Every day, Farmers are being asked to do more with less, and to do it faster, safer, with fewer people, and for less money. If you look at these problems altogether, they can seem insurmountable – but there is hope! Innovation thrives during times of adversity. As a society, we do our best work when our backs are up against the wall, and this is no exception. As the challenges facing farmers increase, so does the number of new technologies being created to combat them. This month, I would like to shine a light on three very different companies creating game-changing technology to meet these challenges head-on.

GUSS – The Batmobile of Agriculture

The Global Unmanned Spray System or GUSS is the world’s first autonomous orchard sprayer. GUSS is Dave Crinklaw’s answer to the Agriculture labor shortage. The vehicle is piloted by a single operator and a control van which receives a constant transmission of position data, machine vitals, and live video.

Okay, so it’s cool, but how does it help Growers?

GUSS is one of the most efficient technologies to hit the market in the last decade. This single piece of equipment can spray row after row and field after field at a rate unmatched by any example of operated equipment. It also minimizes downtime – you never see Batman waiting around for the batmobile to get off its lunch break. The result? Farmers have more time to spend on the thousand other things they have to do in any given day.

Cool Features:

• GUSS protects the environment. GUSS sprays in a precise manner and eliminates the risk of over application or products being applied in the wrong area.
• Safety is a top priority.  GUSS uses a laser (yes, an actual laser) to immediately stop the vehicle when it senses a person or object in front of it. Just in case the laser (yes, an actual laser) doesn’t work, GUSS will shut down if anything triggers its touch-sensitive bumper.

Quantix & Aerovironment – Military Tech for Farms

Customer Expectations are changing, and agriculture is changing with it. When it comes to farming – guesswork is no longer good enough. When you are ready to proceed with certainty – proceed with Quantix.

AeroVironment is primarily known for building military aircraft systems, but in 2016, they launched a precision agriculture system featuring the innovative Quantix drone and Decision Support System.

Quantix is a fully automated drone with two high-resolution cameras, vertical liftoff, a 400-acre range, and an easy one-touch operating system. The one-touch operating system truly sets Quantix apart from other precision agriculture drones, because it makes the drone easy for anyone to use.

“ Quantix is designed to be the first practical commercial drone combining the advantages of vertical liftoff, for safe launch and soft landing, and horizontal flight to acquire data quickly and easily.  It also includes “land now” and “return home” command safety features for complete control.”

Okay, so it’s cool, but how does it help Growers?

• Track in-field growth throughout the season – Measure crop growth throughout the growing season and analyze historical data to identify trends and potential problem areas.
•  Identify crop stress the human eye can’t see – Inspect and quantify plant stress areas that require immediate attention and take action before it is too late.
• Analyze canopy coverage – Gather information that can estimate operational costs and crop yields.
• Scout up to 400 acres in 45 minutes – Quantix gives farmers a view of their field with 100% coverage and zoom capability into any area of interest.

Agworld – Farm Management Just Got Easier

Running a farm is no easy task — paperwork, budgeting, record keeping, equipment maintenance, property management, crop health, managing sales — it all adds up. The result, more often than not, is incomplete, inaccurate, or frustrating.  AgWorld is on a mission to change that.

Okay, so it’s cool, but how does it help Growers?

• Interactive maps help Growers view their farm quickly. They can add notes to specific areas, highlight locations that are under maintenance, see activities, or even make notes that apply to individual crops or seasons.
• All your data is at your fingertips thanks to the Agworld app. Growers can access and record data while in the field — even without internet coverage.
• Kiss the spreadsheets goodbye – Agworld helps you prepare for season by creating robust budgets, jobs lists, plans and forecasts to help you calculate your pre-pay costs and cash flow for the season

The Takeaway

Agriculture is living through an age of innovation. These three companies are just a small sample of the ag tech industry, but represent the future of our agriculture — and that future is bright.

Did I forget someone? Many companies are doing cool things in our industry — if there is one you think we should know about, send me an email!