties we faced with one of the worst harvest seasons in the Midwest. With the excess rain in August, more rain in September, and then blizzards in October though December, crops 
suffered in one way or another. As if that wasn't a challenge enough, after being forced to push harvest back, prices were down and the future wasn't looking bright. This year, on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air for most farmers in the Midwest. According to AgWeek, "There were several notable differences between the 2020 and 2019 growing seasons. To start with, the crop got planted early and matured early, as it got pushed along with the heat and dryness in August. The crop dried down quickly, resulting in farmers having to dry very little of their crop. Typically, it can cost about 3.5 cents per percentage point of moisture to dry corn. Taking away that cost is a huge savings for farmers." Most farmers experienced an almost seamless harvest season due to the great weather conditions we were given.
Huge Growth In Technology Integration
Technology apps and programs are coordinating with one another, giving users the ability to manage almost every area of their construction project or agricultural tasks.
Drones are a major leader in the growth of both industries, and within the past year, we have seen them develop into one of the most intricate machines known. Drones have the ability to survey an entire jobsite, complete safety inspections, ensure materials are delivered and placed correctly, monitor livestock, map and survey crops, plant seeds, and so much more. Within agriculture, advancements in precision farming have made farmer's productivity and preciseness increase dramatically. In addition, 3D printing has made exciting growth within the past year, reducing construction costs by building homes and buildings in 3D first.
Increased Safety
In addition to an increase in safety precautions from COVID-19, there has been an impressive increase in safety for construction workers and farmers alike. Experts at Building Solutions explain that "items like wearables and work boots connect to Wi-Fi and send GPS coordinates to supervisors, alerting them if workers have fallen or are too tired. While this technology will take time to be more commonplace, other advancements such as moisture-wicking fabric and cooling vests are now available to help keep workers safe."
On the agriculture side, farming ranks among one of the most hazardous industries. With the increase in farm management technologies, there has been tremendous growth in awareness and training to help prevent farm fatalities. Click HERE for some great resources.
What's In Store For 2021?
Even though no one can ever predict what will happen in our crazy world, we can look forward to the good things that could happen! For example, the turn in sustainable materials in the construction industry will play a huge part in how we can take energy efficiency and productivity to the next level. For both agriculture and construction industries, technology is continually expanding and changing the way we perform every task.
According to Syngenta US, while looking at the growth of agriculture, manufacturers are testing prototypes of robotic tractors and sprayers to handle fieldwork without human drivers. Many new machines are already equipped with the technology to operate with little human interaction, allowing for maximum productivity.
While predictions can shed light on the future of our agriculture and construction operations, much will happen that we cannot predict. If the past is any predictor of the future, we know that we will always explore new, better ways to innovate and improve. We must remember that every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day!