Adoption of High-Tech Sprayers and Farmland Values Climb
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**An increasing number of California specialty crop farmers are minimizing labor and chemical costs through the adoption of high-tech herbicide sprayers used for weed control.
Justin Ritchie, who farms about 1,300 acres of pistachios and almonds in Kern County, purchased a smart sprayer that differentiates between the green of growing plants and the brown of soil or dead plants.
Ritchie says it’s paid for itself the first season just in chemical savings.
##The Dairy Alliance is proud to again support the Discover Dairy Adopt a Cow program for the 2026–27 school year, following another successful year connecting classrooms with the dairy farming world.
www.morningagclips.com reports last year, the program reached over 555,000 students across 9,900+ Southeast classrooms, sharing a unique, behind-the-scenes look at life on a dairy farm.
Educators are invited to again sign up for this engaging, year-long experience.
www.morningagclips.com/adopt-a-cow-program-returns-for-the-2026-2027-school-year-following-record-breaking-participation/
**The average value of U.S. cropland has climbed above $6,000 an acre for the first time, underscoring the resilience of farmland prices despite weaker farm income and tighter profit margins.
New data from USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service shows farmland values have climbed since 2021, driven by limited land availability, strong farm balance sheets and investor demand.
Economists warn higher interest rates and continued pressure on crop profitability could slow future appreciation.
**American Farmland Trust launched its 18th annual America’s Farmers Market Celebration, a nationwide campaign designed to recognize farmers markets and their contributions to local agriculture.
Consumers can vote for their favorite markets, helping them gain national recognition and compete for a share of $15,000 in prize money.
The event runs Aug. 1 through Sept. 30.
Go to www.markets.farmland.org/markets and vote for your favorite farmers market.
