New technology showcased at Anheuser-Busch barley growers day
The annual Anheuser-Busch Barley Growers Day event is a chance for farmers and barley buyers to meet and learn about what’s new in the industry.
“We only buy the best barley in the world,” said Alan Slater, the director of barley operations for Anheuser-Busch. “To get that we need to work together with research, cultural practices, agronomy, and have great communication between ourselves and the growers to make it happen.”
Idaho farmers grow over 40 percent of Anheuser-Busch’s barley used in the US. That’s why the company invests a lot in the gem state and showcased several new strains of barley more suited for Idaho’s climate.
“We now have winter barley,” said Gary Hanning, a research director for Anheuser-Busch. “It’s grown much like winter wheat but it’s winter barley, and it’s much more water conserving that spring barley.”
The grower’s event also featured new water saving technology such as the Agrimet Weather Station systems. These small weather stations sit in the middle of a farmers fields and give the farmer real time updates on what the weather is doing to his or her crops.
“So it collects solar radiation, temperaturer, humidity, wind parameters, and precipitation,” said Jana Hamel of the Bureau of Reclamation. “It helps with water conservation, power savings, a better crop quality. We also see higher yields and reduced pest infiltration.”
Anheuser-Busch representatives say a recent survey shows the Agrimet Weather Stations help farmers reduce their water consumption by nine to 20 percent.
Drone technology is also making it’s way to the farmers field. One demonstration by the company Empire Unmanned showed a drone that takes near-infrared photos of crop fields. The images help farmers map where their fields are thriving, and where they’re struggling in a matter of minutes.
