Proof of a new agricultural revolution was on full display during a recent agricultural technology field day in the Central Valley. The event, co-hosted by Emergent Connext and Cal.net, brought together farmers from across one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions. The goal was to demonstrate how real-time production data insights can boost efficiency, even in the most remote fields, orchards, and vineyards.
The event showcased a range of tools, from soil and plant-health sensors to automated irrigation solutions and livestock identification tags that track herd location. These innovations are propelling American agriculture into a new digital age, transforming how crops are grown in the Central Valley and beyond.
Water savings, labor savings, and decreased use of inputs are just a few of the benefits that Emergent’s connected farming solutions make possible. Thanks to the collaboration between Emergent and Cal.net, sensors are now accompanied by actionable insights, enabling growers to make more informed decisions on their acres. The recent field day event displayed the power of this innovation, featuring leading growers such as Don Cameron of Terranova Ranch and Joy Sterling of Iron Horse Vineyards.
Terranova Ranch Vice President and General Manager Don Cameron emphasized the necessity of precision irrigation for improving yields while conserving water. He has deployed Emergent and Cal.net’s irrigation automation solution on a portion of his farm. “Last year, we experienced one of the hottest Julys on record, and our tomato crop suffered,” he said. “In California, with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, water is a critical resource. We’ve realized that increasing the frequency and precision of our irrigation can improve yields while using less water. By fine-tuning our system, we can irrigate when we need to, applying small amounts to hot areas in the field. This gives us the flexibility to optimize water use while maintaining productivity.”
Cameron shared that the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) latest report on precision agriculture used Terranova Ranch as a case study, showing that their system has saved between 10 and 30 percent of water. “If we could scale this technology across California, even saving just 10 percent statewide would be a major victory for water conservation,” Cameron said. Not only has Cameron been able to reduce water usage, but labor savings have increased efficiency and provided an opportunity to upskill his workforce. “The old way was scheduling crews day and night to open and close valves across 2,200 acres of tomatoes. With three valves per 80-acre field, it was overwhelming, and we knew it wasn’t being done efficiently, especially at night,” Cameron explained. “Now, with automated irrigation, we’re no longer limited to rigid four- or six-hour schedules. We can irrigate whenever necessary, avoiding peak energy demand periods and reducing labor costs. The flexibility of this system is a game-changer.”
Cameron said he is always looking for innovative ways to incorporate technology at Terranova. The Cal.net and Emergent collaboration has allowed the farm to integrate the use of IoT devices and sensors, with real-time data and automation. “We’re not collecting data just for the sake of it. We want actionable insights that help us make real decisions and reduce stress on both us and our crops,” Cameron said.
Joy Sterling, CEO of Iron Horse Vineyards, highlighted how IoT technology is improving water management, even across the challenges presented by remote, hilly vineyard terrain. “Like all farmers, we’re never satisfied with the weather — it’s always too much or too little,” Sterling said. “At Iron Horse, we have seven interlocking knolls, so some rows get too much water while others get too little. The vines that receive too little water become stressed, while those that are overwatered develop excessive canopy growth, which diverts energy away from the grapes and creates an ideal environment for mold.”
By connecting her vineyard sensors to the Emergent IoT network, Sterling will be able to monitor and regulate irrigation in different sections of the vineyard, which will lead to improved wine quality. According to Sterling, this level of precision will help the vineyard optimize the balance between canopy growth and fruit quality.
During the event, Emergent CEO Mike Roudi emphasized the importance of remote connectivity in farming. “If you work in an office, you take internet access for granted. But farmers — whose ‘offices’ are their fields — often have no connectivity or sparse, unreliable service,” he said. “That puts them at a massive disadvantage. We’re here to make ag tech solutions better by ensuring farmers have real-time connectivity. Our goal is to provide them with the same connectivity advantages that people in urban areas enjoy.”
As connectivity expands, farmers will be able to integrate technology in ways that were previously unimaginable. Roudi said that today technology can be optimized for every aspect of farming, enabling precision
