How Gardner Family Farms Gains Ground With Ag Technology
July 29, 2024 
More than a third of respondents use ag technology to make their lives easier in 2024, American Vegetable Grower’s latest State of the Industry survey tells us. To gain a little insight, we spoke with one grower within that 38% to learn how he is successfully incorporating ag tech on his farm.
Meet Kevin Gardner, Gardner Family Farms
“You can go technology poor, so we’re fairly simple around here with our ag tech,” says Kevin Gardner, Owner of Gardner Family Farms in Macclesfield, NC. “Some tech will never pay for itself,” he says. “I know the technology I have now is working. I can tell from one year to the next by the yield.”
Kevin Gardner, Owner of Gardner Family Farms, and his wife Victoria with their two sons, Korben (left) and Kasen (right).
Photo courtesy of Gardner Family Farms
Gardner uses GPS guidance systems, yield monitoring/mapping, and automation/robotics for seeding, planting, and transplanting. But his favorite piece of ag tech?
“Hands down, it’s Climate FieldView,” Gardner says. “It does all my record keeping and yield monitoring.”
Gardner uses this tech to monitor and measure his inputs and visualize critical field data. He also relies on John Deere’s auto steer technology, GreenStar, for swath control and increased efficiency when laying down his seed and applying inputs.
“With GreenStar in control, all I need to do is sit in the cab and watch the GPS go to work,” Gardner says. “I never have to worry about overlap; the rows are mapped perfectly every time. Seed is expensive, and our crops aren’t all in long rows. The swath control accommodates for the difference in field shapes. John Deere’s auto steer combined with swath control pays for itself and has made my operation much more efficient.”
Combines at Gardner Family Farms running on John Deere Greenstar and Climate FieldView technologies.
Photo courtesy of Gardner Family Farms
About the Family Farm
Gardner Family Farms sells to local grocers and through community-supported agriculture (CSA). In addition, his peppers go to a wholesaler and to Mt. Olive Pickles for processing. You’ll also find his cucumbers in Mt. Olive Pickles’ products.
Gardner operates his CSA a little differently, tough. They don’t ship their produce, but if you place an order, they are happy to box up their fresh veggies for you to pick up at their farm.
During our chat, Gardner’s sons, Kasen, age eight, and Korben, age four, periodically climbed up into the cab to ask their dad various questions. Life on a farm! So, when asked if these two are the next generation of farming, Gardner replied, “I sure hope so. It would be nice if it’s still here for them.”
Drones/UAVs Are on the Rise
This year’s State of the Vegetable Industry survey uncovered that your use of drones and UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) has increased nearly 50% from last year. We anticipated that drone use was on the rise, so this year, we separated a previously single drone/UAV category into two: spraying; and imaging, scouting, and crop protection.
If you are using drones or UAVs, we would like to share with other farmers how they are helping your farm business. To share your story, please connect with Dianne Munson, Senior Editor, at [email protected].
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