Proof of a new agricultural revolution was on full display during a recent agricultural technology field day in Coalinga, California, in that state’s Central Valley. The event — co-hosted by Emergent Connext, a Verdelis Investments portfolio company, and Cal.net — drew farmers from across one of the most productive agricultural regions in the U.S. to demonstrate how they can glean real-time production data insights to boost efficiency in even their most remote fields, orchards, and vineyards.
Use of soil- and plant-health sensors and devices that offer real-time data is changing the way crops are grown in the Central Valley and throughout the U.S. at revolutionary speed. And thanks to a collaboration between Emergent Connext and Cal.net, sensors are now accompanied by actionable insights which enable growers to make more informed decisions on their acres.
Terranova Ranch, a leading grower in Helm, California, has deployed Emergent Connext’s and Cal.net’s irrigation automation solution as a precision irrigation solution to improve crop yields while conserving water and has saved between 10% and 30% of its water as a result. Don Cameron, Terranova’s Vice President and General Manager, said his farm’s 2024 tomato crop suffered from one of the hottest Julys on record. “By finetuning the system, we can irrigate when we need to and apply small amounts to hot areas in the field,” Cameron said. “This gives us the flexibility to optimize water use while maintaning productivity.”
Joy Sterling, CEO of Iron Horse Vineyards in Sebastopol, California, highlighted how Internet of Things (IoT) technology is improving water management even with the challenges presented by remote, hilly vineyard terrain. By connecting her sensors to the Emergent IoT network, she will be able to monitor and regulate irrigation in various sections of the vineyard. This will lead to improved wine quality by achieving a level of precision that helps the vineyard to optimize the balance between canopy growth and fruit quality.
With progressive technology providers such as Emergent Connext innovative growers like Cameron and Sterling, American agriculture truly is entering a new digital age.