Laser weeders, self-driving sprayers and drones.

Held at rodeo grounds in Salinas, California, the 2023 FIRA USA conference and trade show provided ample space and plenty of soil for agriculture technology manufacturers and service companies to show their futuristic visions of what autonomous farming could look like.

Take a look at a few of the examples that were on hand during the three-day event.

Shortly after the gates opened at the Salinas Sports Complex, a Mini GUSS automated sprayer navigates through potted trees and Bay Area fog before the 2023 FIRA USA ag tech conference and trade show. Part of the facility’s rodeo grounds served as a simulated high-density orchard for a rotation of robot demonstrations. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
Shortly after the gates opened at the Salinas Sports Complex, a Mini GUSS automated sprayer navigates through potted trees and Bay Area fog before the 2023 FIRA USA ag tech conference and trade show. Part of the facility’s rodeo grounds served as a simulated high-density orchard for a rotation of robot demonstrations. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
The FIRA trade show included educational programs, such as Washington State University’s AgAID booth where Junior Gomez, a student recruitment coordinator, set up Meta Quest virtual reality headsets. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
The FIRA trade show included educational programs, such as Washington State University’s AgAID booth where Junior Gomez, a student recruitment coordinator, set up Meta Quest virtual reality headsets. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Want to flash back to the FIRA experience? Check out our Instagram post.

A short walk from the rodeo arena, attendees watch a demonstration by the WeedSpider, from California robot company SeedSpider, in a vegetable field planted by FIRA specifically for the event. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
A short walk from the rodeo arena, attendees watch a demonstration by the WeedSpider, from California robot company SeedSpider, in a vegetable field planted by FIRA specifically for the event. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
Under the WeedSpider, several arms and blades busily work their way around delicate row crops, informed by camera technology, while the robot carefully navigates the field and various obstacles. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
Under the WeedSpider, several arms and blades busily work their way around delicate row crops, informed by camera technology, while the robot carefully navigates the field and various obstacles. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
This behemoth is a pollen puffing machine developed by Edete of Israel. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)
This behemoth is a pollen puffing machine developed by Edete of Israel. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

—photos by TJ Mullinax