Technology Continued from Page 9 Association Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas to gather regional growers and agriculture-tech companies. UCCE has researched and evaluated high-tech alternatives to herbicide control of vegetable weeds. UC vegetable weed spe- cialist Steve Fennimore has spent decades researching and testing cultivators that help vegetable growers. He said new technol- ogies will help save on labor costs, which average $8,500 for hand weeding a 30-acre lettuce field, according to UC studies. “I like all these machines,” Fennimore said, taking in the demonstrations. The Weed Spider uses lasers to survey rises and dips in the ground ahead of the cultivator and cameras to identify weeds to be removed by a row of cultivating knives. The depth of the knives can be adjusted depending on the crop and the age of the weeds being removed. Salinas-based Veda Farming Solutions has a unit of smart cultivators that can be attached to a tractor but is also available as a self-propelled robot. Among other Salinas firms, Sutton Ag Enterprises offers a range of smart tech- nologies, including cultivators that work within the rows of vegetable crops. Stout Industrial Technology Inc. offers an in-row weeder that can handle an acre or two of lettuce within the seed line in an hour.
An Ecorobotix robotic cultivator is demonstrated at the 2024 Automated Technology Field Day at Hartnell College in Salinas. The machine uses smart technology to kill weeds with targeted doses of herbicides while protecting crops.
Many weed killers use herbicides while employing smart technology to reduce the amount of material applied by more than 95%. Ecorobotix removes weeds by precisely targeting them for herbicide spray applica- tions. The machine is adaptable as it can be set to leave a buffer around sensitive plants such lettuce seedlings, or to target all the weeds for crops that can recover from small doses of herbicide. “If you’re in broccoli, cauliflower or onions, it’s OK to hit the plant,” said Nick Culpos, sales representative for Ecorobotix. The company’s robotic cultivator can remove weeds within the seed line at a rate of 10 acres an hour. Verdant Robotics of Hayward produc- es a Sharpshooter unit that attaches to a
tractor. The technology uses cameras and computers to reduce herbicide use by 96% and can spray up to 3.75 acres an hour. Mantis Ag Technology in Monterey County has more than 10 years of expe- rience using its software to identify weeds and selectively treat them with targeted herbicide doses. Carbon Robotics of Seattle has a rig that uses cameras to identify small weeds and zaps them with lasers to remove them. The technology is available either as a tractor attachment or as an autonomous robot that can weed 24 hours a day. L&Aser of Chico has a patent pending on a laser weeding module that can be used in lettuce or carrots. Farm NG of Watsonville has a robot de- signed to be useful with a wide range of
agricultural technologies, including the L&Aser weeding attachment. Tensorfield Agriculture of Union City offers a unit that selectively kills weeds within the row by squirting them with a dose of heated vegetable oil. While most of the units on display at the Hartnell showcase use targeted herbicide or cultivators to remove weeds, steam has been shown to be effective at killing both disease pathogens and weeds. The only drawback with steam is the cost of treating the entire bed surface, but Smart Steam has a unit that attaches to a tractor and uses smart technology to target just weeds within the row. (Bob Johnson is a reporter in Monterey County. He may be contacted at bjohn11135@gmail.com.)
VOICE OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
GO GOLFING WITH FARM BUREAU
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2024 During Annual Meeting Tee times start at 8 a.m.
PODCAST WITH GARY SACK
LIMITED NUMBER OF SPOTS AVAILABLE For more information, and to buy tickets, scan the QR code or visit cfbf.com/farmpac . Single golfer, foursomes and sponsorships avaliable. Sponsor deadline is November 1.
California Farm Bureau is excited to bring you the Voice of California Agriculture podcast. Hosted by Gary Sack, the podcast brings general farm and food news alongside updates on legislative matters impacting California’s family farmers and ranchers. LISTEN NOW ON APPLE PODCASTS OR SPOTIFY! Visit cfbf.com/podcast to access the podcast links.
Paid for by California Farm Bureau Federation Fund to Protect the Family Farm (FarmPAC). Contributions or gifts to FarmPAC are not tax deductible.
14 Ag Alert July 24, 2024
Powered by FlippingBook