Specialty crop growers on the California Coast operate with elevated risk. Many facets of farming are out of a grower’s control.

Chris Oliva is Key Accounts and Southern Sales Manager for AgRx, a leading independent supplier of traditional and organic crop protection and nutrient products, including Redox Bio-Nutrients technology.

He said coastal growers face stringent regulation, high land prices and volatile markets, so sound agronomic decisions are a necessity.

"I've known these families all my life," Oliva said. "There is a special bond. When we come to them with a product, they trust that this product is going to get them the results that they want."

Find out more at AgRx.com.

Just like the industry it is serving, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Strawberry Center has grown a lot in the last decade.

This year’s 10th annual field day attracted more than 600 growers, scientists and industry members. While the California strawberry crop value has increased markedly to $3.5 billion last year, work at Cal Poly has intensified.

“The three main areas we cover are entomology, plant pathology and automation,” said founding director, Gerald Holmes. “Part of our mission statement is that the research and education that we do addresses grower’s needs. If we’re not doing that, we’re not doing our job.”

Automation is a top industry focus because about 60 percent of a grower’s expenses come from labor. Innovations of interest include robotic harvesters, a double-barreled bug vacuum and an autonomous pest and disease control using ultraviolet light.

Find out more about the strawberry center at strawberry.calpoly.edu.

As it turns out, dreams do come true. For Wayne Cawley, it took a broken truck and not so subtle reminders from a preacher and social media to realize his dream to become a farm owner.

Today, Redemption Farms in Maryland is a highly successful, 38-acre U-pick farm, featuring a plethora of produce items, such as strawberries, tree fruit, potatoes and pumpkins.

Cawley credits his strong faith for providing him the right mental frame and fortitude for success.

“The more that I started to lean towards my faith, I wouldn’t say things got better, but the better I got with things,” he said.

Cawley utilizes Redox technology on his farm, including diKaP™, Mainstay® Si and Mainstay® Calcium 2.0.