Specialty crop growers can expect robots to do their harvesting in the next 10 years

Robots have made their way to farm fields in masses over the last decade, and that growth is expected to continue.

One ag robotics pro says specialty crop growers stand the most to gain.

“Yes. It saves on labor, but this thing is a big expense and the fragility of the equipment, all those things are not yet there. But I’m going to make a prediction that in specialty crops within 10 years, more than half of specialty crops, harvesting will be done by robots. It’s coming, and it’s coming strong. I can see that from our relationships with our customers, and from our experience with our partners, it’s coming,” said Mark DeSantis.

DeSantis tells aginfo.net that this kind of technology is not just for smaller operations. He believes industrial growers will also be on board.

Related Stories
Chad Fiechter joins us to discuss Purdue’s precision ag study, challenges in capturing value from technology, and what farmers should consider when investing in and adopting these tools.
Authorities say the drones were recovered during a routine inspection after being stolen last month.
The Purdue student team joins us to discuss how they developed Soy-Seal, their innovative soybean-based adhesive tape, and its potential ag impact.
EPA’s approval gives citrus growers a new disease-fighting tool against greening at a time when production losses remain severe.
New treatments offer hope, but challenges remain for beekeepers.
NAAA’s Andrew Moore joins us to discuss the role of ag aircraft in crop protection and emerging concerns surrounding stolen agricultural drones.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

UT Extension also offers tips to help consumers stretch their grocery budgets, including meal planning, sticking to a shopping list, and choosing store or generic brands.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar has four years remaining in her Senate term and could decide to continue serving in that role while campaigning for Governor of Minnesota.
STRAUSS CEO Henning Strauss joined us with a preview of “Meet Strauss: The Tool You Wear,” premiering live tonight at 7:30 ET — only on RFD Network and RFD+
FarmHER Chris Nellis and her daughters navigate loss while carrying on a 300-year farm legacy, milking cows in upstate New York.
USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg joined us with a recap of the Malaysia trade mission and a look at USDA’s broader trade strategy moving forward.
Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition shares how extreme winter weather is affecting the ag transportation network and what producers should keep in mind as conditions slowly improve.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.