VINE Connect Field Day Showcases Real-World Agtech Solutions
- Natasha Biasell
- Jul 2
- 2 min read
On June 26, 2025, nearly 100 growers, researchers, and ag professionals gathered at the UC ANR West Side Research & Extension Center in Fresno County for the latest VINE Connect Field Day - an immersive, hands-on agtech showcase organized by UCANR and Farmhand Ventures with support from F3 Local. The event brought cutting-edge technology directly into the field, giving attendees the opportunity to see ag tools in action under real Central Valley farming conditions.
Field days like this one are essential for making agtech practical, not theoretical. From autonomous equipment to data-driven irrigation and pest monitoring, the morning was packed with demonstrations that sparked meaningful conversations.
As Burford Ranch’s Salvador Parra Jr. put it, “Seeing a tool run in the field, on crops just like ours, lets me judge whether it really fits. I’m always looking for innovations that cut labor or input costs and help us use water more efficiently, because farming is a business: to stay sustainable, we have to stay profitable. Hands-on days like this also deepen my relationships with the organizers and other growers, and that trust is what makes new technology stick."
A big thanks goes out to the organizers, partners, and industry advisors who designed this event around real-world grower needs, including American Pistachio Growers, California Tomato Research Institute, California Citrus Mutual, Western Tree Nut Association, and the California Table Grape Commission.
Companies / Technologies Featured:
HotSpot AG – Remote-controlled irrigation and pump systems
Spornado Inc. – Smart spore traps for early disease detection
Edete Precision Technologies for Agriculture – Mechanical pollination system
CropVue Technologies – AI-powered crop monitoring
Verdi – Precision irrigation automation
Bonsai Robotics – Autonomous orchard equipment
We invite you to experience the next round of live demos and grower-driven innovation at the upcoming VINE Connect Field Day on September 17, 2025, at UC Merced.
CLICK HERE to learn more and register for the event.
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