Technology
Ag technology focus of new UC Merced engineering research center
By 2050, the U.S. population is estimated to grow to 400 million, and the world population to 9.1 billion, requiring a 70% increase in global food production. UC Merced is one of four campuses across... more »
New tools, technology set for conservation efforts with $14.6M from NRCS
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is awarding more than $14.6 million in grants to support the development of innovative systems, tools, and technologies for production and conservation on agricultural lands. Funds are provided through... more »
Toro innovates its Aqua-Traxx drip tape
Toro innovated its Aqua-Traxx drip tape product family. Improving drip irrigation designs and efficiencies, new Toro Aqua-Traxx Sweet Spot drip tape is a 6/8” Interior Diameter (ID) drip tape that gives growers a one-of-a-kind product... more »
Walt Duflock joins Western Growers as vice president, innovation
Increasing its industry-leading efforts to quicken the pace of technology solutions for the fresh produce industry, Western Growers has added Walt Duflock as vice president, innovation. In this role, Duflock will be singularly focused on... more »
University of Tennessee leads new effort in nursery automation
Over the next year, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will lead a team of scientists from six partnering institutions to help nursery growers transition to labor-saving automation and related technologies. According to a... more »
Startup in NY Finger Lakes works on voice-to-data app for growers
Georgia-based software startup AgVoice – a 2019 Grow-NY finalist – announced plans recently to establish a headquarters office in New York’s Finger Lakes region, citing unparalleled resources offered by Cornell AgriTech and the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture (COE), both in... more »
Automated harvesters power up for strawberries
Automated strawberry harvests are taking place in select fields of California and Florida, as the robots become more commercial and less experimental. The California Polytechnical University’s Strawberry Center in late August conducted a virtual field... more »
Sensors, drones, AI studied to address crop evapotranspiration
The sight of sprinklers running on a rainy day is not uncommon in Florida. The same goes for seeing landscapes scorched by the sun during one of Florida’s sweltering days when irrigation schedules were left... more »