December 2023 - 72

AGTECH
This autonomous multi-use
Robotic
BY DOUG OHLEMEIER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
A
s growers seek automated solutions to solve
some of their labor challenges, they and tech
companies are working to determine how soon
that can become a reality.
Some of the considerations were tackled during
sessions at the Sept. 19-21 FIRA USA in Salinas, California.
Growers offered perspectives on when they think
robotics, automation and technology is ready to help them.
" It needs to solve the problem we have, " said Josh
Ruiz, senior director of ag technology and innovation at
Duda Farm Fresh Foods. " If it doesn't make dollars, it
doesn't make sense to us. That's a big, big piece of this
72 | DECEMBER 2023
robot platform demonstrated
by Burro operates alongside
workers to multiply the work
in the field, including mowing.
Photos by Doug Ohlemeier.
RISK
FIRA USA sessions advise growers to do their homework
before adopting robotics
vibe. I would love to have everything that's out there and
have multiples of them, but if I can't financially justify it
on paper, I can't do it. "
A key need is educating tech companies and investors
on agriculture's unique needs.
Most existing technologies are venture capital (VC)
funded, and a lot of money is generally behind them
with investors seeking top-line revenue benefit.
" Don't be afraid to push them to pay for everything, "
said Josh Roberts, president and general manager of
Triangle Farms, a Salinas grower of conventional and
organic lettuce and broccoli. " As a consumer and a user
having some experience in that, I would suggest that we
need to leverage those technology firms as much as you
possibly can before you pull the trigger. "

December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023

Editor's Letter
Watermelon Pressures
Battling food insecurities
40 Under 40 Class of 2023
Michigan Vegetable Council's proactive approach
2023: Year in review
Great Lakes EXPO News: Mastering pest management
Great Lakes EXPO News: Stop the Rot project
2024 Buyers' Guide
Consider automatic irrigation control systems
Autonomous tech invades the 'salad bowl'
Robotic risk
Robots perform field work
Cover crop mixes
Farm Market & Agritourism: Revolutionize customer relationships
Ag Labor Review: DOL's end run
Business: Effective succession planning
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
December 2023 - 1
December 2023 - 2
December 2023 - 3
December 2023 - Editor's Letter
December 2023 - 5
December 2023 - Watermelon Pressures
December 2023 - 7
December 2023 - 8
December 2023 - 9
December 2023 - 10
December 2023 - 11
December 2023 - Battling food insecurities
December 2023 - 13
December 2023 - 14
December 2023 - 15
December 2023 - 16
December 2023 - 40 Under 40 Class of 2023
December 2023 - 18
December 2023 - 19
December 2023 - 20
December 2023 - 21
December 2023 - 22
December 2023 - 23
December 2023 - 24
December 2023 - 25
December 2023 - 26
December 2023 - 27
December 2023 - 28
December 2023 - 29
December 2023 - Michigan Vegetable Council's proactive approach
December 2023 - 31
December 2023 - 32
December 2023 - 33
December 2023 - 2023: Year in review
December 2023 - 35
December 2023 - 36
December 2023 - 37
December 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Mastering pest management
December 2023 - 39
December 2023 - 40
December 2023 - Great Lakes EXPO News: Stop the Rot project
December 2023 - 42
December 2023 - 2024 Buyers' Guide
December 2023 - 44
December 2023 - 45
December 2023 - 46
December 2023 - 47
December 2023 - 48
December 2023 - 49
December 2023 - 50
December 2023 - 51
December 2023 - 52
December 2023 - 53
December 2023 - 54
December 2023 - 55
December 2023 - 56
December 2023 - 57
December 2023 - 58
December 2023 - 59
December 2023 - 60
December 2023 - 61
December 2023 - 62
December 2023 - 63
December 2023 - 64
December 2023 - 65
December 2023 - 66
December 2023 - Consider automatic irrigation control systems
December 2023 - Autonomous tech invades the 'salad bowl'
December 2023 - 69
December 2023 - 70
December 2023 - 71
December 2023 - Robotic risk
December 2023 - 73
December 2023 - 74
December 2023 - 75
December 2023 - Robots perform field work
December 2023 - 77
December 2023 - 78
December 2023 - 79
December 2023 - Cover crop mixes
December 2023 - 81
December 2023 - Farm Market & Agritourism: Revolutionize customer relationships
December 2023 - 83
December 2023 - Ag Labor Review: DOL's end run
December 2023 - 85
December 2023 - Business: Effective succession planning
December 2023 - 87
December 2023 - Classifieds
December 2023 - 89
December 2023 - Advertiser Index
December 2023 - 91
December 2023 - 92
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