6 Weed-Busting Farm Machines You Have To See

New technology in lasers, cameras, and artificial intelligence promise big labor savings in the near future.

Take a look at these before and after field images, showing how an auto weeder and an auto thinner does its job. 

Here is what’s on the market now, including how well the equipment is working, and what new technology to look for.

Increases in labor costs will affect the costs of production of vegetable crops in California, so growers will have to take advantage of production practices that help reduce weed pressure.

Developed in France, the autonomous, electric-powered, lightweight machine doesn’t compact soil and operates for up to eight hours.

Other technological developments include automated harvesters for salad plant lettuce.

Water and labor, two critical elements to vegetable production, are both in short supply in California, providing growers with a distinct set of challenges.

Robotic weeders using machine vision sensors have the potential to save time and labor.