Three stage indoor vertical farming systems and methods for sprouting seed to grow fodder for livestock or microgreens for human consumption

A system for growing fodder comprising:

• at least one pump;
• a first stage comprising:
• a reservoir configured to hold grow solution, wherein:
• the reservoir comprises an open top side, and
• a stack of trays configured to rest over the open top side of the reservoir;
• and
• first piping fluidly connecting the reservoir to an area at or above the open top side of the reservoir, wherein while the stack of trays is placed over the open top side of the reservoir, the at least one pump is configured to pump the grow solution from the reservoir into a top tray of the stack of trays;
• a second stage comprising:
• a first tray rack comprising a first plurality of shelves, each of the first plurality of shelves configured to receive one of a plurality of trays;
• and
• second piping fluidly connecting the reservoir to an area at or above a top of the first tray rack, wherein the at least one pump is configured to pump the grow solution from the reservoir to the area at or above the top of the first tray rack;
• and
• a third stage comprising:
• a second tray rack comprising a second plurality of shelves, each of the second plurality of shelves configured to receive one or more of the plurality of trays;
• third piping fluidly connecting the reservoir to an area at or above a top of the second tray rack, wherein the at least one pump is configured to pump the grow solution from the reservoir to the area at or above the top of the second tray rack;
• and
• at least one light source positioned above each of the second plurality of shelves.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a computing device, cause a system to perform operations comprising:

• sending a first set of valve control signals configured to cause a set of valves to permit grow solution to be pumped through a piping system from a reservoir of a fodder growing system to a first tray at a first stage of the fodder growing system;
• after sending the first set of valve control signals, sending a first pump control signal to a pump, wherein the first pump control signal is configured to cause the pump to water seeds in the first tray at the first stage of the fodder growing system;
• sending a second set of valve control signals configured to cause the set of valves to permit the grow solution to be pumped through the piping system from the reservoir to a second tray at a second stage of the fodder growing system;
• after sending the second set of valve control signals, sending a second pump control signal to the pump, wherein the second pump control signal is configured to cause the pump to water the second tray at the second stage of the fodder growing system;
• sending a third set of valve control signals configured to cause the set of valves to permit the grow solution to be pumped through the piping system from the reservoir to a third tray at a third stage of the fodder growing system;
• and
• after sending the third set of valve control signals, sending a third pump control signal to the pump, wherein the third pump control signal is configured to cause the pump to water the third tray at the third stage of the fodder growing system.