Tag: prec-ag

A group of cows with collars and ear tags in a grassy field, with trees in the background.

‘Invisible fence’ keeps cattle on ranch, helps protect environment

by Brad Buck
March 27, 2026

For decades, Jim Strickland has managed and operated Blackbeard’s Ranch in Myakka City. As much as he cares about his cattle, he sees himself as an environmental steward. Strickland, 68, has been in the cattle business since he was a child. ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Blackbeard's Ranch, Cattle, Cell Towers, Computer, Fence, Florida Wildlife Corridor, GPS, GPS Collars, Invisible Fence, Jim Strickland, Joao Vendramini, Movement, Myakka City, Prec-ag, Precision Agriculture, Range Cattle Research And Education Center, Wetlands, Wildlife
Close-up of ripe red tomatoes with green stems.

New tomato breeder at GCREC now sits in her mentor’s chair, plans to continue legacy of bringing best data to growers and flavorful fruit to consumers

by Brad Buck
March 18, 2026

Jessica Chitwood-Brown grew up in rural Alma, Arkansas, where she rode horses, fished with her dad and played at the marina.  She also recalls participating in the Crawford County Fair, going to football games on Friday nights, horse ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Cultivars, Entomology, Flavor, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Horticultural Sciences, Jack Rechigl, Jay Scott, Jessica Chitwood-Brown, Kevin Wang, Machine Harvesting, Plant Pathology, Prec-ag, Precision Ag, Sam Hutton, Sustainable Agriculture, Tomato Breeding, University Florida, University Of Arkansas, Yield
Close-up of oranges on a tree with green leaves in bright sunlight.

From problem to on-farm solution: The journey of one UF/IFAS AI technology

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

A few weeks after Yiannis Ampatzidis started working at the University of Florida in 2017, Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the Florida peninsula and its citrus groves. Growers needed to count their trees with precision to get crop insurance, ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS
Tags: Agricutural And Biological Engineering, Agroview, Archive, Artificial Intellgience, Citrus, Counting, Crop Insurance, Diseases, Farms, Insurance, Inventory, Lab, Pests, Prec-ag, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Trees, Yiannis Ampatzidis
Strawberry plants with green leaves and ripe berries on a black mulch-covered bed.

AI technology uses less herbicide to kill weeds

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

Vegetable growers use herbicides to kill weeds to prevent crop loss. Meanwhile, a University of Florida researcher is using artificial intelligence to reduce herbicide sprayed on crops. "We are building multiple AI-powered herbicide application ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture
Tags: Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Crops, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Herbicides, Horticultural Sciences, Nathan Boyd, Plastic Mulch, Plasticulture, Pre-emergence Herbicide, Prec-ag, Tomatoes, Vegetables
An agricultural machine spraying a cornfield under a blue sky.

Knowing your corn’s needs better: Optimize irrigation with a new app

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2026

University of Florida researchers have developed an app that will help farmers reduce the risk of over- or under-watering their crops. Scientists from UF/IFAS, Auburn and the University of Georgia designed and are refining the app, courtesy ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, App, Archive, Irrigation, Irrigation App, Prec-ag, Precision, Root Zone Soil Moisture, Soil Moisture Sensor, Ziwen Yu
Strawberries at different ripeness stages with a white flower on a dark background.

UF Digital Twin technology simulates strawberry farm, boosts AI tools and cuts costs

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

While strawberry production runs from November through April in Florida, digital twin technology lets scientists simulate the growth of the fruit year-round, allowing research to proceed year-round. Digital twins are virtual replicas of objects, ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Archive, Dana Choi, Digital Twin, Fruit Detection, Fruit Diameter, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Prec-ag, Robotics, Simulation, Strawberries, Technology, Virtual, Year-round Research, Yield Prediction
A partially flooded agricultural field with rows of green plants.

UF scientists to develop AI technology to help growers assess crop damage after hurricanes

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Imagine using a generative AI platform similar to ChatGPT to get crop-damage information after a hurricane. That’s what University of Florida artificial intelligence (AI) scientist Nikolaos Tziolas plans to provide to farmers statewide. With ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops
Tags: Archive, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Computers, Crop Damage, Damage Assessment, Generative AI, Hurricanes, Nifa, NIFA Grant, Nikolaos Tziolas, Prec-ag, Recovery, Satellite, Satellite Imagery, Smartphone, Soil, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Water
Cherry tomato plants with ripe and unripe fruit on reflective plastic sheeting.

UF/IFAS scientist uses AI to target weeds — not nearby tomatoes – saving 70% of herbicide

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Targeted weed-spraying can save tomato farmers 71% of the herbicide they use, new University of Florida research shows. It also cuts input costs related to weed management for growers by 75%. The results mean that targeted spray technology ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, UF/IFAS
Tags: Archive, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Horticultural Sciences, Machine Learning, Nathan Boyd, Nutsedge, Plastic Mulch, Plasticulture, Prec-ag, Spraying, Technology, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Weed Sprayer, Weeds
A satellite orbiting above the illuminated night side of Earth in space.

Thanks to NASA, farmers may ask, ‘Hey Alexa, what’s the best way to keep my soil healthy?’

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

Someday soon, farmers might use technology equivalent to Siri or Alexa to check the status of their soil’s quality. Anastasia Kritharoula, a doctoral student in the Soil Science Artificial Intelligence lab of the University of Florida, ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Anastasia Kritharoula, Archive, Artificial Intelligence, Farmers, Generative AI, Grant, NASA, Nikolaos Tziolas, Non-expert Users, Prec-ag, Soil, Soil Health, Soil Science Artificial Intelligence Lab, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Water
Person using a tablet near a large cabbage in a garden.

UF ag engineering grad and seasoned professor named ABE chair; seeks to expand on achievements of prior leaders

by Brad Buck
March 6, 2026

As interim chair, Greg Kiker wasn’t just steering agricultural and biological engineering (ABE) – he was accelerating it. Backed by the experience of working with powerhouse predecessors, he knew how to build on their legacies of progress. Now, ... READ MORE

Category:
Tags: Agricultural And Biological Engineering, Alumnus, Archive, Artificial Intellgience, Chair, Greg Kiker, Prec-ag, Rob Gilbert, Sustainable Food Production, U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, University Of Florida

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