In a significant stride towards advancing agricultural research and education, RDO Equipment Co. and the University of Arizona’s Yuma Agricultural Center (YAC) have forged a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to equip the research center with cutting-edge precision agriculture technology, fostering innovation and hands-on learning for the next generation of farmers.
The partnership, announced by Richard Arias, RDO’s vice president of Southwest agriculture, will provide YAC with state-of-the-art tractors, planters, and other precision ag equipment. This upgrade is a substantial leap from the equipment that had been in use for over two decades at the center’s nearly 500-acre test fields. Samuel Discua, the farm director at YAC, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the benefits of both the advanced machinery and the expertise that RDO team members bring to the table. “This is really a game-changer for us and the students here at the university’s ag research center,” Discua said. “We’re thrilled to benefit not only from these connected tractors and planters but also from RDO team members’ expertise to learn from data-driven insights.”
The collaboration aligns with YAC’s goal of becoming a “smart farm,” a vision that resonates with RDO’s commitment to helping farmers optimize their operations. Arias emphasized the importance of providing the research center with updated equipment to meet its research goals and fulfill commitments to its customers. “Our agreement with the research center will provide the center with tractors to run their day-to-day operations for specified hours,” Arias said. “As a beacon of agricultural advancement for our region, it is important that they have updated equipment to make sure they can fulfil the commitments they have to their customers and research goals.”
YAC is renowned for its leading role in agricultural research and trials, focusing on experimental pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to develop solutions for pest control and water conservation. Through this partnership, RDO team members like Saul Amezquita, product specialist supervisor, and Brant Palmer, precision ag product specialist, will train students on connected tractors and the latest ag tech equipment. Maria Zepeda, RDO’s agronomist based in Yuma, noted that the center serves both current regional farmers and future generations through experiential research and hands-on training. “This spring, several RDO team members provided training on Monosem planters, SeedStar, Surepoint and a DJI Agras T50 drone,” Zepeda said.
Looking ahead, students, YAC leaders, and RDO team members will collaborate in field trials to grow lettuce, a crop of significant importance to the region. Arias underscored RDO’s ongoing commitment to area farmers, emphasizing the importance of developing services, support, and training to identify best growing practices tailored to regional conditions. “Through partnerships with our customers, we conduct trials, so they benefit users, and create data sets for better decision making in the future,” Arias said.
Discua explained that this partnership will expand YAC’s capabilities, allowing it to offer local farmers and companies greater access to test equipment. “We will be able to offer local farmers a place to experience up-and-coming equipment and technologies,” Discua said. “I expect many farmers will be interested in working with us and RDO so we can all learn new ways to efficiently grow crops like lettuce, which feeds all of us in the U.S.”
This partnership between RDO and YAC is poised to drive agricultural innovation, enhance educational opportunities, and support the farming community. By leveraging advanced technology and expertise, the collaboration aims to address current challenges and pave the way for sustainable and efficient farming practices in the future.