With support from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Multistate Research Fund, researchers at 17 land-grant universities are working together to develop automated systems that work well for labor-intensive specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery plants. nursery crops (including floriculture). It is also low-cost. To overcome labor shortages and cut labor costs, Washington State University scientists designed a robotic twining machine for hops, and University of Georgia researchers are perfecting affordable automated technologies for efficient blueberry harvest. McAlesterStockyards.com. They have long proven themselves as viable for production on the Southern Great Plains. Specialty Crops Demonstration Workshops Slated for Southeast Oklahoma Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:10:04 CDT When some people think about agricultural crops in Oklahoma, wheat is the crop that comes to mind first. However, there It’s not unusual to find growers earning as much as $60,000 per acre with these unique cash […] For example, Oklahoma’s standing at 44th in the nation in the area of the “high value” crops of vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes highlights an area with exciting upside potential. “Under limited irrigation, you gain average 800 to 1,200 pounds an acre.” 1400 Independence Ave, SW Learn more about this USDA-NIFA funded project: W2009: Integrated Systems Research and Development in Automation and Sensor for Sustainability of Specialty Crops(link is external) (2013-2018). Single organizations, institutions, and individuals are Two crops potentially viable for Southwest Oklahoma, for instance, are sesame and guar, which have been studied at the Southwest Research and Extension Center, Altus. encouraged to participate as project partners. Growing specialty crops is the perfect way to turn your gardening skills and knowledge into extra income. prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual “It’s a drought-tolerant crop, and we’re trying to find rotational dryland crops that could be produced in the area.”. http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the OKCWest.com for more information. Many other potential “specialty” crops can be grown, however, which could help producers diversify. University of Florida scientists developed a robot that counts and maps the fruit on citrus trees, and University of California-Davis researchers developed fruit-picking carts with instruments that map orchard fruits. Cows and bulls sell Mondays, calves and stockers sell Tuesdays, and feeder cattle sell Wednesdays. Washington State University scientists developed drones to deter birds that eat and damage fruit crops. A second benefit, Jackson said, is that it also serves well as a rotation crop, including cotton, wheat and corn. Jackson has also looked at guar, which is a popular crop in Texas, and has recently made inroads into the Sooner State. Producers wishing to adopt specialty crops should first consult with the OSU Extension Service as well as USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and they can find expertise as well as assistance and literature to aid in the adoption of specialty crops. Automated disease detection and management technologies could mitigate crop losses. information requested in the form. Grant funds will not be awarded for projects that solely benefit a particular commercial Learn more about NIFA Impacts. TulsaStockyards.com for more information. Oklahoma makes up 6% of the total inventory of cattle in the United States. Gary Strickland is the Jackson County OSU Extension agriculture educator, Altus, Okla., and has been studying sesame for forage opportunities but also sees the potential for grain production. And, handheld devices designed by University of Hawaii researchers give coffee growers an inexpensive way to spot leaf water stress and optimize irrigation.