A recent funding announcement could lead to some interesting new technology for fruit farmers - and beyond.
The federal government is putting almost a million dollars into the development of wireless technology to provide real-time, localized information to better manage plant diseases and optimize the use of pesticides.
This particular project deals specifically with fire blight in apples and downy and powdery mildews in grapes.
Field testing will be done in locations across the country.
The company involved is SemiosBio Technologies - which has already developed a sensor and pest management system for codling moths in apples.
Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay says these are the kinds of innovations that will help farmers continue to be good stewards of the land and maintain their competitiveness.
