Robots May Become Essential on US Farms

This undated image provided by Ramsay Highlander, Inc., shows company technicians operating a mechanical harvester on a lettuce field in the Imperial Valley near El Centro, Calif. With authorities promising tougher border tactics, farmers who rely on immigrant labor are eyeing an emerging generation of fruit-picking robots and high-tech tractors designed to do everything from pluck premium wine grapes to clean and core lettuce. (AP Photo/Ramsay Highlander, Inc. ) (AP)

"It will open up a lot of opportunity for better paying jobs in the agriculture industry and perhaps get us out of the mentality that being a farm worker is a dirty job," said Batkin, the citrus farmer.

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CLEARFIELD, Iowa (AP) _ A southwest Iowa couple was found trapped more than 33 hours after an old corn crib collapsed on them, officials said.

Rodney and Beverly Straight, of Clearfield, were found in the debris early Tuesday evening. The corn crib collapsed Monday morning, said Dwayne Cason, the town's fire chief.

The couple was conscious when they were found. They were taken to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, where they were in serious condition.

"I'm surprised they were found alive," Cason said.

Cason said the Straights had been doing work to remove the corn crib when the roof fell on top of them.

A neighbor called authorities after he came to remove corn from another bin on the property and heard a noise, he said.