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Posts By: Stephanie Metzinger

Robotics Featured in Upcoming Lunch & Learn Webinar

As labor reliability in agriculture grows increasingly challenging, automation and robotics are being looked at more closely by the produce industry. The field of robotics is growing worldwide, but there are still questions surrounding the challenges and opportunities of deploying new robotics technologies in the U.S. produce industry. During this month’s Lunch & Learn, Dr. ...

Forbes AgTech Summit Held on June 28- 29 — Save the Date

Mark your calendars! The Forbes AgTech Summit is returning to Salinas on June 28- 29, 2017, where 600 of the smartest and most entrepreneurial minds in Silicon Valley and global agriculture will come together to tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges. Held for the third straight year, the Summit fosters lively debate and ...

March 28 Tech Talk Features Startup that Delivers High-Yielding Fertilizer

Plant Nutrition Technologies (PNT), one of 32 agtech startups in the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, will be hosting a Tech Talk on March 28, where they will be speaking about their unique bio-mineral fertilizers that create healthier and stronger plants that bear more robust fruits and vegetables. Join us either online or in ...

Robotics, Automation Featured in Next Week’s Lunch & Learn Webinar

As labor reliability in agriculture grows increasingly challenging, automation and robotics are being looked at more closely by the produce industry. The field of robotics is growing worldwide, but there are still questions surrounding the challenges and opportunities of deploying new robotics technologies in the U.S. produce industry. During this month’s Lunch & Learn, Dr. ...

DPR Proposed Rules for Pesticide Use Near Schools Public Comment Ends April 4

Last week, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released a revised proposal for regulating the use of agricultural pesticides near public schools and daycare centers. DPR will be accepting public comments on the revisions until April 4, 2017. The proposed regulation will affect about 3,500 public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities ...

March 28 — Plant Nutrition Technologies Featured in this Month’s Tech Talk Series

Plant Nutrition Technologies (PNT), one of 32 agtech startups in the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, will be hosting a Tech Talk on March 28, where they will be speaking about their unique bio-mineral fertilizers that create healthier and stronger plants that bear more robust fruits and vegetables. Join us either online or in ...

March 29 Lunch & Learn: Soft Robotics to Overview Status of Automation and Robotics in Produce Operations

As labor reliability in agriculture grows increasingly challenging, automation and robotics are being looked at more closely by the produce industry. The field of robotics is growing worldwide, but there are still questions surrounding the challenges and opportunities of deploying new robotics technologies in the U.S. produce industry. During this month’s Lunch & Learn, Dr. ...

DPR Grants Use of Sequoia to Control Aphids on Leafy, Brassica Crops

On Friday March 24, 2017, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) registered the use of Sequoia™ insecticide as a Section 24(c) Special Local Need to control foxglove and lettuce aphids in leafy vegetables and Brassica vegetables.  Sequoia is a member of a new class of chemistry, the sulfoximines, with excellent efficacy on sucking insects ...

Nassif, Smith Featured during Ag Innovation Showcase

Tom Nassif, president & CEO of Western Growers, will be presenting the keynote address during the Ag Innovation Showcase on May 8 – 9, 2017, at UC Davis. The showcase inspires discussions about trends in the ag industry and presents innovations from around the world—everything from the farmer to the consumer, from climate-smart technologies to ...

Western Growers Applauds Senate Ag Committee Vote for Perdue

Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved the nomination of Sonny Perdue, the former Georgia governor, to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Perdue’s nomination now heads to the full Senate for a final confirmation vote. “On behalf of the 2,500 Western Growers members who collectively grow more than half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables and tree ...

EPA Denies Petition to Ban the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos

On March 29, 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition that sought to ban chlorpyrifos, a pesticide crucial to U.S. agriculture. Instead, EPA will focus its attention on updating and revising its human health assessment for chlorpyrifos under the standard procedures of the ongoing registration review process. The assessment is scheduled for ...

Register for Forbes AgTech Summit Today — WG Members Receive Discount

Mark your calendars! The Forbes AgTech Summit is returning to Salinas on June 28- 29, 2017, where 600 of the smartest and most entrepreneurial minds in Silicon Valley and global agriculture will come together to tackle some of the world’s most critical challenges. Held for the third straight year, the Summit fosters lively debate and ...

California Single-User Restroom Law Does NOT Apply to Field Toilets

On March 30, 2017, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH or Cal/OSHA), updated its Frequently Asked Question about single-user toilet facilities, making clear that portable chemical toilets are not covered by AB 1732. The new guidance provides: “Toilet facilities that are multiple-user or that contain other than a flush toilet (e.g., chemical toilets, ...

APMA Offers HR Certification Program for Supervisors in Spanish

The Agricultural Personnel Management Association (APMA) will be offering Human Resource Series for Supervisors, a nine-course Certificate Program designed specifically for Agricultural Supervisors. Classes, which begin on April 27, are currently offered in Spanish and can be taken individually or as part of a curriculum leading to a certificate. The program will offer critical information…

WG Hosting Listening Sessions on LGMA Potential Changes

Western Growers (WG) will be hosting a series of five listening sessions in May about potential changes to the Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA)-approved food safety metrics. These listening sessions will provide interested parties and signatories of either the California or Arizona LGMAs with an opportunity to comment on possible changes to the LGMA-recognized metrics ...

April 25 Tech Talk Features Innovation in Soil Health Management

Tune in to our next Tech Talk on April 25, where Trace Genomics will speak about technology that improves soil health and disease management. Trace Genomics, one of 35 agtech startups in the WG Center for Innovation & Technology, makes it easy for growers to understand the disease pressures in their land before putting plants ...

WG Partners with Google IgniteCS, Facebook to Sponsor Hackathon

In an effort to develop the future agtech workforce, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology will be coming together with Google IgniteCS and Facebook to sponsor herScript Hacks, an annual regional hackathon, on April 29-30. The event is meant to engage students studying STEM-related topics (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by encouraging them to ...

Results of Water Testing Methods to Be Shared at WG Lunch & Learn Webinar

The FDA’s Produce Safety Rule has raised some questions regarding the current requirements for water testings, particularly using EPA method 1603. While FDA’s guidance on these requirements is forthcoming, some efforts have been taken to determine if this method can be practically implemented. This webinar will share the findings of recent bench studies conducted in Arizona ...

Vote for WG Foundation for USA Today Networks’ Grant

In an effort to seek more creative alternatives to raise funds, the Western Growers Foundation has entered “A Community Thrives (ACT)” video contest, hosted by the USA Today Network. As our submission, we posted a video about the importance of helping schools create and fund edible school gardens. You can help by voting for the ...

Ag Innovation Showcase Highlights AgTech Research, Solutions

Tom Nassif, president & CEO of Western Growers, will be presenting the keynote address during the Ag Innovation Showcase on May 8 – 9, 2017, at UC Davis. The showcase inspires discussions about trends in the ag industry and presents innovations from around the world—everything from the farmer to the consumer, from climate-smart technologies to ...