Smart Orchard Field Day

Name: Smart Orchard Field Day
Start: 2025-07-25T08:30:00-07:00
End: 2025-07-25T12:30:00-07:00
Location: Smart Orchard Mattawa

July 25 @ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Free

2025 Smart Orchard Field Day

Precision & Automated Irrigation Systems

📅 Friday, July 25, 2025 | 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Lunch Sponsored

Columbia Farm Services managed WSU Smart Apple Orchard Testbed at Mattawa

📍 16518 Road 26 SW, Mattawa, WA 99349

This event is offered in English and Spanish

Explore the Future of Smart Irrigation and Heat Management in Orchards

Join growers, industry experts, researchers, and tech developers at the 2025 WSU Smart Orchard Field Day! This hands-on event will showcase cutting-edge technologies and applied research driving precision irrigation and heat mitigation technology in Washington. Whether you’re curious about advanced irrigation tools, fruit quality monitoring, or orchard automation, this event brings insights from research directly to the orchard.

Enjoy live demonstrations, bilingual sessions, interactive exhibits, and time to network with growers and industry professionals.

Track 1 – Precision Irrigation & Automation

From sensing soil moisture to automating your entire irrigation system remotely — discover how emerging tools and proven practices can improve water efficiency and crop performance. This track includes demonstrations of scheduling platforms, automation tools, and research updates from WSU and collaborators.

Key Highlights:

Cutting-edge sensors and telemetry systems
Scheduling softwares tailored for apple orchards
Translating WSU research into grower-ready tools

Track 2 – Heat Stress Management & Fruit Quality

As summers get hotter, heat stress is becoming a critical challenge for apple production. This session focuses on innovative methods to monitor, mitigate, and adapt. Learn how to detect stress early, apply water cooling efficiently, and maintain fruit quality through science-driven solutions.

Key Highlights:

Infrared and thermal imaging technology
Smartphone apps for in-field decision-making
Heat-mitigation methods: netting vs misting
Monitoring crop nutrient status
Research on heat and fruit quality

Connect, Learn, and Collaborate

Start your day with snacks and registration, then wrap up the morning with open demonstrations, a small trade show, and lunch with participants and speakers. Bilingual support and materials will be available throughout the event. The testbed is funded by the Washington Tree Fruit Research commission and is a joint effort between WSU faculty, Grower Cooperator, and Ag-Tech Industry Partners.