AGRICULTURE
Many birds are agricultural pests and the challenge of driving them from crops and orchards is significant. Across America losses from pest bird species stretches well into the billions of dollars annually, and highlights the continuing demand for Hardshell Labs’ techniques for avian hazing and denial. Field experience indicates that due to raven learning characteristics (they’re smart!) aversion to areas protected by Hardshell Labs is retained by individual birds and may even be passed onto others in their group.
In one agricultural market over 250,000 acres of pistachios are under cultivation in California, generating some 600 million pounds of annual production, representing 99% of U.S. production, second only to Iran on the world market. Losses to ravens cut into the harvest and can exceed 50% on small parcels, and unprotected orchards have been known to be stripped clean. Traditional pest avian aversion approaches have limited effectiveness and can be labor intensive, expensive and polluting. Hardshell has deployed laser and drone-based bird hazing methodologies in pistachio orchards, with very promising results. Learn more on our Pistachio Protection page.
The company is advancing those technologies through the use of Artificial Intelligence. HSL’s technology and approaches could readily be transferred to many other high-value crops including: vineyards, berries and other nuts. Hardshell continually is improving its methods of discouraging pest birds from attacking crops and agricultural infrastructure, and is open to inquiries to protect your crops.
