For labor-intensive crops with strict climate requirements, the help of robotics and sensors have made farming more efficient and accurate. From auto-potting machines that boost business efficiency to sensors that regulate humidity and temperature, smart-farming technologies have granted tremendous value to the modern-day farmer, and the agricultural tech wave has only just begun.
For cannabis farmers, perhaps the most crucial factor for our success is the climate we choose to cultivate in. While selecting correct cultivars for our specific area is important, understanding the ebb and flow of the environment is just as crucial. In our climate-controlled greenhouse, an iGrow panel can be found. This handy-dandy sensor regulates our humidity inside the confined space, ensuring the plants aren't exposed to an environment that provokes mold growth. It also regulates the temperature, making the drastic nighttime swing to lower temps a thing of the past for our Anderson Valley greenhouse location. When it's too hot, the vents can crack, allowing fresh air to flow inside and rustle the plants' leaves. The iGrow panel also controls the light exposure by pulling back shade curtains and other equipment that ables us to utilize the most sunlight possible during the plants' vegetative state, and gives us the control to alter the sun's exposure when we want to manipulate the cannabis plant's natural flower schedule. This plug-and-play technology makes it easier for any farmer to dial in the specifics, matching their plants' ultimate desires. This data is also stored so it can be compared and altered for future cultivate cycles.
When we're outside in our cold-frame greenhouses, weather forecast technologies are an absolute must. Local weather forecasts are too general for most cannabis farmers; we need to be aware of any changes in the climate so that we can take steps to counteract those that will hinder our yields. On-farm weather stations record and report real-time conditions, helping us fine-tune our methods to match our local micro-climates. There are even companies, such as aWhere and AerisWeather, that craft customized hyper-local forecasts. As these technologies continue to improve, the awareness increases, sometimes giving us a full few days to properly prepare.
While a close, personal relationship with our climate is a huge factor in our success as cannabis cultivators, some technologies can also boost efficiency around the farm, such as auto-potting machines. These types of robotics take much of the busy labor out of the equation, allowing the cultivation team to focus on quality methods and yield-increasing procedures. These auto-potters are often coupled with conveyor belts, making it effortless to transplant clones into their new homes and saving teams hours of labor.
The future of agriculture robotics is just taking off, and it's headed to a land of extreme efficiency and time-saving SOPs. The integration of these smart-farming technologies will give the farmer the time they need to focus on the integral parts of their operation, allotting the time they need to refine their business to a more profitable one. Depending on the farm, these new technologies are even being used to support sustainability, like with smart-sprayers that cut down the necessary pesticides applied to orchards or irrigation systems that recycle and filter the run-off. Agriculture is moving to a land of precision, and it's a journey that can lead to positive change when used responsibly.
As a buyer, we understand your desire to source sustainably and responsibly. At Giving Tree Farms, we take the additional steps necessary to meet those standards. Check out our Simply Clean Certification, or reach out to us for more information.
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