Two major innovations in the nursery

Auto-tracking GPS system

As Luc Lareault nursery focuses on product quality, it has now introduced GPS assisted auto-tracking system in all steps of strawberry bare root production. The integration of this technology enables the nursery to go further in the products' uniformity and improves the accuracy and the efficiency of all cultural interventions. After three years of constant work, Luc Lareault inc. can now integrate satellite assisted ground precision systems on the farm. Originally used for fumigation, the auto-tracking system was coupled to our tractors to enable a precision of two centimeters on the row, and it now assists the plantation, the mechanical weeding, spraying and digging. Besides improving crop uniformity, this technology will enhance spraying efficiency and help reduce pest resistance buildup with out impairing our competitiveness.

Irrigation management with digital tensiometers

Natural resources conservations are also a concern at Lareault Nursery. Irrigation management with the help of digital tensiometers, linked to our computers is the second technology introduced on the farm. State of the art irrigation and split nitrogen applications are mandatory on Lavaltrie sandy loam soils. To obtain a balanced vegetative growth, those two factors work together. Irrigation duration and frequencies will be monitored more closely with the help of digital soil water tension probes, a necessary step for the production of strawberry tips and plug plants. With this technology, water usage and management will be aligned with plant needs and optimized for every different growth stage of the crop.

Those two technologies will permit us to constantly improve our products in respect of environmental constraints.