Get a Sharp Look at Precision Ag Use Trends in Fruit
There is no single description of a “precision grower” in commercial fruit production, writes James Sulecki at Growing Produce. Crops, geographies, technologies, farm size … all are far too variable. However, we can say with some certainty that the most common characteristics of a fruit grower engaged in precision agriculture are these:
- You’re aged 25 to 39.
- You produce grapes.
- You farm in California.
- Your operation has 2,500 or more acres in production.
- Your operation generates annual sales of at least $10 million.
- You use some combination of weather stations, mobile apps, and irrigation sensors.
This composite profile is based on data from American Fruit Grower and Western Fruit Grower magazine’s 2020 State of the Industry survey.
Overall, 329 fruit growers and grower-packers responded to the question, “Do you use precision agriculture tools on your farm?” Just under 56% said they do indeed. This is a good bit lower than the 68% affirmative response we received a year ago, though that data was drawn from a different pool of random respondents.
Continue reading at Growing Produce.