Posts By: Ben Palone
Showing Up for the Specialty Crop Industry at the 102nd Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the 102nd annual Agricultural Outlook Forum in Washington, D.C., marking not only my first experience at this long-standing national event but also my very first visit to our nation’s capital. The Forum brought together agriculture leaders, policymakers, innovators, and growers from across the country—yet even amid its impressive scale, it offered…
What a Pile of Broken Drones Says About Commercialization in Agtech
Early in my technical career, I learned one lesson faster than almost anything else: agricultural equipment doesn’t get days off. There is no “pause” button in farming. Tools must be fixed, repaired and returned to the field immediately, often within hours, because the entire operational system depends on continuity. Break the chain, and you risk breaking the season. Since the arrival…
Forging New Paths, Part II: How Western Growers Innovation Is Building the Blueprint for Automated Iceberg Lettuce Harvesting
In last week’s article Walt Duflock and I outlined the growing urgency around specialty crop automation and the structural barriers that have slowed progress—from shrinking labor availability to declining venture investment. The takeaway was clear: specialty crop agriculture needs new, grower‑led pathways for innovation. Today, Western Growers Innovation is putting that philosophy into…