Kansas, USA: Robots developed to take on a labor-intensive process — cutting weeds down

These robots provide a high-tech solution to an age-old farming problem: how to get rid of weeds

Harvest Public Media | By Celia Hack

Published April 8, 2024 at 4:00 AM CDT

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GreenField robots at sunset.

Greenfield Robotics, a Kansas-based company, is hoping to move agriculture away from herbicides. They’ve developed robots to take on a labor-intensive process — cutting weeds down.

Three yellow, bug-like creatures crawl in perfectly straight lines across the dead grass of a flat, brown February field in Cheney, Kansas.

These are the namesake of GreenField Robotics. Two lights peer out from each side of the boxy machines, almost appearing like eyes. Blades whir at their base, about a half an inch from the ground – the perfect height to chop weeds, though there’s nothing to cut down on a frigid winter day.

They stick out in an otherwise rural landscape – and GreenField CEO Clint Brauer said he frequently hears from curious passersby.

“All the time,” Brauer said. “I’m always surprised, though, how little people notice.”

Brauer founded the company in 2018. The start-up has now grown large enough to attract investment from Chipotle’s $100 million venture capital fund and to secure partnerships with dog food and baking mix brands.

Brauer grew up on a family farm in Haven, Kansas, but moved to California after high school to work in the tech industry. In 2010, he returned home after his dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He attributes the use of herbicides to his dad’s diagnosis.

“The more I learned about farm chemicals and stuff … the more I thought there’s a decent chance that this came from that,” Brauer said.

GreenField Robotics CEO and Founder Clint Brauer with two robots in Cheney, Kansas.

The move sucked Brauer back into the world of agriculture, where he started seeking ways to eliminate herbicides. He tried farming organically, but it was too expensive to be accessible to many buyers.

Another option was no till farming, where farmers avoid turning over the dirt to reduce erosion and improve soil health. But it’s a method that leans on herbicides.

And in 2015, Brauer was starting to notice the weeds in his fields were becoming resistant to chemicals anyway.

“There was no good way to get rid of those weeds, even though we had sprayed many times,” Brauer said.

“So, what do we do? And so that was the beginning of this idea of – what if we just cut those weeds?”

Cutting weeds by hand wasn’t exactly a 21st-century answer. So Brauer thought: What about robots? He reached out to software and machine-vision experts and started prototyping robots.

By 2021, the company had manufactured a two-and-a-half foot-tall working robot. And it pulled together different technologies, like drones, to create extremely precise maps of crop fields. The robots follow the maps, so that they’re unlikely to accidentally chop down a crop instead of a weed.

“They plant the crop, we count about 10 days, normally, the crops emerge, and we fly over it with a drone,” Brauer said. “ … That’s where AI – we have machine vision that automatically recognizes everything that’s going on in that field.”

Thirty to 40 days later, Brauer sends out the robots.

GreenFields’ robots working a field.

In 2022, the company partnered with MKC, a major agricultural cooperative, to reach farmers who might use the product. In 2023, GreenField Robotics worked with 25 to 30 Kansas farmers, Brauer said. The company currently has a fleet of 20 robots and 15 employees

This summer, Brauer said the company is planning to work the weed-cutting robots on over 20,000 acres.

John Niemann is a farmer in Reno County. He tested GreenField Robotics for the first time last spring on 80 acres of a sorghum field, leaving 10 acres untouched to compare results. He had treated the entire crop with herbicides earlier in the season.

“We saw higher yields where we used the robots, versus the 10 acres that we did not,” Niemann said.

That’s because the weeds that didn’t get chopped down in the 10 acres competed with the crop for moisture, hampering the yield.

“The robots are part of a toolbox, is how I would look at them,” Niemann said. “There is no magic bullet in farming practices. You need to have a lot of tools in your toolbox.”

Niemann says the robots are a useful tool to reduce reliance on chemicals. Plus, he said the cost was comparable to herbicides.

Brauer said the economics is always his first pitch to farmers, and the robots are compelling because they damage less of the crop than chemicals do.

The company is also adapting the robots for other uses, like planting cover crops and soil testing.

“We are on a mission,” Brauer said. “This is not about enrichment. This is – we’re building something that can’t be undone. And so we’re going to eliminate these chemicals.”

This story was first aired and produced by KMUW. It’s being distributed by Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.

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Biopesticides to Lead the Charge in Sustainable Agriculture & Integrated Pest Management

Biopesticides to Lead the Charge in Sustainable Agriculture & Integrated Pest Management Globally

2024-03-19

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Guest Post By MarketsandMarkets .Agriculture2024-03-19

The growing awareness about the harmful effects of synthetic pesticides on human health and the environment has led to a rising demand for biopesticides.

Increasing awareness of the environmental and health concerns of synthetic pesticides is prompting farmers to seek more sustainable solutions. Biopesticides, derived from natural sources, offer a suitable alternative, promoting crop protection by fostering beneficial microorganisms in the soil while minimizing negative environmental impact.

Further, their integration into integrated pest management (IPM) strategies allows for targeted pest control, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices globally.

According to MarketsandMarkets, the biopesticides market is projected to reach USD 13.9 billion by 2028 from USD 6.7 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 15.9% during the forecast period in terms of value. Supported by the stringent regulations on synthetic pesticides and growing demand for organic food, biopesticide usage remained prominent in North America and Europe.

Technological advancements in biopesticide development, the growing organic food industry, and increasing awareness about sustainable practices are anticipated to further propel market growth in developing countries such as Brazil, Argentina, China, and India.

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Focus on sustainable agricultural practices to support biopesticides growth

The demand for organic and sustainably produced food is growing as consumers become more conscious of the environmental impact of conventional farming practices, driving the demand for crops grown using biopesticides. Governments worldwide are encouraging the use of biopesticides by implementing supportive regulatory frameworks.

It includes incentives, subsidies, and streamlined registration processes for biopesticide products. Registration of biopesticides in the US takes around 12 to 18 months compared to approximately 36 months for conventional pesticides.

The registration fees are also comparatively lower. Ongoing research & development efforts are expanding the range and efficacy of biopesticides as part of integrated pest management (IPM).

Companies such as Bayer AG, Syngenta, and Corteva Agrisciences are investing in innovative formulations to improve biopesticide products’ shelf life and efficiency.

Biopesticides for sustainable agriculture and Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Considered part of sustainable agriculture practices, biopesticides are derived from natural materials such as animals, microbes, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. The use of biopesticides is becoming more popular due to their safer and environmentally friendly nature compared to traditional pesticides.

This trend aligns with the global push for sustainable agriculture, where eco-friendly solutions are key to minimizing harm to the ecosystem. Biopesticides are an essential component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as they help to reduce chemical inputs, promoting a balanced and resilient agroecosystem.

Advancement in microbial research to support future growth of biopesticides

Extensive research undertaken by the major players in the crop protection industry has encouraged the effective use of biological signals to trigger RNAi-specific genes, which would help in disease and pest resistance and increase yield and quality. Bayer AG (Germany) is advancing in microbial and RNA interference (RNAi) technology, allowing farmers to adopt better alternatives for applying biological products.

Companies such as Greenlight Biosciences are focusing on the invention of RNAi-based biopesticides for biological crop protection. Monsanto Company (US) got approval from the EPA in 2017 for genetic engineering technology using RNA interference to kill insect pests.

Corteva Agriscience (US) also licensed two insect traits from Monsanto Company (US), which contained an RNAi rootworm trait. Regulated under biopesticides in the US, this technology is witnessing increased adoption in the industry, as it is a novel solution available for specific pest traits in specific crops.

Technological limitations for the use of biological products

Biological products have a short or limited shelf life and a high probability of contamination. One of the significant problems with agricultural inoculation technology is the survival of microorganisms during storage.

The other issues include exposure to sunlight, culture mediums, the physiological state of microorganisms when harvested, temperature maintenance during storage, and water activity of inoculants that have an influence on their shelf life. Compatibility with other agricultural products, such as chemical fungicides and herbicides, also poses problems with using microbial inoculants in the soil.

Some of the major technological constraints with the use of biological products include the following:

1. Use of improper and inefficient strains for production
2. Lack of experienced, skilled, and technical personnel
3. Unavailability of high-quality carrier materials or the use of different carrier materials by producers without ascertaining the quality of the material
4. Short shelf life due to the influence of various abiotic and biotic stress factors

Effectiveness of foliar application to drive the demand for biopesticides

Foliar mode of application has become increasingly popular in recent years as it allows for more targeted and efficient use of inputs. This application mode improves the effectiveness of biopesticide products through direct application to the leaves.

When applied directly to the grass plant leaves, these products can be absorbed more quickly and efficiently, allowing for faster results and better overall performance.

Use of microbial-based biopesticides to boost the market growth

Microbial-based biopesticides are highly specific in their action, targeting only the pests they are designed to control while leaving beneficial insects and organisms unharmed, hence integrating sustainable approaches to farming. Microbials, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, can act as natural enemies of pests by directly infecting and killing them or interfering with their life cycles and behavior.

This targeted approach helps preserve the ecological balance and reduces the risk of resistance development in pests. Additionally, microbial products have a lower environmental impact, as they degrade naturally without leaving harmful residues in the soil, water, or air.

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Growth opportunities in developing regions such as Asia Pacific and South America

According to FAOSTAT, China, India, Brazil, and Argentina have emerged as major consumers of pesticides. As the demand for food has risen in these regions, the use of pesticides has increased consequently to achieve higher crop yields.

However, pollution, soil contamination, and concerns about the harmful effects of chemical pesticides on the food chain have become significant issues in these areas. To address these concerns, governments are promoting the adoption of integrated pest management practices (IPM) and sustainable crop protection practices.

Developing regions such as the Asia Pacific are poised for strong growth due to the availability of biopesticide products, the extent of organic farming, farmers’ awareness, cultivation of high-value cash crops, and effective promotion and marketing of biopesticides.

In countries such as India, China, and Brazil, where farmers typically have smaller landholdings and face economic challenges, government agencies provide subsidies and implement favorable regulatory policies to support large-scale production and encourage the use of biopesticides. The biopesticide market in these regions presents opportunities for new entrants due to a relatively small number of producers and low entry barriers.

Biopesticides market ecosystem

Prominent companies operating in the market possess a diversified product portfolio, state-of-the-art technologies, and strong global sales and marketing networks. The key players in this include BASF SE (Germany), Bayer AG (Germany), Syngenta (Switzerland), UPL Limited (India), FMC Corporation (US), Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc.

(US), Novozymes (Denmark), Nufarm (Australia), Isagro S.p.A (Italy), Certis USA L.L.C. (US), Koppert (Netherlands), Biobest Group NV (Belgium), SOM Phytopharma (India) Limited (India), Valent BioSciences LLC (US), and STK Bio-Ag Technologies (Israel).

These players in this market are focusing on increasing their presence through agreements and collaborations. These companies have a strong presence in North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe.

They also have manufacturing facilities along with strong distribution networks across these regions.

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How to test crop biologicals on your farm

FP Next – Deep Dive: The coordinator of Nebraska’s On-Farm Research Network shares insights into studies on crop biologicals and their impact on your bottom line.

Curt Arens, Sarah McNaughton

March 1, 2024

6 Min Read

CHECK IT OUT: One of the best ways to decide which crop biologicals or nontraditional crop products work in your geographic area and cropping management system is to test them out in your own fields. CURT ARENS

At a Glance

• There are hundreds of biologicals, biostimulants and other nontraditional crop products on the market.
• A starting point in testing these products might be planting simple “with” and “without” test strips across a field.
• Planting test strips across a range of nitrogen rates, along with check strips, offer the most useful results.

It’s like the Wild West out there in the world of crop biologicals. There are hundreds of products, but many farmers don’t know where to start to decide which ones, if any, will boost their bottom line, improve crop health or reduce nutrient inputs.

There are many questions. How do I decide which biologicals will work on my farm? How do I know if they are worth the money? Where do I start to test in the field what works on our own farm?

The new Farm Progress podcast — FP Next — powered by John Deere, sets out to answer those questions by visiting with Laura Thompson, Nebraska’s On-Farm Research Network coordinator, in a Deep Dive episode (listen below). Listen to all episodes of FP Next.

Burning questions

Gleaned from the podcast, here are some of the questions Thompson answered, shedding light not only on biologicals and other nontraditional crop products, but also talking about how farmers can test the effectiveness of these products on their own farms.

What exactly are crop biologicals and biostimulants and why are they important? There are a lot of different products that we categorize as biologicals or biostimulants. In our on-farm research, a lot of times we look at these products as what we call more nontraditional products. These could be things like biologicals, biostimulants, as well as other things. But we’re looking at products here that have been derived from natural materials. These include beneficial microorganisms. These could be things like bacteria or fungi, but also products like seaweed extracts, amino acids, humic acids and organic compounds.

Regardless, the idea is to try to stimulate or interact with the plant and the soil to help promote growth, or it could be increasing nutrient uptake. There are a variety of reasons producers might be interested in utilizing these products. They have gained a lot of attention recently, and the reasons for that are there is interest in reducing chemical inputs, and an emphasis on soil health and how we can promote more sustainable farming practices.

These products are available for a wide variety of crops like corn, soybeans and dry edible beans, but also high-value crops and horticultural crops.

Tell us about some of your most recent studies relating to biologicals in the field. We’ve had product testing dating back many years. One of the benefits of doing that research through the On-Farm Research Network is that we have a nice repository of those studies available now. We have what is called our results finder database, where you can search and filter by different products and product names in different categories and look at how those products are performing for different people in different parts of the state, and in different production systems.

Studies that people are looking at include some commercial products like Pivot Bio and other products. A large variety of products have been tested over the years. And then some producers look at their own products as well, like homemade compost tea extracts, for instance.

Something that’s fun about our On-Farm Research Network is that it is really farmer-driven. We have such a huge variety of studies in our network because we have all the innovative and curious farmers across the area coming up with the different topics they are interested in, and we’re working with them on those studies.

These producers testing some of their own extract products are really interested in seeing how these impact (their operations) over the long term. That’s beneficial because we think about these products as being biologicals. We know that it takes time in a system to make a difference, for the system to adapt and change and to start to measure what the change might be in terms of synthetic fertilizer applications, herbicide applications and soil health.

Related:FP Next: The rise of tar spot, with Mindy Ward

Where do you start and how do you decide whether these products are paying off in the long run? Knowing we have such different conditions, soils, landscapes and management practices is why on-farm research is most beneficial for producers. It doesn’t have to be that complicated to test a product. But as you’re thinking about adopting a new product into your operation, it’s important that producers are getting data on how that product is performing. We all come with our bias.

If we purchased that product, we want to see how it works. If we’re just anecdotally looking to apply to the whole field and kind of going with a gut feeling, it’s natural to have a bias since we paid for a product. We want to see something, whether it is there or not.

Maybe do a test on a couple of fields first. Maybe this is the year you put in some check strips and collect the data for yourself. Maybe you will see that your gut feeling is correct, or maybe it is not what you thought.

How can producers evaluate these products on nutrient uptake for instance in their own fields? A lot of these products are looking at things like providing nitrogen for the crop. Producers often set up trials that do some simple “with” and “without” product tests. That’s a great starting point.

With precision ag technology, we’re seeing producers looking at these products at a variable nitrogen rate, maybe applying a range of nitrogen rates, maybe ranging from 75 pounds to 200 pounds of N. Applying biological products across those rates and leaving a check across those rates as well helps us look at the impact.

One of the challenges producers faced in the first couple of years of testing these products was that they would do a test over a reduced nitrogen rate and maybe see no impact for that product. This can be discouraging. But we don’t know if that N rate they were testing was already in excess of the optimal rate. That’s why we’re trying to work with producers to test across a wider range of N rates to see what product impacts might be at the optimal N rate with and without the product. This gives us a chance to see where that product might fit.

Another benefit of doing this kind of variable-rate approach and putting it into a prescription like this is that we can test it with different geographies within the field. Maybe we have some silty clay loam, and maybe we have a sandy pocket in the field. We can see if we have any difference.

In some cases, we’re not seeing an impact with these products. But that’s the depth of the testing we need to do to verify if that is the case for each producer in each region of the field. If we are not seeing a positive response, then it is still important information to have going forward in making management decisions.

Read more about:Biologicals

About the Author(s)

Curt Arens

Editor, Nebraska Farmer

Curt Arens began writing about Nebraska’s farm families when he was in high school. Before joining Farm Progress as a field editor in April 2010, he had worked as a freelance farm writer for 27 years, first for newspapers and then for farm magazines, including Nebraska Farmer.

His real full-time career, however, during that same period was farming his family’s fourth generation land in northeast Nebraska. He also operated his Christmas tree farm and grew black oil sunflowers for wild birdseed. Curt continues to raise corn, soybeans and alfalfa and runs a cow-calf herd.

Curt and his wife Donna have four children, Lauren, Taylor, Zachary and Benjamin. They are active in their church and St. Rose School in Crofton, where Donna teaches and their children attend classes.

Previously, the 1986 University of Nebraska animal science graduate wrote a weekly rural life column, developed a farm radio program and wrote books about farm direct marketing and farmers markets. He received media honors from the Nebraska Forest Service, Center for Rural Affairs and Northeast Nebraska Experimental Farm Association.

He wrote about the spiritual side of farming in his 2008 book, “Down to Earth: Celebrating a Blessed Life on the Land,” garnering a Catholic Press Association award.

Sarah McNaughton

Editor, Dakota Farmer, Farm Progress

Sarah McNaughton of Bismarck, N.D., has been editor of Dakota Farmer since 2021. Before working at Farm Progress, she was an NDSU 4-H Extension agent in Cass County, N.D. Prior to that, she was a farm and ranch reporter at KFGO Radio in Fargo.

McNaughton is a graduate of North Dakota State University, with a bachelor’s degree in ag communications and a master’s in Extension education and youth development.

She is involved in agriculture in both her professional and personal life, as a member of North Dakota Agri-Women, Agriculture Communicators Network Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority Alumni and Professional Women in Agri-business. As a life-long 4-H’er, she is a regular volunteer for North Dakota 4-H programs and events.

In her free time, she is an avid backpacker and hiker, and can be found most summer weekends at rodeos around the Midwest.

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Bees for biocontrol to combat the Botrytis cinerea pathogen

Bees and Biocontrol: A Leap Towards Sustainable Agriculture

In an innovative approach to agriculture, Agrobío SL is trialing a natural precision agriculture system that uses bees for biocontrol to combat the Botrytis cinerea pathogen. This method promises a leap towards sustainable farming by reducing chemical pesticides, increasing crop yield, and protecting the environment.

Safak Costu

 15 Feb 2024 08:52 EST

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Bees and Biocontrol: A Leap Towards Sustainable Agriculture

In a groundbreaking approach to agriculture and pest control, Agrobío SL, a pioneering entity in the field of sustainable agriculture, has embarked on a trial that could mark a significant shift in how crops are protected and nurtured. This initiative, launched in December, leverages the innovative Natural Precision Agriculture System developed by Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. (BVT), aiming to tackle the pervasive threat of Botrytis cinerea, commonly known as gray mold. This pathogen, notorious for affecting over 1000 plant species, poses a substantial challenge to crop productivity and sustainability worldwide.

The Dawn of a New Era in Crop Protection

The collaboration is part of Agrobío’s contribution to the ADOPT-IPM project, an undertaking funded by the European Union, designed to refine and enhance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. By integrating BVT’s natural precision agriculture system into their greenhouse tomato crops in Spain, Agrobío is not just combating a prevalent plant disease but is also pioneering a shift towards more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly farming practices. The eight to ten-month trial will critically assess the system’s effectiveness in managing Botrytis compared to traditional chemical-based spray programs, promising a potential paradigm shift in agricultural pest management.

A Symbiotic Solution Harnessing Nature’s Ingenuity

At the heart of BVT’s system is a remarkably innovative method of delivering biological pesticide alternatives directly to crops, utilizing commercially grown bees. This eco-friendly approach not only aims to reduce the reliance on chemical pesticides but also seeks to enhance crop yield and protect the ecosystem. By exploiting the natural behavior of bees, the system ensures precise and targeted delivery of natural pest control agents, minimizing waste and maximizing effectiveness. This method presents a win-win scenario, safeguarding both plant health and the surrounding environment, thereby supporting the broader goals of sustainability and ecological balance.

Implications for the Future of Agriculture

The trial by Agrobío not only signifies a critical step forward in the fight against plant pathogens like Botrytis cinerea but also embodies the broader movement towards natural precision agriculture. As the results of this trial are eagerly awaited, the implications for agricultural practices are profound. Success could herald a new age of farming where efficiency, sustainability, and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive but are instead seamlessly integrated into a holistic approach to crop management and protection. Moreover, the adoption of such innovative solutions underscores the potential for technology and nature to work in harmony, offering promising avenues for addressing some of the most pressing challenges in contemporary agriculture.

As Agrobío SL and Bee Vectoring Technologies International Inc. navigate through this trailblazing trial, the eyes of the world are on them, anticipating the outcomes that might not just revolutionize the way we protect our crops but also how we envisage the future of farming. With a focus on harmony with nature, efficiency, and sustainability, this venture into using bees for biocontrol represents not just a step but a leap towards a future where agriculture works hand in hand with nature, for a healthier planet and a more sustainable tomorrow.

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