robotics Archives | Page 2 of 6

The laser weeding machine used by Kerr Farms in Chatham-Kent has 42 cameras under it, 30 of which are tied to lasers to pick out weeds down to one millimetre accuracy.

Slow burn: Weed control at 0.2 kilometres per hour

A laser weeder helps with weed control in high-value crops

By John Greig July 26, 2023

Kerr Farms was presented with a challenge by one of the buyers for its conventional carrots: could they grow them organically? Nature’s Finest, a major Ontario supplier of root vegetables […] Read more

Naio Oz: The Oz Small autonomous unit is leased to nine farmers, mostly market gardens, to help with weeding smaller plots.

Machinery

PHOTOS: Here come the crop robots

By John Greig July 25, 2023

Here are some of the autonomous units in use and research in Ontario this summer.

A panel of three dairy farmers at Grey-Bruce Farmers Week noted diverse experiences with robotic milking.

Milking equipment

Use of robotic milkers continues to grow, but it’s not for everyone

Producers share lessons learned and why robot milkers work for them, or why they don’t

By Diana Martin March 16, 2023

If growth continues in Canadian dairy farmers’ use of robotic milkers, robots will milk half of the national dairy herd by 2040, said Carolin Turner. Turner, with Holstein Canada’s classification […] Read more

Livestock

Researchers target robot-specific effects on health, milk quality

Automated milking systems focus of numerous University of Guelph studies

By Stew Slater December 1, 2022

Researchers at the University of Guelph are focusing on milking robots as they dive into ongoing studies of milk quality and dairy cow health. Results of several studies on the […] Read more

A Savoye X-PTS shuttle. Scott Technology has had a joint venture agreement in place with Savoye since 2020 to use Savoye automated carton storage and retrieval systems in Scott material handling systems. Scott said it also plans to use the Savoye system in its project for JBS at Brooks. (ScottAutomation.com)

Livestock, Machinery

JBS to automate beef warehousing at Brooks

Packer to replace current fully manual system

By Dave Bedard July 9, 2022

International meat packer JBS has enlisted a major robotics and automation company to overhaul the warehousing system at one of Canada’s biggest beef plants. JBS Foods Canada on Friday announced […] Read more

Sougata Pahari (r) and Jim Clark (l) of Korechi Innovations, pictured with one of their company’s prototype RoamIO robots at Haggerty Creek in 2020. The robot design was the foundation of a larger farm platform now used by the Bothwell business.

Machinery

Why is Ontario a hub for ag tech development?

Diversity of industry, prolific expertise and other factors help propel innovation

By Matt McIntosh June 7, 2022

Robotics and autonomous equipment are taking the agriculture sector by storm, or at least appear poised to do so in some areas. For technology developers in Ontario, a diverse economic […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

Automated ag skills program developed for Saskatchewan workforce

Protein supercluster, U of S supporting non-profit agency's program

By GFM Staff May 21, 2022

Corrected, May 24 — A national skills-building organization focused on connecting employers with “untapped” labour markets sets its webcams this summer on the automated and digital ag sectors. Not-for-profit organization […] Read more

Raven’s Omnipower 3200 will work with earlier SeedMaster implements, but the company is focusing on spraying and spreading operations and developing options with CNH, its new parent company.

Machinery

Raven releases a more robust robot

Omnipower units remain compatible with existing attachments as CNH considers further autonomous options

By Robin Booker May 10, 2022

Glacier FarmMedia – Raven’s Omnipower agricultural robot now has more power and a better controls system. “We’ve beefed up the frame and some of the structural elements to allow that […] Read more

Field robots are arriving quickly, but what is the return compared
to a person-driven tractor and implement?

Machinery, News

Robotics ROI could edge out traditional implements for some operations

Growers need to determine whether it’s worth it or not depending on use

By Diana Martin March 18, 2022

Agricultural robotics aim to do the jobs no person wants to do or the tasks that are simple but time-consuming. “We have to start automating tasks for two reasons,” said […] Read more

Benchmarking data from BDO indicates that the profitability of robots compared to parlours is very similar. What system to choose comes down to preference and availability of labour.

Livestock

Parlour versus robot financials prove systems are surprisingly similar

BDO’s national benchmarking data compares dairy farm profitability

By Rebecca Hannam March 16, 2022

Is it better to invest in a parlour or robots? It’s a question many dairy farmers are facing as they consider their next expansion and make future plans. The answer […] Read more