March 2022 - 4

EDITOR'S LETTER
Innovation logical solution
Growers are poised to adopt automation to bridge the growing labor gap
and ensure that their crops can be picked on time, according to the Global
Harvest Automation Report, a first-of-its-kind study commissioned by Western
Growers (WG).
The report is the first in a new annual series
that will track, measure and report on industry
progress in harvest automation across the
fresh produce industry. Special focus for this
edition was selected crops, namely apples,
blueberries, strawberries, broccoli, lettuce and
almonds.
The Global Harvest Automation Report
is part of WG's Global Harvest Automation
Initiative, which aims to accelerate ag
automation by 50% in 10 years.
The report's executive summary emphasized
that labor is a key requirement to harvest
specialty crops and typically represents 20-50%
of many specialty crop budgets. Recently, the
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Producers with crop insurance get cover crops'
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Gary Pullano
Editor
labor gap has grown wider due to the unforeseen market disruptions caused
by the COVID-19 pandemic. But like many past evolutions of agriculture,
technology can provide solutions.
The premise of WG's work in this area is focused on the belief that harvest
automation can help tackle the growing labor shortage and ensure food
security for a growing population, while elevating and upskilling an entire
workforce.
" One of the main aims of the report was to take a comprehensive look at
the entire harvest ecosystem and provide a quantitative look to the Western
Growers membership at how much harvest innovation is impacting their
operations across fresh products for specialty crops, where the most progress is
occurring, and why, " WG VP of Innovation Walt Duflock said in a news release.
" Second, we wanted to provide an in-depth view of the innovators who are
doing the heavy lifting by crop type, so growers would know who to contact
based on the crops they grow. "
Duflock stated in an introduction to the report that labor has for decades
been among the top challenges facing agriculture, next to water availability
and food safety. He noted the challenge is particularly steep for growers of
specialty groups such as those grown across most of California ag, with the
exception of tree nuts, whose harvest is almost fully automated.
" As with many ag problems, " Duflock wrote, " innovation is the solution. "
Among the findings of the report, which was prepared in collaboration with
consultants at Roland Berger:
* 65% of participating growers have invested in automation over the past
three years.
* The average annual spend on automation was $350,000-$400,000 per
grower.
* Spending occurred in preharvest and harvest-assist activities, including
weeding, thinning, harvesting platforms and autonomous ground
vehicles. It is anticipated that 30-60% of these activities will be
automated by 2025.
* Harvest automation itself remains limited because of the technical
difficulties in replicating the human hand to harvest delicate crops. It is
anticipated that 20% of harvest activities will be automated by 2025.
* The report attributed the relative lack of progress in harvest automation
mainly to " the technical difficulties in replicating the human hand to
harvest delicate crops. "
The report investigates the question of how robots can be used to offset the
shortage of experienced farm laborers to work in some of the world's most
productive agricultural areas.
It's clear the specialty crop industry, in particular, must pursue machine-aided
production to help tend crops as the ranks of farmworkers dwindle.
To date, most market-ready automation startups in the specialty crop sector
focus on comparatively easier harvest-assist and preharvest activities. The report
confirmed several harvest-focused startups are making progress and have
established an initial customer base.
Kudos to Western Growers for playing a unique role in bringing together the
entire agriculture community to take this essential automation effort to the
next level and beyond.
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Agricultural producers who have coverage
under most crop insurance policies are eligible
for a premium benefit from the USDA if they
planted cover crops during the 2022 crop year.
To receive the benefit from this program,
producers must report cover crop acreage by
March 15, 2022.
Long-term investments needed to modernize
California ports
Farm leaders, port officials and others in the
shipping business agree long-term investments
are needed to modernize California ports
and relieve other crucial choke points to keep
products moving and on store shelves around the
world.
Irrigation is key to success of controlled release
fertilizer
At the University of Florida, Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences North Florida Research and
Education Center - Suwannee Valley, a team led
by Bob Hochmuth, UF/IFAS Extension regional
specialized agent for vegetable crops and assistant
center director, has been researching the use of
controlled release fertilizers as an advanced Best
Management Practices in watermelons.
Texas produce industry leaders inducted into Hall
of Fame
Nearly 120 people attended the 2022 Texas
Produce Hall of Fame banquet and ceremony
on Jan. 24 in Mission, Texas. Organized by the
Texas International Produce Association, the
Hall of Fame event recognizes industry leaders
who have made exceptional contributions
crucial to the long-term success of the trade.
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THEY SAID IT
- WILLIAM DUGGAN, ESKESEN ADVISORY
There is a labor shortage across the board. That's
for rail, trucking, warehouses (and) all the way to the
terminal - we just don't have enough workers. "
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March 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2022
