VINE Connect Field Day at West Side REC (Live AgTech Demos)

UCANR Innovate

Hands-on Field Day showcasing six agtech demos in real farm conditions. Free, coffee &amp; breakfast included. Register to reserve your spot.

University of California: West Side Research and Extension Center

See AgTech in Action—Right in the Field On June 26, the VINE Connect program returns to California's Central Valley with an agtech-focused field day at the UC ANR West Side Research &amp; Extension Center in Fresno County. Our VINE Connect field day are designed specifically for growers, shaped by the challenges you face every day. At the event, six carefully vetted agtech startups will demonstrate technologies addressing water management, disease detection, automation, and pollination, all tailored to the realities of California farming. Each company is a participant in our VINE Connect program, developed with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmhand-ventures/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/company/farmhand-ventures/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Farmhand Ventures</a> to help proven technologies adapt and scale for the state's unique agricultural landscape. These evens are hands-on, open-air forums for learning, testing, and shaping what's next in farm innovation. You'll have the opportunity to walk the site, speak directly with founders and engineers, and explore how these tools might support your own operations, right now or in the near future. Beyond the demos, this is also a chance to connect over coffee with other row crop and orchard producers from across the Central Valley. UC Extension specialists will also be on hand to discuss cost-share programs, grants, and training opportunities to help you adopt new practices.

Key Details <ul><li>Date: Thursday, June 26 | 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.</li><li>Location: UC ANR West Side REC, 17353 W. Oakland Ave, Five Points, CA 93624</li><li>Cost: Free to attend; coffee and breakfast provided</li><li>Dress: Field attire—closed-toe shoes, hat, sunscreen recommended</li></ul>

Register Space is limited—reserve your badge today and join us in the field on June 26.

Meet the InnovatorsGet acquainted with the six companies you’ll see on-site. Each is addressing a specific production challenge, from irrigation efficiency and disease forecasting to autonomous orchard equipment. <ul><li>HotSpot AG – Smarter irrigation management through cloud-based control of pumps, valves, and field sensors. (<a href="https://hotspotag.com" title="https://hotspotag.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://hotspotag.com</a>)</li><li>Spornado – Passive spore-trapping device that delivers early warnings of airborne crop pathogens. (<a href="https://spornadosampler.com" title="https://spornadosampler.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://spornadosampler.com</a>)</li><li>Edete Precision Technologies – Mechanical pollination service delivering calibrated pollen at optimal bloom times. (<a href="https://edetepta.com" title="https://edetepta.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://edetepta.com</a>)</li><li>CropVue Technologies – Integrated network of AI-enabled smart traps and climate sensors for real-time pest and microclimate data. (<a href="https://cropvue.com" title="https://cropvue.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://cropvue.com</a>)</li><li>Verdi – Plug-and-play hardware and software platform that automates zone-level irrigation and monitors system performance. (<a href="https://verdi.ag" title="https://verdi.ag" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://verdi.ag</a>)</li><li>Bonsai Robotics – Vision-guided autonomy kits that convert orchard shakers and sweepers into self-driving machines. (<a href="https://bonsairobotics.ai" title="https://bonsairobotics.ai" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://bonsairobotics.ai</a>)</li></ul>