By Gwen Hoheisel, Regional Extension Specialist in tree fruit, grape and berry, WSU
This talk will discuss the current and future trends in application technology and farming. Precision agriculture is common in many commodities but precision application or spraying is not common. Application practices globally are on a continuum of remedial methods to extremely innovative. We must be aware of where we are on the spectrum and what improvements we can make by adopting smart technologies. Specific items to discuss are rate controllers, automatic weed identification, and precision sprayers. As markets and regulations change and chemicals become more selective, we will need to adopt these advances to stay relevant and viable.