Innovation and collaboration were key themes as Bayer hosted about 130 growers and other agricultural professionals at its Woodland, Calif., fruit and vegetable research facility on Aug. 13.

In an all-day outing that included a field tour, a vendors' tent, a luncheon and afternoon breakout sessions, Bayer highlighted its partnerships with companies including Netafim, an Israeli firm specializing in irrigation technology, and the San Francisco-based Climate Corporation, a digital data provider.

"We saw this as an opportunity to change the way this field day is held," said Jenna Oesch, global marketing and customer experience leader for Bayer Vegetable Seeds. Rather than simply hold field discussions on issues related to crop production, the company wanted to have a variety of agricultural innovators on hand to meet growers and share ideas, she said.

"It's integrated and combined solutions that will make the industry grow and propel into the future," she told Western Farm Press.

Here are some images from the field day.