…cut input costs, labor needs, and environmental impact all at once. Ecorobotix recently raised $150 million in funding to expand its U.S. operations and announced plans to begin assembling products in America…
California Farmers Confront Global Competition and Retail Pressure on AgNet News Hour
…Wild Goose Farms, a major blueberry grower from Florida, said he attended to explore automation that could offset rising labor costs. “Blueberries are still handpicked in most of the country,”…
Building the Future of Farming: Insights from UC ANR’s Gabe Youtsey at FIRA USA 2025
…out that California growers face serious and immediate pressures: Water scarcity Land access issues Labor shortages Increasing regulatory burdens Farmers need help now, but they also need the tools and…
From Citrus Greening to Ag Robotics: California Faces the Future of Farming
…Show in Woodland. Arav Gupta of Bonsai explained how their retrofit kits can turn any existing tractor into an autonomous vehicle — helping farmers save on labor and fuel while…
First American Silo: How Fred Hatch Revolutionized Grain Storage in 1873
…remained a cost-effective option for certain feed types. Remarkably, both designs—first conceived in the 19th century—are still in use on farms today. The Legacy of Fred Hatch’s Innovation Fred Hatch’s…
Beef Plan, Spray Tech, and AI: California Ag Eyes Relief and Reinvention
…water infrastructure inches forward. Rounding out the episode, University of Florida’s Dr. Nathan Boyd joined from FIRA to compare Florida and California specialty crops and explain why labor is his…
GUSS: Transforming Orchard Spraying Through Autonomy and Innovation
…buy them from you guys?’ That’s when we knew we had to start manufacturing and selling them.” Solving Agriculture’s Labor Challenge Labor shortages have long plagued agriculture, from dairy barns…
California Ag Tech on Display: TK, Bayer Crop Science, and John Deere’s GUSS Steal the Show
…eliminate overspray, reduce labor strain, and improve precision. “Growers can now run fleets of sprayers from a tablet,” Thompson said. “It’s about empowering workers — turning tractor drivers into fleet…
George Washington and Slavery: A Complex Legacy
…Over his lifetime, he controlled more than 577 enslaved individuals who worked on his farms and in his Philadelphia household. These individuals were forced to labor under a system that…
Van Groningen & Sons: A Century of California Farming
…come with high costs.” He pointed to the California Air Resources Board and other agencies that impose additional restrictions on farmers, creating uneven competition with other states. “We’re held to…
Verdant Robotics: Revolutionizing Farming with Precision AI and Automation
…to automate work that was previously labor-intensive and difficult to manage. The benefits are immediate. Not only does the technology reduce labor and chemical costs, but it also helps growers…
Todd Snider Takes the Helm at Kern County Farm Bureau, Calls for Smarter Water Policy and Farm Advocacy
…less — less land, less water, more cost — and yet we’re still feeding millions,” he said. “People have forgotten the labor, risk, and science it takes to grow food….
Pumpkin Power and Precision Tech: California Agriculture Shines on AgNet News Hour
…which can cut labor costs by up to 85% and reduce chemical use by 99% through AI-driven precision spraying. “We put molecules on target with the accuracy of a laser,”…
Bill Jones: Fixing California’s Water and Future
…get involved but remember: family comes first.” He noted that the lessons learned from farming—hard work, patience, and resilience—translate directly into effective political leadership. Immigration Reform and Labor Challenges Turning…