Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience consistedof perennial crop stakeholders including growers of tree fruits, nuts, grapes, berries, and hops; agricultural workers; crop consultants; equipment manufacturers; and policymakers. The survey captured 280 respondents (260 valid) from 20 states across 7 USDA regions, with 205 perennial crop farmers and 55 industry personnel. Respondents were highly educated (78% with 4-yeardegrees, as well as some graduate experience or other higher education), experienced (median 24+ years in farming), and represented diverse operations from small family farms to large commercial enterprises. Income distribution ranged from under $150K (44%) to over $5M (10%), annually. Primary crops included grapes/vines, tree fruits, and bushberries. Geographic concentration was highest in New York, New Jersey, and Washington, with age distribution spanning 25-64 years, primarily. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided multiple opportunities for training and professional development. Graduate students actively participated in team meetings, gaining first-hand experience in engagement with growers, industry personnel, and extension professionals. A graduate student at Iowa State University is preparing a peer-reviewed manuscript describing the survey results, furthering their scholarly development and contributing to the scientific literature. All team members benefited from attending FIRA USA, where they gained exposure to cutting-edge robotic and autonomous technologies for weed management. In addition, participants developed a greater understanding of survey design, administration, and analysis through direct collaboration with the two sociologists on the team, strengthening their capacity to integrate social science approaches into agricultural research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Findings from the survey are being prepared as a peer-reviewed manuscript for submission to Pest Management Science. Results show that less than half of growers are satisfied with current weed management practices, with major concerns centering on crop quality impacts and herbicide resistance. Stakeholders expressed strong interest in autonomous and electric weeding technologies, though awareness of these tools remains limited. Adoption is driven by efficiency, crop health, and herbicide resistance management but constrained by concerns over cost, reliability, and return on investment. Demographic factors, particularly income and age, also shape adoption willingness. Trust in extension remains high, with face-to-face communication preferred for learning about new technologies. Future adoption is likely to be influenced by regulatory changes, stronger company support, and extension engagement. Stakeholders who provided letters of support will receive concise 1-2 page summaries of the results to share with their colleagues and constituents; they will also receive copies of the manuscript once it is accepted for publication. Team members will also share results with extension partners, with growers, and with professional weed science colleagues at regional and national meetings (i.e., NCWSS, NEWSS, WSWS, CWSS, SWSS, WSSA). What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Based on the survey results and stated goals, our team will develop a comprehensive SCRI SREP proposal that directly addresses the key findings and barriers identified in our research through an integrated approach combining technology validation, economic analysis, and targeted outreach strategies. The research component will prioritize validation of new technologies through extensive field trials focusing on autonomous equipment and electric weeders, which emerged as areas of greatest interest among stakeholders. These trials will emphasize crop-specific scaling for grapes/vines, tree fruits, and bushberries, while documenting field performance, reliability, and operational efficiency; these are factors identified as central to adoption. To address persistent concerns about cost and return on investment, our proposal will also include comprehensive economic analysis and ROI modeling. Financing models will be tailored to different types of farm operations and income levels, while quantifying labor and time savings that stakeholders highlighted as critical benefits. Technology adaptation research will focus on engineering crop-specific modifications for different perennial systems and on developing user-friendly interfaces that address concerns about ease of use. Integration protocols for existing farm operations will be created to ensure that new tools fit seamlessly into diverse production systems. Outreach and extension efforts will prioritize in-person demonstrations and regionally tailored approaches, recognizing the distinct concerns and priorities of different grower groups. Age-appropriate engagement strategies will be designed to meet the needs of younger producers who are early adopters of advanced technologies as well as those of more established growers who may be slower to adopt. Support system development will be a core component of the proposal. Partnerships with technology companies will be pursued to ensure ongoing service and technical support, while university extension capacity will be expanded to provide trusted, research-based guidance on novel technologies. Training programs will be developed for crop consultants and agricultural workers to ensure the knowledge transfer needed for successful adoption. Engagement will leverage industry partnerships initiated through FIRA USA connections and include targeted collaborations with organic producers and with grape and vine growers, both of whom highlighted specific needs during our stakeholder engagement. The policy integration element of the proposal will anticipate potential regulatory changes limiting herbicide use and will proactively work with policymakers on strategies to encourage adoption, including incentive programs. Safety and environmental concerns raised by stakeholders will be incorporated into both research and outreach activities. Expected outcomes include improved operational efficiency, enhanced crop quality and health, reduced labor costs, and decreased reliance on herbicides. Long-term goals focus on increasing technology adoption across farm types and income levels, reducing herbicide resistance through diversified weed control approaches, and strengthening the overall competitiveness of U.S. perennial crop operations. Critical research questions will include how novel technologies can be scaled and customized for different crop systems, what financing models best support adoption, how to overcome reliability concerns while maintaining cost-effectiveness, what training and support systems optimize integration, and how to measure and demonstrate clear return on investment to skeptical growers. Our comprehensive approach emphasizes a transdisciplinary methodology that integrates weed science, rural sociology, agricultural engineering, and economics to ensure solutions address both technical requirements and the socioeconomic barriers to adoption identified in our survey research.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We assembled a transdisciplinary team that convened at the FIRA (Farming Innovations and Robotics Showcase) USA event, held in Woodland, CA, October 22-24, 2024. FIRA USA isthe leading exposition in North America for autonomous farming and agricultural robotics. While at FIRA USA, project members met with representatives from the agricultural robotics industry, growers, and other stakeholders to understand their perspectives, priorities, and concerns regarding robotic weed management technologies. The team also met independently to review the literature on robotics in agriculture, with particular attention to perennial crop production and findings from the Co-I's research programs. Building on these discussions, the team designed and implemented a survey tool to capture stakeholder familiarity with and interest in novel weed control technologies. The survey was distributed at major regional and national grower meetings across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, Southeast, Pacific Northwest, and California. These venues included multi-commodity fruit and vegetable conventions as well as crop-specific meetings for blueberry and cranberry researchers, extension personnel, and growers. To broaden reach, the survey was also circulated through extension listservs, grower associations, and other electronic communication channels targeting perennial crop stakeholders. In total, the survey received 280 responses (260 valid) from 20 states across seven USDA regions, including 205 perennial crop growers and 55 industry personnel. The results provide the first comprehensive baseline of grower and industry attitudes toward novel weed control technologies in perennial crops, documenting both opportunities and constraints for adoption. Key findings include: Current weed management status: Only 43% of growers reported satisfaction with current weed control, with crop quality impacts (76%) and herbicide resistance (45%) identified as major concerns. Technology awareness vs. interest: Awareness was highest for drone spraying and flameweeders, while greatest interest focused on autonomous equipment and electric weeders. Adoption drivers: Improved operational efficiency (56%), crop health and quality (50%), and reduced labor cost/time (47%) were top motivators. Respondents also highlighted herbicide resistance management (54%) and environmental benefits of reduced herbicide use (38%) as important. Critical success factors: Successful adoption depends on crop-specific scaling, visible field results, and ease of use, underscoring the need for tailored rather than generic solutions. Barriers to adoption: Reliability concerns, uncertain return on investment, and high upfront costs were cited as major limitations, pointing to the importance of demonstrating long-term value and exploring financing options. Demographics: Income was the strongest predictor of adoption willingness, with lower-income producers showing less interest. Age, crop type, and geography also mattered, with younger producers (25-34) demonstrating strong awareness of AI recognition systems and their implementation in the development of precision/site-specific weed management. Information preferences: University extension remains the most trusted source for weed management guidance, but 90% of respondents preferred face-to-face communication for novel technology information, followed by written materials (69%). Future adoption catalysts: The factors most likely to increase adoption include new herbicide regulations, stronger company support, and enhanced extension services, indicating that policy and institutional frameworks will shape technology uptake. Overall, the project established a strong foundation for understanding the opportunities and barriers to implementing robotic weed management tools in perennial crops. The survey resultssuggest that current weed management practices are not fully effective, clear interest in new approaches, and a need for strategies that balance cost, reliability, and usability.
Publications
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