CropTalk

Everyone loves collecting data for their grow operation, until it becomes a tangled web of nonsense. On this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech I speak with Jono Jones of BlueLab about the importance of not only collecting data, but putting it to proper use. Topics include using smart tools to collect the right data, turning that data into wisdom and learning directly from your grower customers.

Growing a quality, desirable crop with palatable input costs is an accomplishment.

But, growing a quality crop with palatable input costs that consumers demand and that sells consistently is a whole different beast.

As a fresh produce supplier, it seems developing quality relationships and rapport with produce buyers is the secret sauce to selling through and is something that more suppliers should lean into.

That's the reason we had James Williams, the Business Development Manager at Intergrow Greenhouses, Inc. onto the #LeadersTalkCrops series of CropTalk podcast to share how, as a produce supplier, he develops and nurtures relationships with produce buyers.

The insights James shares are extremely valuable, but even more so because he has served as both the produce buyer and supplier during his career.

Until next time, #startcleanstayclean

Let's talk research & development! #LetsTalkCrops. This episode features some incredible insights from the R&D Manager at Square Roots in Brooklyn NYC, Eli Zimmer. He's tasked with designing and executing growing trials to support new product development, recipe optimization, and plant treatments.

In this #CropTalk podcast, Eli and Bobby aim to demystify the R&D process by simplifying what's often perceived to overly complex. How can an R&D program be developed in a way that doesn't strain the operation and that provides clear, significant ROI on a path of constant improvement?

From setting up trials, to collecting data, to communication with stakeholders along the way, Eli shares some great tips that growers everywhere will be glad they considered.

Compared to other crops, there is far less peer-reviewed research and diagnostic resources available for Cannabis plant pathogens; especially the viruses and viroids that infect and impact Cannabis production.

When it comes to pathogens, Cannabis viruses and viroids are the typically the most misunderstood.

That's why we had Dr. Jack Munz of Genie Lab onto the #LeadersTalkCrops series of CropTalk podcast to discuss what we didn't know we didn't know about Cannabis viroids and viruses.

Jack shares quite a few golden nuggets including:

🌱 The difference between plant viroids and viruses.

🌱 Some of the typical symptoms displayed by different viroids and viruses

🔬 Diagnostic and continuing education resources related to plant pathogens

Until next time, #StartCleanStayClean

There is no doubt, aquaponics is hard! Growing plants or raising fish as two separate businesses is hard enough, and I can assure you, combining them does not make things easier.

On this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech I speak with Brandon Gottsacker, President of Superior Fresh in Wisconsin. If there is any example out there of someone doing aquaponics right look no further then this operation. Topics include becoming certified organic, advice for succeeding in aquaponics, and managing all the moving pieces that go into any CEA operation.

PART 2

Fine tuning your irrigation practices may seem like a daunting and ambiguous objective.

It may seem futile because you tell yourself you've got plenty of water, and you're already growing quality crops.

Water is not an infinite resource.

Your bank account is not an infinite resource.

Crop inputs cost money.

Herbicide. Fertilizer. Pesticides. Biopesticides. Biological Control Agents.

They all cost money.

Their use is impacted by your irrigation practices.

What if you could save money on crop inputs by fine tuning your irrigation practices?

Then you'd be growing quality crops AND making more profit.

Profit per acre or square foot is the name of the game when you're in the plant production business.

In part two of this conversation, Adam F. Newby, Ph.D. a Production Efficiency Expert at Newby Horticultural, shares how you can fine tune your irrigation practices so that you earn more profit and use your resources wisely.

Taking a second look at your irrigation practices doesn't sound terrible at all now, does it?!

Until next time, #StartCleanStayClean

"Rising consumer demand is accelerating the growth of the greenhouse industry, but the massive shortage of both growers and manual labor requires a scalable machine vision solution to further produce supply. Having a renowned agronomy team, like CropWalk, to assist in deploying state-of-the-art technology like LUNA will have a profound impact on our constantly improving capacity to help growers increase quality, yields, and profits. 65% of growers are above the age of 55, and the shortage of qualified people is hitting the fast growing industry hard. Something has to give, thus the future is centralized management of distributed facilities."

- Adam Greenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of iUNU

The future of crop care in modern greenhouses that will feed families for generations involves both people's expertise and the best available technologies.

The union of iUNU and CropWalk is great news for CEA crop producers seeking the advantage of cutting edge artificial intelligence, computer vision, and machine learning coupled with industry-leading IPM & biological services.

iUNU's acquisition of CropWalk helps both companies become more effective in their work towards an important common goal: reducing the cost of nutrient-rich food reaching urban centers while helping growers thrive.

In this episode of CropTalk, Charlie and Adam Greenberg discuss what all this means for growers we serve, the industry and the retail consumers that purchase the products our industry produces.

Until next time, #startcleanstayclean

What does it take to succeed in CEA? On this episode of CropTalk #KyleTalksAgtech Dan Vukevich COO of Revolution Farms talks about the companies journey in horticulture, the pivots they've taken, and what the future looks like not only for their operation but the industry as a whole.

Fine tuning your irrigation practices may seem like a daunting and ambiguous objective.

It may seem futile because you tell yourself you've got plenty of water, and you're already growing quality crops.

Water is not an infinite resource.

Your bank account is not an infinite resource.

Crop inputs cost money.

Herbicide. Fertilizer. Pesticides. Biopesticides. Biological Control Agents.

They all cost money.

Their use is impacted by your irrigation practices.

What if you could save money on crop inputs by fine tuning your irrigation practices?

Then you'd be growing quality crops AND making more profit.

Profit per acre or square foot is the name of the game when you're in the plant production business.

In this two part episode, Adam F. Newby, Ph.D. a Production Efficiency Expert at Newby Horticultural, shares how you can fine tune your irrigation practices so that you earn more profit and use your resources wisely.

Taking a second look at your irrigation practices doesn't sound terrible at all now, does it?!

Until next time, #StartCleanStayClean

Cannabis growers tend to keep their cultivation insights very close to their chest and rarely do any share the details of their techniques as transparently as David Polley of Preferred Gardens in northern California.

David is the founder, CEO, and director of cultivation. And Preferred Gardens consistently distributes high-quality product across the state for the recreational market despite incredible competition from multi-state operators.

So, Bobby and David decided to hit record on a conversation that runs through a higher-level overview of the entire Preferred Gardens crop cycle process.

They cover planning topics designing the greenhouses, production topics like cloning, plant care, nutrient management, IPM, harvest and so much more, and they follow the product supply chain all the way to market, even discussing the best packaging availabilities.

You're unlikely to find another cannabis grower who will share their practices so candidly. So, enjoy this podcast somewhere you're ready to take notes.