SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - The outcome is bound to be great when you bring together members from several aspects of the industry to advance a multi-billion-dollar sector. At its highest-attended Strawberry Field Day yet, the Cal Poly Strawberry Center highlighted over a dozen critical farm research projects, sharing its efforts to improve the California strawberry industry with members of the California Strawberry Commission and more than 400 strawberry growers, researchers, and industry representatives.
“The Field Day brings together technology providers, growers, nurseries, pest control advisers, and research scientists to learn about the latest research and developments on the issues affecting the industry,” said California Strawberry Commission President Rick Tomlinson. “Rising costs and tight labor are the two biggest challenges facing California strawberry growers. The collaboration between the Commission and Strawberry Center is a model of modernizing applied research in a way that helps the industry to become more profitable and sustainable long-term.”
The Field Day, which is reportedly one of the largest research and education events for the California strawberry industry, featured presentations on the latest findings from the Center’s three central research departments—entomology, pathology, and automation.
During the event, the entomology team highlighted the management of pests such as Lygus bugs, spider mites, and thrips, and the pathology team showcased host resistance studies against Macrophomina crown rot and Verticillium wilt, diagnostics, pathogenicity tests, and fungicide efficacy results against Botrytis fruit rot and powdery mildew. As noted in a press release, the automation team featured autonomous UV-C platforms, an autonomous runner cutter platform, an optimized spray rig design, a cross-hole plastic mulch puncher, bug vacuums, an in-field Lygus monitor, and a hoop house arch remover assistant.
“We’re excited to host our sixth annual Field Day event with all the opportunities for networking and hands-on learning for attendees,” commented Gerald Holmes, the Director for Cal Poly Strawberry Center.
As more efforts are put in place to achieve industry advancement, AndNowUKnow will be here with timely updates.
