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MSU Technologies pipeline leans into labor solutions for farmers

A technology manager says new research developments are heavily focused on solving workforce challenges.

Julia Miller, with Michigan State University Technologies, works with researchers to bring their innovations to the marketplace. She tells Brownfield growers want “farm-tough” tools that are affordable.

“If they’re out in their back 40 and something breaks, they want to be able to fix it as soon as they can, and not also have to wait for a couple weeks to get a new part,” she says.

Miller says some solutions are digital.

“We do have a researcher who’s developing, kind of like a portal, a software to be able to not only put in your spray information, but you can then share that and say you this was sprayed when this is how our management practices are for transparency as well as regulatory compliance,” she says.

She says, unfortunately, federal funding uncertainty can delay getting new products in the hands of farmers.

Brownfield interviewed Miller during the recent Great Lakes Expo in Grand Rapids.