What would have been seen as science fiction a decade ago is quickly becoming reality. In December, autonomous trucking startup TuSimple completed a truck run on the open road without a human in the vehicle. The 80-mile trip on surface roads and highways in Arizona between a rail yard in Tucson and a distribution center in Phoenix was completed successfully. According to …
Deere Introduces First Fully Autonomous Tractor
Deere and Company helped mechanize agriculture with the first commercially successful steel plow in 1837. They recently went in a different direction by unveiling another transformative machine: a fully autonomous john deere tractor. Wired says the new 8R tractor uses six pairs of cameras and advanced artificial intelligence to navigate its environment. It can find its way to a field …
How to Own Your Data and Profit From It
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, data derived from farms might be more valuable than the crops growers produce. That’s because farmers can make money from their information when companies use it for other purposes, says a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist. The key for producers is to take ownership of their information. …
Lasers May Be the Future of Weed Control
Carbon Robotics is working on what may be the future of weed control in agriculture. They’re building a rectangular vehicle a little smaller than a compact sedan, which rolls across farmland. While it’s moving, the vehicle shoots concentrated bursts of infrared light into the rows. Observers hear audible crackles and get the distinct smell of burning vegetation as weeds smolder …
USDA-NRCS Providing Technical and Financial Assistance
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) invites agricultural producers and private landowners to learn more about the various programs they offer. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby says through many of the programs they offer both technical and financial assistance. And NRCS accepts applications for its conservation programs year-round. To learn more, contact your local USDA Service Center, or go to the NRCS website. Sponsored …
CNH Industrial Announces agreement with Electric Tractor Company
CNH Industrial announced last week an agreement with Monarch tractor, a U.S.-based company specializing in electric autonomous tractors. The license agreement foresees the launch of a scalable, modular electrification platform focusing on low horsepower tractors. The tractors will be developed across multiple product families in the coming years, using a process that continuously gathers farmers’ input to meet customer needs. …
Thieves Coming After Precision Ag Equipment
Farmers need to keep an eye on their precision ag equipment, such as auto-guidance monitors and antennas. An ag store in central Illinois was set to send some equipment for field demonstrations at the 2021 Farm Progress show when a representative showed up to take the tractor there and couldn’t find the auto guidance monitor and antenna. Staff had calibrated …
USDA Made Funds Available for High-Speed Internet in Rural Areas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant expansion of access to high-speed internet, making $1.15 billion available to help people in rural communities across the country get access to high-speed internet through the ReConnect Program. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says this new upcoming round of ReConnect funding will include 100% grants in certain cases. Vilsack talked about the importance of bringing …
Technologies for Improved Nutrient Analysis
Nutrient management is important for citrus production. Regular nutrient assessments should be conducted to optimize nutrient balance and prevent deficiencies or over-fertilization. Optimizing nutrition is important for tree health and can improve tolerance to stresses and diseases. Good nutrient management requires regular field monitoring to identify problems and examine crop responses. Leaves need to be collected and sent to a …
Safety Tips for Flying Drones Offered by UF/IFAS Researchers
Some people view drones as toys, but they can be dangerous. In fact, about 1,000 people per year are injured from using drones incorrectly. To address the potential peril, two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are offering ways to keep people from getting hurt while using drones. For legal advice on personal injury related to …