Key Takeaways
- FarmWise is initiating a business restructuring and will begin winding down operations in the coming weeks.
- The company is exploring acquisition or partnership opportunities to continue scaling its Vulcan precision weeding technology.
- FarmWise and RDO Equipment Co. recently formed an exclusive partnership to bring Vulcan AI-powered weeding to vegetable growers in the Southwest U.S..
- Taylor Farms and Barkley Farms have successfully integrated Vulcan, with Taylor Farms weeding over 2,100 acres this season.
- RDO Equipment Co. has committed to expanding Vulcan’s reach, providing sales and field support for vegetable growers.
FarmWise to Wind Down Operations, Exploring Future for Vulcan Technology
After nearly a decade of developing AI-powered agricultural robotics, FarmWise has announced that it will begin winding down operations in the coming weeks as part of a business restructuring. Despite this transition, the company remains committed to supporting its current customers and is actively seeking strategic opportunities—including potential acquisition or partnerships—to ensure that its Vulcan precision weeding technology continues to scale.
According to FarmWise leadership: “Together, we set out to tackle one of the most complex challenges in agriculture and proved that AI-powered robotics can drive real, measurable value in the field.”
Vulcan AI Weeding Technology: A Key Innovation in Precision Agriculture
FarmWise’s flagship product, Vulcan, has gained industry recognition for its ability to:
- Reduce labor costs by replacing manual weeding with AI-powered automation.
- Minimize chemical inputs, supporting sustainable, chemical-free weed management.
- Improve weeding precision through sub-inch accuracy, boosting crop quality and uniformity.
Vulcan’s success was recognized at the 2023 World Ag Expo®, where it was named one of the Top-10 New Products for its ability to remove weeds with cutting-edge computer vision technology.
Exclusive Partnership with RDO Equipment Co. to Expand Vulcan’s Reach
In September 2024, FarmWise partnered with RDO Equipment Co. to bring Vulcan precision weeding technology to vegetable growers in the Southwest U.S. The partnership was designed to address:
- Labor shortages affecting specialty crop producers.
- The rising cost of weed management in large-scale vegetable farming.
- The demand for precision AI solutions that improve efficiency and productivity.
Taylor Farms and Barkley Farms have already integrated Vulcan into their operations.
Ted Taylor, President of Agricultural Operations at Taylor Farms, highlighted the impact of Vulcan: “For Taylor Farms, Vulcan builds on the foundation of success we have experienced working with FarmWise since 2019. We purchased our first Vulcan last December and today run two of them. We have weeded over 2,100 acres already this season.”
RDO Equipment Co.’s Role in Scaling Vulcan Technology
As part of the partnership, RDO Equipment Co. committed to:
- Providing sales and field support to expand Vulcan’s reach in new and existing regions.
- Leveraging AI-powered learning capabilities to adapt Vulcan to different crops and field conditions.
- Helping growers transition to automated solutions for sustainable, high-precision weed management.
According to Richard Arias, Vice President of Southwest Agriculture at RDO Equipment Co.: “When we learned about FarmWise’s Vulcan implement and its learning AI that can improve cultivating efficacy for different crops in varying field conditions, our team saw that this product fit perfectly into our commitment to helping growers do more with less.”
FarmWise’s Next Steps: Ensuring Vulcan Technology’s Future
While FarmWise is winding down operations, the company remains optimistic that its AI-driven weeding technology will continue to scale under the right partnership.
FarmWise leadership expressed gratitude to the team, partners, and growers who contributed to its mission: “We’re proud of what we’ve built — and we’re optimistic that the FarmWise technology will continue to live on and grow in the hands of the right partner.”
