There is not always sufficient time and labor to accomplish all the tasks that need to be taken care of in the vineyard. Fortunately researchers and allied industry stakeholders have collaborated and innovated to provide an economical way for the full automation of winter pruning in wine grape vineyards. Watch this brief video with Kaan Kurtural from UC Davis as …
$502 Million for High-Speed Internet in Rural Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the Department is awarding $502 million in loans and grants (PDF, 221 KB) to provide high-speed internet access for rural residents and businesses in 20 states — including California. The funding is part of the Biden Administration’s commitment to investing in rural infrastructure and providing reliable, affordable, high-speed internet for all. …
Almond Case Study Tests New ROI Calculator
Many almond growers have heard their peers, as well as others with interest in improving pollinator habitat and soil health, endorse the planting of cover crops to accomplish those goals. Those same growers may have wondered if money spent on seeds and labor as well as the cost of time to manage cover crops truly pay off. Can the economic …
Fresno State Researchers Speed Up Grape Composition/Maturity Monitoring Process
Monitoring the progress of your grape composition and timing harvest just right when you have thousands of acres, several varieties and diverse growing conditions can be difficult to keep up with. Well, the Fresno State Department of Viticulture & Enology has been working with industry collaborators on speeding up with process with greater accuracy. Watch this brief video with Luca …
Using Hyperspectral Imaging to Detect Grapevine Water Stress
Drones are being more widely employed for various purposes in the agricultural sector. The Fresno State Department of Viticulture & Enology is taking things to the next level by measuring grapevine water stress through hyperspectral imaging, using drone-accumulated data to further automate the irrigation process. Watch this brief interview with Luca Brillante and Kaylah Vasquez to learn more, and read …
Getting to the Root of How to Grow Cowpea in Difficult, Dry Conditions
Cowpea is an important crop in many parts of the world, especially sub-Saharan Africa. It is resilient and can grow in areas with little rainfall and low-quality soils. But as hardy as it is, cowpea yields can decrease by drought and low levels of soil phosphorus. In a recent study, researchers determined cowpea root characteristics that could help the plants grow …
Vineyard Mechanization Beyond Harvest
A record number of growers will be mechanically harvesting their grapes this year, due in part to increasing labor limitations. There have been many recent innovations in mechanization that go far beyond the machine harvesting of grapes. From mechanical leaf and sucker removal to automated winter pruners, watch this video with Aaron Lange from Langetwins Family Winery & Vineyards for …
Artificial Intelligence In Agriculture
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is defined by IBM as a phenomenon that “combines computer science and robust datasets to enable problem-solving.” In other words, AI is set up to solve problems that humans might not have been able to solve. As such, AI has seeped into various industries, as it continues to advance over the years. Unsurprisingly, AI has already …
Are Autonomous Self-Driving Tractors Legal in California?
As California’s agricultural industries progress towards a more sustainable future with new technologies and innovations, current Cal OSHA regulations (unless changed) may hinder their progress, particularly with regard to autonomous or self-driving tractors. Watch this brief video with Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers as he explains. Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
New AI Institute Expands UC Merced’s Smart, Sustainable Ag Effort
With a new $20 million federal grant, UC Merced becomes part of a multi-institutional research collaborative to develop artificial intelligence — or AI — solutions to tackle some of agriculture’s biggest challenges related to water management, climate change and integration of new technology into farming. The new institute is one of 11 launched this year by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and …
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croploss: The ruling class of eco-elites are never going to allow building of significant...