Summer bus tour showcases the future of fruit production
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EmailSee the latest orchard technology in action during an Aug. 27 bus tour in northwest Michigan, featuring demonstrations of autonomous and smart sprayers, platforms, electric weeders, drones and more.
On Aug. 27, 2026, growers, researchers, industry professionals and agricultural technology leaders are invited to the Summer 2026 Bus Tour and Technology Demonstration Day, a collaborative event highlighting the latest innovations shaping Michigan's tree fruit industry. Hosted through a partnership between the Benzie Manistee Horticultural Society, the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Center Foundation, Michigan State University Extension and MSU AgBioResearch, the day will combine research updates, hands-on equipment demonstrations and opportunities for networking.
The event begins at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center in Traverse City, Michigan, with coffee and donuts from 8–8:30 a.m. before participants board a bus for a full day of orchard visits throughout Grand Traverse and Antrim counties.
The first stop will be Bratschi Orchards in Williamsburg, Michigan, where researchers will present findings from an irrigation trial in Premier Honeycrisp apples. Jack Sinnaeve of the MSU Department of Horticulture, Younsuk Dong, PhD, of the MSU Department of Biosystems Engineering, and Nikki Rothwell, PhD, will discuss how irrigation management influences tree performance, fruit quality and overall orchard productivity.
Following the irrigation presentation, attendees will see an electric weeder demonstration led by Joshua Miranda, PhD, of the MSU Department of Horticulture. As growers continue to seek alternatives to traditional weed management practices, electric weed control technology offers a promising option for improving sustainability while reducing chemical inputs.
The tour then travels to Cherry Ke Orchards in Rapid City, Michigan, where the afternoon will focus on precision agriculture and automation. Talon Felker of Cherry Ke Orchards and Mark Evans of Evans Brothers Company will demonstrate the LandLady platform, showcasing technology designed to improve orchard management and operational efficiency.
A catered taco bar lunch will be served on site. After lunch, participants will experience a series of machinery demonstrations featuring some of the newest advances in orchard equipment. Mike Reinke, PhD, of MSU Extension will demonstrate a commercial smart sprayer that Cherry Ke has been using for spray applications this growing season. We will also see the USDA 2.0 sprayer, the next generation of the commercial sprayer. Both sprayers highlight technologies that use sensors and precision application methods to reduce pesticide use while maintaining effective crop protection.
Automation continues to take center stage with a demonstration of the LJ Tech Autonomous Sprayer. The autonomous system illustrates how self-guided equipment may help address labor shortages while improving efficiency and consistency in orchard operations.
The afternoon also features a Fendt tractor demonstration at Cherry Ke Orchards, providing attendees with an opportunity to see the latest tractor technology and learn about equipment capabilities designed specifically for modern specialty crop production.
The tour returns to the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center for an afternoon of research demonstrations. Keith Ackerman, PhD, of Airway Ag will conduct a drone demonstration. We conducted a thinning efficacy trial in Honeycrisp apples at Cherry Bay Orchards comparing drone application to a traditional airblast sprayer.
The tour continues with a presentation by Rothwell on using ultraviolet light as a tool to reduce populations of Pseudomonas and Erwinia, two bacterial pathogens that can significantly impact sweet cherry and apple orchard health. The project highlights emerging non-chemical approaches to disease management that may become valuable additions to integrated pest management programs, particularly for control of bacterial diseases.
The final technology demonstration of the day features a Rears power blast sprayer equipped with sonic spray technology. Craig Gillison of Gillison's Variety Fabrication will demonstrate how advancements in spray delivery systems can improve coverage, increase efficiency and reduce off-target movement.
The day concludes with a happy hour and dinner, providing participants with an opportunity to discuss the day's demonstrations, exchange ideas with fellow growers and researchers, and strengthen the partnerships that continue to drive innovation in Michigan's fruit industry. The happy hour and dinner at the Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center are free and open to the public.
By bringing together university researchers, growers, equipment manufacturers and technology developers, the Summer 2026 Bus Tour and Technology Demonstration Day offers a firsthand look at the tools and research that are shaping the future of orchard production. From irrigation management and precision spraying to autonomous equipment, drones and emerging disease-control technologies, the event reflects the continued commitment to advancing sustainable, efficient and profitable fruit production across the region.
The cost is $65 and includes the bus tour, taco bar lunch and happy hour. The happy hour will feature Michigan wines and ciders and delicious heavy appetizers from our local caterer John Hardy.
