Agriculture summit highlights technology advances

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Thursday marked the third day of the annual Southwest Agriculture Summit kicked off this morning.

Technology seems to be driving the agriculture field now more than ever, according to keynote speaker Dr. David Lehr.

Dr.David Lehr spoke about how data is driving the agriculture industry and explained agriculture is on the cutting edge of technology.

Technology is being used across the field for tracking animal stress levels and even managing crops.

In fact, it was revealed that local agriculture leaders are working with fifty startups from the silicon valley for software that can further advance the agriculture field.

He added the biggest problem in agriculture is that people do not understand how exciting it is.

"If you don’t have any friends that aren’t in it, you know to check your newspaper and correct something they said wrong or volunteer to teach a class in a middle school about what it is you do,” said Dr. Lehr.

Yuma's agriculture industry has contributed over $1 billion dollars to the local economy and $10 billion statewide, according to Steve Alemeda, Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association.