Grow Ahead series
Digicrop views precision agriculture, robotics
Robotics and other technologies designed to benefit agriculture were at the forefront of Digicrop, the International Conference on Digital Technologies for Sustainable Crop Production. The virtual March 28-30 conference assembled researchers from a variety of... more »
Grower, researcher look at the viability of FruitScout
Mark Boyer, the former chair of the U.S. Apple Association board of directors, constantly seeks efficient and accurate ways of producing a profitable apple crop. Boyer is the second-generation owner of Ridgetop Orchards, a grower-packer-... more »
FruitScout pinpoints cropping targets
Precision crop load management is routinely identified as the most important management strategy that determines the annual profitability of apple orchards. It’s also the most challenging tool to implement successfully. Growers recognize the economic impact... more »
Electric vehicles make debut in agriculture
No longer an idea only, electric tractors are making a quiet start in vegetable farms, vineyards and orchards. Innovation and out-of-the-box thinking seek to outfit farmers and especially specialty crop growers interested in automation and... more »
Huron Fruit Systems work platform eases orchard tasks
The ongoing labor crunch impacting specialty crop growers has put an enhanced emphasis on reducing the number of workers required in the production process. Among the industry contributors who long-ago recognized this opportunity is Walter... more »
MapMyApple offers orchard organization, problem diagnosis
Commercial orchards are often a patchwork quilt – blocks with different cultivars, planted in different years. Varieties have different schedules with various bloom times and harvest times. A disorganized grower risks getting lost in all... more »
Investment, need drive in-soil strawberry harvester
Investment, a groundbreaking “commercialized” strawberry harvest and swelling grower interest add up to a good year for Advanced Farm Technologies (AFT). The Davis, California-based company’s T-6 robotic strawberry harvester is one of just a handful... more »
California drone company releases beneficial insects
Drones and insects have a lot in common: spindly appendages, buzzing noises, flight – and the ability to significantly impact fruit and vegetable crops. A California startup company is pairing the two as a service... more »
Latest News
USDA studies steam heat to target pests
Rice Fruit’s Lee Showalter plans retirement
BioSafe Systems’ Michael Larose dies
Current Issue
Harvests start with high hopes for apple season
California’s Murray Family Farms endures challenges
Great Lakes EXPO: Emerging technology in the Ag industry
MSU researches drones to control vineyard pests
Economics drives the global biologicals market
Drones: Additional capabilities join recent improvements
Farm Market & Agritourism: Can you support another employee?
Ag Labor Review: The backbone of America
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