Opportunities for Precision Agriculture In Specialty Crop Production Systems.

Opportunities for Precision Agriculture in Special Crop Production Systems F.J. Pierce, M.D. Whiting, Q. Zhang, J. Schueller, S. Upadhyaya, T. V. Elliott, S. Young, M. Kise, F. Kang, G. Stewart, W. Terry, J. Jones and P. Nowak Specialty crops include tree fruits, vegetable crops, grapes, nuts, berries, and nursery crops. These crops accounted collectively for 50% of the total value of crop production in the US for the first time in 2006. Characterized by high crop value, high cost of production, and a focus on crop quality, specialty crops could benefit from the efficiencies and efficacies afforded from adopting the principles, technologies, and management practices of precision agriculture. Additionally, there is great potential for incorporating precision agricultural methods in organic production where growers face rigorous production standards. The focus of this paper is to illustrate through case examples the need and opportunities for precision agriculture in specialty crop production systems. Specifically, we address five areas of critical importance to specialty crop production that enhance production related to labor, soil management, irrigation, spraying, and harvest in selected tree fruit, grapes, vegetable crops, nuts, berries and nursery crops. We will also address the potential for adoption of innovative technologies and practices in specialty crops as well as avenues for future research.