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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Robot weeder is on the way

Monday, December 3, 2012

It started out as a robot that would cut the grass in urban parks. Somebody thought that spinning blades were a bad idea with kids and dogs on leashes around, and so the idea evolved into an automated lettuce weeder, according to The Economist magazine.

The electric-powered Lettuce 'Bot, brainchild of Stanford University-trained engineers Jorge Heraud and Lee Redden, takes pictures of passing lettuce plants, compares them to a database of more than one million images of lettuce taken from all possible angles and instantly decides if they should live or die. A shot of concentrated fertilizer out the back end kills weeds and the remaining lettuce gets a growth blast as well. A version of the machine, currently under development, aimed at organic lettuce producers, favours those old spinning blades.

The makers promise that the robots will be cost-competitive with hand weeding. BF

Current Issue

February 2026

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

Growing Home with BASF Opens 2026 Nominations

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

After strong community engagement in 2025, BASF Agricultural Solutions Canada is inviting Canadians to take part once again as nominations open for the 2026 Growing Home with BASF program. Now entering its fourth year, the initiative continues to support organizations that play an... Read this article online

DIY Spark Plug Test - Keep Engines Running Smoothly

Friday, January 30, 2026

From chainsaws to snow blowers, you can keep your small engine equipment in great shape with some preventative maintenance and knowledge. Help keep your machines running smoothly. If you use other small-engine tools on the farm, like chainsaws and other power equipment, spark plugs... Read this article online

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