Who are we?

Welcome to Green Scarecrow, where innovation meets agriculture! We're an agricultural advising and technology firm with a mission to combat bird damage in orchards, vineyards, and crops, a menace that costs farmers over $150 million annually according to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

While companies like Bird Control Group offer laser solutions, their hefty $10,000 price tag, training demands, and custom programming make them impractical for small farms. Enter Green Scarecrow, a budget-friendly solution crafted by a small farm owner.

Our flagship product, the Green Scarecrow, is a game-changer for small farms. Combining efficiency with eco-friendliness, our patent-pending laser bird deterrent employs a unique approach by integrating a green laser with bird distress calls. Positioned 14 feet high on a tripod, the laser sweeps 360 degrees in an up-and-down motion, covering an expansive 2-acre circumference. Simultaneously, three strategically placed speakers emit bird distress calls, targeting specific species responsible for crop damage. The result? Birds vacate the area upon hearing the calls and remain deterred, perceiving the laser as a potential predator.

Technical Features:

Green Scarecrow isn't just a fix; it's your commitment to sustainable bird damage mitigation. Join us in revolutionizing agriculture—one laser at a time!

Our Story

Meet Ken Elliot, a seasoned farmer, agricultural consultant, and co-owner of Green Scarecrow. With over two decades of leadership in agriculture, Ken's expertise spans from overseeing a 60-acre crop farm to specializing in Integrated Pest Management as an agricultural consultant. His commitment to sustainable farming inspired the creation of Green Scarecrow, an eco-friendly technology developed through a bird control trial with the University of Rhode Island in 2017.

Joining Ken is Carlton Brule, a highly skilled mechanical engineer, designer, fabricator, and process developer with over a decade of experience collaborating with industry leaders such as Panasonic and Buck Automation. Together, they established Green Scarecrow LLC after securing a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer’s Grant in 2018. Now, with their sixth-generation laser units, two successful trials, and five years of dedicated effort, their groundbreaking technology is poised to revolutionize bird damage mitigation in orchards, vineyards, and field crops.

Success

Earlier prototypes of Green Scarecrow demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in managing bird populations during informal trials at Altobelli Family Farm in New York and Young Family Farm in Little Compton, RI. Tyler Young, owner of Young Family Farm, attests, "When your livelihood relies on the success of 100 acres of fresh market sweet corn, these lasers are worth their weight in gold."

In our most recent trial, Green Scarecrow deployed 23 laser units and offered tailored technical assistance to four small farms in Massachusetts specializing in fresh market sweet corn. The results were nothing short of exceptional. Participating farms witnessed a substantial reduction in average crop losses, with some achieving near-zero losses.

Tangerini’s Farm, Curcurbit Farm, Warner Farm, and Elliot Farm reported average loss percentages well below historical averages. The aggregate result across all four farms demonstrated an impressive 5.15% average loss, compared to an average historical loss of 23.75%.

The impact of the project extends beyond immediate crop protection success. With a remarkable 94.85% average bird damage mitigation rate, Green Scarecrows contributed to the rescue of 33.86 acres of fresh market sweet corn annually for these four small farms. This translates to an estimated economic return of $487,584, providing a significant boost to the farms and the local agricultural economy.

Free Trial for Farmers

We're offering a FREE trial to select Northeast farms in 2025! This is your chance to:

 

Here's what you get:

 

Interested? Click the button below to fill out a short online survey about your farm and sweet corn production. Selected farms will be notified for the free trial in early 2025.

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Email: admin@greenscarecrow.com