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Star Tribune: Weeds resistant to herbicides challenge farmers

Herbicide resistance in weeds is far from a new concept to University of Minnesota Extension agronomists, who have been conducting research and education on it for three decades. But it is an increasingly challenging issue for crop producers. Recently, Star Tribune reporter Tom Meersman spent several hours with Extension weed scientist Jeff Gunsolus to better understand the science behind the problem, and on Aug. 2, published this story.

Extension is helping crop producers meet the challenges of today's agriculture through direct education, resources and tools, and also reaches more farmers through the agricultural professionals who advise them.


                   Giant ragweed                         Waterhemp seedling and seeds                 Common ragweed
Source: University of Minnesota


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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.