Emerging tech draws big interest at Ag Summit
YUMA — Focusing on the most intriguing new technologies emerging in the agricultural industry, the 2018 Southwest Ag Summit kicked off earlier this week.
The three-day event is filled with workshops, lectures, demonstration and presentation regarding the latest and best practices in the agricultural industry, with Thursday being its busiest day.
Among the morning sessions that gathered the interest of those in attendance was the discussion of automated and robotic technologies in agriculture.
During his presentation, Mark Siemens, University of Arizona Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering associate professor, played a series of clips of some of the emerging prototypes of excavators and other machinery that are designed to remove weeds from the soil automatically.
Pratap Devkota who is a weed science advisor for the University of California, Cooperative Extension-Imperial County, said he was interested in the subject due to its relation to his field of study and attended the sessions that focused on the technology and research related to weed control.
The different types of equipment Siemens discussed in the session included automated tractors that are powered by solar panels, automated midsize robots, which removed weeds growing in between crops and some robot prototypes that can also be used to strategically apply herbicides.
Some of the new machinery discussed Thursday use GPS to navigate a field. The camera recognition is capable of distinguishing from crop and weeds, in order to remove weeds — some of the prototypes can be managed via smartphone.
Devkota noted he has seen some of this new technology already being implemented in the Central Valley and more recently in Yuma, while a lot of it remains to be introduced in the Imperial Valley.
“Imperial Valley is a large agricultural area with a lot of growers who can afford this technology, but somehow the technology hasn’t been introduced there yet,” Devkota said. “When I’ve talked to them, they’ve been very interested in those technologies. I’ve seen some organic growers who use some cultivators for weed control, but not this type of robotic or automated equipment.”
He added that although the technology isn’t in the Valley yet, there is a strong interest in investing in some of the new technology by some of the local growers and by being in attendance can get a better understanding on the type of the equipment that could provide the most benefit to the local farmers.
“Growers are willing (to invest in this technology),” Devkota said. “I’d like to continue working with them in this area, and hopefully I can help them bring some of these tools and technologies (to the Imperial Valley).”
Siemens said the technology in the industry is experiencing constant changes, which for him is a thrill to be a part of.
“Every time you get an email it’s about something new,” Siemens said at the conclusion of his presentation. “It’s an exciting time. You’re going to see more changes as vehicles get smarter and these machines get capable of treating different crops and soils accordingly.”
Other topics covered related to crop and water management, food safety, regulations and best practices in soil management.
In addition to the workshops and lectures offered during the summit, a vast array of exhibitors will also showcase their products, equipment, and expertise for the attendees.
Yuma grower Nick Richardson, who works mostly with onions, said he was interested in learning more about practices for removing salt from the soil as well as learn as much as possible about new technology and products available.
“I’ve had a great day, I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “I like coming to the summit; there is always a couple of good sessions on the latest in the industry. I also like checking some of the new products being showcased.”