One of the Top 10 agricultural innovations showcased at the recent World Ag Expo’s New Product Center was the AutoProbe by AgRobotics. According to World Ag Expo, the AutoProbe is “the first high speed, on-the-go soil sampler for precision soil sampling. Samples are collected at a precise depth and interval over a section of land. On a 2.5 acre grid, … Read More
Precision is Standard on New Tractors
If you are in the market for a new tractor and are maybe still using an older model – be prepared to learn some new tricks with your new ride. Jerry Griffith, marketing manager for the John Deere 9030 series ag tractors, was at the 2008 Commodity Classic last week in Nashville talking with growers from all over the country … Read More
Precision Ag Works
One of the best places on the web to find good information about precision agriculture is PrecisionAg.com, an on-line publication of Meister Media Worldwide. At the 2008 Commodity Classic, I had the opportunity to visit with group publisher Al Strohmaier about Precision Ag – the website, as well as the PrecisionAg Buyer’s Guide, and PrecisionAg Special Reports. Al told me … Read More
Precision Sprays
Lee Madden is product manager in the sprayer marketing group with John Deere and he was busy at the 2008 Commodity Classic trade show in Nashville this week telling growers about the new 30 series line up. Among the changes in the new series is standard precision features, like the GS2 monitor. “That’s the color touch screen display for the … Read More
One Year Anniversary
It’s the first anniversary for Precision.AgWired.com, which was launched last year at the Commodity Classic in Tampa. One of the first interviews we had on the site was with Laura Robson, senior marketing rep for John Deere. We caught up with her again at this year’s Classic, being held this week in Nashville. I asked Laura about the state of … Read More
Conservationists Use Precision Ag
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service rolled out a new campaign this week called Conservation, Our Purpose – Our Passion. The campaign kick-off Tuesday at the National Association of Conservation Districts’ annual conference in Reno included a video highlighting eight farming operations for their conservation commitment One of those was the Gwinn Brothers operation in Suwanee county, Florida. Donell (pictured) and … Read More
Precision Ag Research in Missouri
Earlier this year I did a post about research being done by USDA-ARS and University of Missouri extension on precision agriculture. I had a chance to talk with MU extension ag engineer Kent Shannon about their research work and how they are proving that precision really does pay. Listen to my interview with Kent here. Kent Shannon (7:30 min mp3)
Precision for Specialty Crops
USDA’s Cooperative Extension Service has a good summary of a workshop held earlier this year on “Engineering Solutions for Specialty Crop Challenges.” The workshop provided a forum for special crop industries to engage the science and technology community. Industry representatives voiced their concerns with regard to productivity, production efficiency, post-harvest processing, and environmental quality. In response, the research community offered … Read More
Iowa Farmer Gets Precision Ag Experience
Before becoming a Reach for the Stars winner this year, Curtis Claeys of Delmar, Iowa had pretty limited experience with precision farming. “I’m not real technologically advanced,” Curtis says. “Thankfully, my son is in college so when I get stuck I can give him a call and he can walk me through it. Otherwise, our local tech guy was very … Read More
Tennessee RFS Winner Talks About His Experience
Alan Meadows is a corn and soybean producer from Halls, Tennessee – which is located in the western part of the state near the border with Missouri. As one of this year’s ASA/John Deere Reach for the Stars winners, Meadows was able to use the precision agriculture package in several different applications. “First I had it on my sprayer and … Read More