World Ag Expo to highlight agricultural innovations

By Lisa McEwen

Even with 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, the 2023 World Ag Expo is nearly bursting at the seams.

The acclaimed agricultual gathering is set for Feb. 14-16 at the International Agri-Center in Tulare. It will feature more than 1,200 exhibitors this year and is expected to draw 100,000 attendees from California, other states and more than 30 countries.

Marketing manager Jennifer Fawkes said exhibitors are demanding more space for live demonstrations and test drives, pushed by a desire to show just what their products can do for those in agriculture.

“There is so much new cool ag technology,” Fawkes said. “You understand what a tractor does, but an autonomous tractor or electric vehicle, how does that fit into your operation? Exhibitors are shifting how they use their space.”

Just five outdoor spots remained available as of last week.

Each year, the World Ag Expo highlights companies with innovative new products in a Top 10 competition. Technology features prominently in the list, with products such as The Bee Home, a robotic system that conducts surveillance of bee colonies to ward off colony collapse.

Bluewhite’s Pathfinder transforms any existing orchard or vineyard tractor into an autonomous fleet, capable of spraying, discing or harvesting without reliance on a cellular connection, which is not available in all operating conditions.

Making its debut at World Ag Expo is Tevel, a robotic fruit harvesting system which integrates eight robots on a platform harvester that can navigate different tree heights and row widths, high-density fruit walls or V-shaped trellises. The invention has already picked apples, peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots, and pears in the United States, Europe, and Israel. Of the top 10 companies, six are American, three are from Israel and another from Finland. All have offices around the world and in California, an important point, Fawkes said.

“We know how productive, busy and diverse California agriculture is,” she said. “People know that California is important to agriculture.”

Fawkes also pointed out that international travelers are coming back after the COVID-19 pandemic, noting a 75% increase in ticket sales to this group.

She fielded a request a few weeks ago via Twitter from a group of Italian farmers who are including the World Ag Expo in their tour of Arizona and California agricultural regions.

“Buying groups are coming in to do more business,” she said. “It is so exciting to see people come to Tulare and get business done and network.”

For those who want to get off of the show grounds, tours of local agriculture producers are popular. Milk and milk products are the top commodity in Tulare County, and visitors can take in a tour of Elkhorn Dairy, which milks 3,300 cows three times a day, followed by a visit to Top O’ the Morn Farms, which features a 5-acre solar farm that supplies electricity to the operation.

Other tours include stops at local wineries, a feed mill, citrus farms and the University of California Lindcove Research & Extension Center, which studies citrus varieties, horticultural techniques and pest management.

For those looking for insight into the future of the dairy industry in California, farm office automation, groundwater recharge, or the causes of hay fires, free seminars are available.

The 56th annual World Ag Expo is the largest annual outdoor ag tradeshow in the world and this year’s theme is “Taking Care of Ag Business.”

“We not only want to be the biggest but the best ag show,” Fawkes said. “With our demonstrations, exhibitors and quality attendees, we are a really good ag show where networking, buying and researching are happening. People will be having conversations that will make a difference overall for agriculture.”

(Lisa McEwen is a reporter in Exeter. She may be contacted at mcewenlisamarie@gmail.com.)