Thousands converge on Tulare as the World Ag Expo kicks off
TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- The latest and greatest in farming technology is drawing oohs and aahs from the crowds of visitors that have arrived in Tulare for this year's World Ag Expo.
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Tobacco farmer, Eddie Ward, is checking out tractors and machines that could help him cut down on costs back home in Kentucky.
"Everybody's got different ideas and they bring'em here. If it makes my way of life easier, if it costs down on labor costs I'm all about learning all I can about it," Ward said.
Every year the World Ag Expo gives companies from around the globe the chance to unveil their new products. Perhaps the coolest item to hit the market in 2018 was started by a business owner in Kingsburg.
The unmanned spray system by GUSS promises to revolutionize the way farmers irrigate their orchards.
"Innovation comes out of necessity and the owner has been thinking about doing something like this for a long time and he started three years ago and now we're taking it to the world," Marketing Director, Gary Thompson, said.
Solar Shrink mulch film by Hydrox Technology is also a must see. Started by a pair of brothers from Australia. The patented plastic shrinks under the sun's heat to form a tight ground cover to help crops grow more efficiently.
T. Rob Trenchard of Hydrox Technology said, "It's going to reduce the amount of labor because the product can be put down 15% faster because they don't need to worry about the settings on the machine, if it goes down loose it'll shrink tight to the bit."
Experts are calling the MegaBinder by ANDROS is a game changer in the industry. The nearly $70,000 piece of machinery can scoop and wind up any mulch plastic or drip material faster than anything on the market.
"In the past, it would take two guys to wind up three acres at a time, this winds up 60 acres a day with one person," Gene Rhinehart said.
Wednesday is expected to be the big day in Tulare, there will be more visitors and a free concert featuring Craig Campbell at night.
