Innovative technologies are revolutionizing greenhouse farming, offering new ways to enhance crop production and streamline operations. Growers like Marco de Leonardis at Freeman Herbs and Jeff Stoven at Bailey Nurseries are at the forefront of this movement, continuously trialing new equipment to determine its effectiveness for their unique environments.
The Importance of Trialing New Technology
Trialing new equipment is essential for ensuring it suits a specific crop, greenhouse, and climate. This process often begins with discovering new technologies through trade publications, articles, newsletters, and industry conferences.
Cold Plasma Machine for Seed Treatment
Freeman Herbs is currently testing a cold plasma machine designed to treat seeds and enhance germination rates. This technology disinfects and primes seeds, purportedly improving both the speed and uniformity of germination. While de Leonardis has observed only marginal results so far, the potential for healthier plants and improved yields keeps the trial ongoing.
Petrifilm for Water Testing
Water quality is critical in greenhouse operations, and Freeman Herbs is experimenting with Petrifilm for microbiological water testing. This innovative film simplifies the testing process, offering a cost-effective and immediate method for detecting harmful bacteria like E. coli and Coliform. The film is hydrated and incubated, allowing growers to quickly assess water safety.
Soil Mixing and Production Systems
At Bailey Nurseries, a new soil-mixing and production system is being trialed to enhance workflow efficiency. This system enables precise soil recipe changes and streamlines operations between container and propagation departments. By internalizing responsibilities and improving material management, the nursery is seeing significant operational benefits.
Dynamic LED Lighting with AI
Freeman Herbs is also testing a new, highly efficient dynamic LED lighting system incorporating artificial intelligence. This technology boasts double the diodes of traditional LEDs and operates at lower power levels, enhancing light efficacy. The AI-driven system dynamically adjusts the light spectrum to meet plant needs, potentially revolutionizing greenhouse lighting.
Cutting Planter Machines
Bailey Nurseries is evaluating a cutting planter machine that promises uniformity and speed in planting. Capable of planting up to 2,500 cuttings per hour, this machine accommodates various pot sizes and planting patterns, significantly reducing labor dependency.
Metrics and Success in Technology Trials
Accurate data collection is crucial for evaluating the success of new technologies. Metrics such as labor savings, production timing, crop yield, safety, quality, and opportunity cost are used to justify the implementation of new equipment. Stoven emphasizes the importance of coworker adoption in determining success, noting that team support is paramount.
Adopting new greenhouse technologies requires careful planning, rigorous testing, and a clear definition of success. By trialing innovations like cold plasma machines, dynamic LED lighting, and cutting planter machines, growers can find effective solutions that enhance productivity and sustainability. The ongoing trials at Freeman Herbs and Bailey Nurseries highlight the potential of these technologies to transform greenhouse farming.
