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Learning the importance of novel pulse crops and a different way to drain water

What are fenugreek and phacelia flowers and why should farmers look into tile drainage systems for their fields?

Those and countless other questions were addressed to farmers and non-farmers alike at the Conservation Learning Centre (CLC) on Thursday during its annual field day.

The biggest presentation made that morning came from Robin Lokken, the Manager of the CLC who provided an update on their four-year agricultural drainage project, which is now in its second year.

She explains is uses a common practice of surface drainage but they’re also looking into tile drainage. That’s the process that removes excess sub-surface water from fields and allows for better air space within the soil as well as proper cultivation and access by heavy machinery to help harvest crops.

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Designing a Robotic Berry Picker

Video: Designing a Robotic Berry Picker


Since blackberries must be harvested by hand, the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive. To support a growing blackberry industry in Arkansas, food science associate professor Renee Threlfall is collaborating with mechanical engineering assistant professor Anthony Gunderman to develop a mechanical harvesting system. Most recently, the team designed a device to measure the force needed to pick a blackberry without damaging it. The data from this device will help inform the next stage of development and move the team closer to the goal of a fully autonomous robotic berry picker. The device was developed by Gunderman, with Yue Chen, a former U of A professor now at Georgia Tech, and Jeremy Collins, then a U of A undergraduate engineering student. To determine the force needed to pick blackberries without damage, the engineers worked with Threlfall and Andrea Myers, then a graduate student.