Stop No. 1 on the Florida Grower Precision Ag Bus Tour was at Astin Farms in Plant City. A look around the facility illustrated how the company is utilizing a digital platform for advanced recordkeeping to improve food safety and traceability. We learned that proper data management can be used to create daily food safety audits, which allows the farm to be even better prepared for real audits.
Photo by Frank Giles

Dwight Rainwater (left) showed how JayMar Produce near Duette, FL, is using weather stations and soil moisture monitoring to improve irrigation and fertigation.
Photo by Frank Giles

Sunny skies and warm temperatures welcomed Florida Grower Precision Ag bus tour attendees and hosts.

Photo by Frank Giles

Harvest CROO Robotics is building a strawberry harvesting robot near Duette, FL. Scott Jantz provided a rundown of the machine's specs.
Photo by Frank Giles

The automated strawberry picker from Harvest CROO Robotics is designed for labor efficiency and can replace 30 human workers.
Photo by Frank Giles

Alan Jones showed how Jones Potato Farm is using intensive soil and tissue sampling to reduce fertilizer inputs with precision applications on his farm in Parrish. Jones has been recognized for his conservation practices with numerous awards, including the American Vegetable Grower Grower Achievement Award.
Photo by Frank Giles

Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis, an Assistant Professor of agricultural and biological engineering with UF/IFAS, demonstrated a drone and a smart vision herbicide applicator that only targets weeds.
Photo by Frank Giles

This drone, equipped with a smart vision herbicide applicator, could reduce herbicide usage by 90%.
Photo by Frank Giles