Driverless sprayers, hairy heel wart remedy and truck claws make this wish list

The World Ag Expo has announced its Top 10 New Product awards for 2018 – and this year there is something for everyone.

See the world’s first fully autonomous orchard sprayer, a solution for controlling hairy heel warts in dairy cows and a way to get your truck unstuck from mud and snow.

The winning products will be showcased during the expo that runs Feb. 13-15. The annual event draws more than 100,000 visitors to the sprawling grounds of the International Agri-Center in Tulare.

This year’s new product winners are innovative, cost-effective and cutting edge:

GUSS – Global Unmanned Spray System, Kingsburg. GUSS is a driverless sprayer that uses GPS, lasers and multiple sensors to maneuver through orchards and vineyards applying farm chemicals.

Andros – Megabinder LRV, Paso Robles. The Megabinder is a fast and efficient way of retrieving drip tape and agriculture plastics.

Metalcraft of Georgia – There’s a new way to move dirt. The Metalcraft TILT uses sensors and GPS controls to create precision slopes.

Lindsay Corporation – The Omaha company makes Pivot Control Lite, which allows for the remote monitoring and control of almost any brand of electric center pivot. That’s a big deal when trying to save water.

Cargill Animal Nutrition – The Minnesota company makes a forage testing system that uses a handheld device and smart phone app to test the dry matter in your feed.

Hydrox Technologies – From Australia comes Solar Shrink Mulch Film. Not exactly sure what “shrinking forces” are – but whatever it is, it’s in the plastic mulch from Hydrox. What it means is that sunlight causes the film to shrink, creating a tighter fit on the growing bed.

Sweco Products Inc. – The Sacramento Valley company makes the Orchard Master, which carefully rips the soil open allowing weeds and harvesting debris to be worked into the dirt.

Truck Claws – From Harrisonburg, Va., comes a device that clamps on your tire to help you get out of mud or deep snow. It works on farm trucks and commercial vehicles.

Environmental Technologies Inc. – The Washington-state company makes Thymox Footbath. If you are not familiar with hairy heel warts, this isn’t for you. But to dairy operators who struggle with this highly contagious hoof disease, the Thymox Footbath can be a cost-effective solution.

Eno Scientific LLC – The North Carolina company makes a well water management system that uses sensors and sound waves to monitor water levels in agriculture wells.

This story was originally published December 7, 2017 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Driverless sprayers, hairy heel wart remedy and truck claws make this wish list."