WTFRC Test Orchard (evolving to Smart Orchards Year 2 + Connectivity)
Author: Steve Mantle
Published: 2021
Summary: The Smart Orchard project started out-of-cycle in 2020, as the WTFRC technology committee identified that growers struggle with too many data siloes, impeding ability for growers to make informed decisions that may be better informed based on a unified view. Year 1 was about laying the groundwork for a smart orchard test block to collect data for many different sources. Our takeaways after 5 months of sensor implementation, data collection, and stakeholder collaboration: 1. Grower, equipment/sensor provider, & researcher engagement around a smart orchard showcase is extremely positive. 2. Data ingestion, normalization, & rationalization from many different sensor, equipment, & management data sources requires significant investment of time & resources for ag data solution providers. 3. Sensor, equipment, & imagery provider openness to data sharing of “raw data” is viable for most; unacceptable to some. 4. Tracking of grower management data is dramatically more viable when a grower-employed data analyst is assigned; tracking – and influencing - grower management decisioning is more challenging. 5. Expecting tracking of pack-out and comparing against other blocks is unrealistic if expecting to show value from data-driven decisioning.
