Feature story TECH’S ROLE IN FEEDING THE WORLD By Julia Nellis, Social Media Manager
Lately, conversations are dominated by the latest gadgets and cutting-edge tech trends. Questions like, ‘Did you get the new iPhone?’ or ‘When are you getting an EV?’ have become standard in our daily conversations. While these innovations undeniably shape our modern world, we rarely turn our attention to the technological breakthroughs that sustain us – figuratively and literally. The technological advancements that revolutionize how we grow and harvest the food that nourishes society often go unnoticed. For centuries, farmers and agricultural pioneers have relentlessly pushed the boundaries of progress in pest control and harvest technology. In the 1600s, early farmers relied on methods like tobacco infusions, herbs and arsenic to combat pests. By the 1800s, the arrival of the Colorado potato beetle spurred the development of more sophisticated pest control solutions, leading to the creation of Paris Green, a mixture of arsenic and copper sulfate. These early growers laid the foundation for what would eventually become the field of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which did not see widespread momentum until the 1970s and 1980s. Meanwhile, the introduction of horse-powered combines in the Pacific Coast wheat fields in the late 1800s revolutionized the harvesting process, paving the way for gas- powered tractors two decades later. John Deere has become a major player in the ag tech space, particularly within high-value crop (HVC) industries that have yet to experience a full technological revolution. In partnership with GUSS, a leader in HVC autonomy with over 40 years of commercial spraying expertise, John Deere is bringing
autonomous solutions to growers worldwide. GUSS sprayers operate fully autonomously and are under constant supervision, reducing the need for multiple tractor operators and support personnel during spray jobs. This innovative technology enables growers to optimize labor management, upskill their employees and improve overall worker safety. GUSS technology allows operators who are adept at tractor driving to develop skills of field mapping, configuring sprayers for specific tasks and assigning routes to the machine. Having sprayed over 2.2 million acres, GUSS has firmly established itself as a global leader in agricultural autonomy. John Deere complements this with its rigorous engineering and testing processes, ensuring that their partnership continually improves and redefines the ag tech space. Growers using the John Deere and GUSS partnership to their advantage report promising outcomes, including a 98 percent retention rate and a 65 percent re-order rate. Looking ahead, John Deere envisions a future where data- driven precision spraying will further enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability in agriculture. With grower margins perpetually under pressure, precision technology and automation provide growers with the tools to control costs without compromising on yield or quality. This technology streamlines the entire process, ensuring no missed or double rows and eliminating human error from the equation. “GUSS sprayers are fully autonomous, and while under constant supervision, alleviate the need to have dozens of tractor operators and support personnel in the orchard while the spray
20 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com November | December 2024
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