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Welcome to the Agricultural Application Engineering (AgAppE) Laboratory of the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR). AgAppE Lab is located at the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension (KARE) Center in Parlier, CA. AgAppE provides regional leadership in the area of agricultural engineering extension and applied research with a focus on spray application engineering. The primary goal of the lab is to promote best practices for safe, economical, and environmentally safe pesticide spray application for specialty crops including almond, pistachio, walnut, stone fruit, citrus, and grapes.

AgAppE Program Themes

Develop/Evaluate Spray Application Techniques/Technologies

Development of equipment and real-time sensing and control systems for precise & automated spray application.
Evaluation of orchard spray application effectiveness based on different sprayers & different sprayer configurations.
Effectiveness and efficiency assessment of commercial equipment, sensor, and control systems for site-specific and precise spray application.

Promote Best Practices for Safe, Economical & Environmentally Sound Pesticide Spray Application

Needs assessment of grower and applicator spray application equipment and practices.
Organizing and conducting timely and need-based training and technology transfer in pesticide spray application.
Developing and disseminating science-based information for the clientele

Develop/Deploy Spray Application Decision Support Systems

Development and deployment of DSSs to assist growers and applicators with spray application decisions.
Development and application of GIS maps to enable site-specific management of orchards.