technology
IFPA outlines Farm Bill priorities, from tech to food safety
The International Fresh Produce Association supports recommendations delivered to Capitol Hill by the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), including funding for produce prescriptions, specialty crop research and to help produce companies comply with food... more »
CropX acquires irrigation company Tule Technologies
CropX Technologies, a global leader in digital solutions for agronomic farm management, has acquired Tule Technologies, a precision irrigation company based in California. This acquisition brings new data capture technologies to the CropX Agronomic Farm Management System and... more »
New CEO joins ag tech developer of weeders
Farm automation start-up FarmWise, Santa Clara, Calif., has hired Tjarko Leifer as CEO. Leifer was senior vice president of strategy at Climate Corporation, which was acquired in 2013 by Monsanto/Bayer. Sebastien Boyer, co-founder and former... more »
In the muck and weeds: Michigan veg experts honored
The Michigan Vegetable Council honored a family farm that has raised vegetables for nearly 100 years on muck soil and a Michigan State University professor who specializes in weed management. The awards ceremony at the... more »
Virginia Tech Extension specialist Swafford dies
Jerry “Dan” Swafford, a Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist who championed the use of drones to gather data on crops, has died. Swafford, Extension project associate and curriculum specialist, died Jan. 4 at his home in... more »
Ag tech on display at European machinery show
BOLOGNA, Italy – The European Union’s goal to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030 has ramped up the technology race for specialty crop growers in the EU. That new technology was on display at... more »
Robotics competition challenges students
College students are invited to develop a robot that makes farm work easier while competing for cash prizes and bragging rights in the Farm Robotics Challenge, a three-month robotics development competition. The competition runs from... more »
Biotechnology is key to crop improvement
A new organization consisting of plant biotechnologists is working to accelerate the development of new plant varieties to meet demand in coming decades. It’s a project organizers believe will positively impact growers’ ability to enhance... more »
UF AI center to push boundaries of ag research
The scientist called the grower with a proposition: Let me fly a drone over your grove and you’ll be able to see how many trees you have, and even the size of individual canopies. Alex... more »
PickTrace labor management expands services
A labor management company that offers fresh produce industry growers a digital solution for time, attendance and productivity tracking of employees has expanded services to ease hiring and payment processes. PickTrace, Glendale, California, first offered... more »