Precision Tillage

Laura McNamaraEducation, Events, Precision Ag in the News

Farm&Ranch GuideMinnesota isn’t going to be left behind in the dust when it comes to precision. The University of Minnesota Extension is hosting the fourth annual Conservation Tillage Conference Jan. 30-31 at the Jackpot Junction Conference Center, Morton, Minn. And sure enough, the Farm&Ranch Guide reports that the conference will most definitely tackle precision farming.

Sessions are also available on fine-tuning the agronomics of conservation tillage. These talks include a practical approach to precision agriculture; selecting hybrids and varieties for reduced tillage; twin row corn and residue management, and using spring or fall cover crops.

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Experts To Get Precise with Ag at Nebraska Trade Show

Laura McNamaraEducation, Events, Precision Ag in the News

The Nebraska FarmerPrecision ag experts will be on hand for the 2008 Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association Conference and Trade Show being held Jan. 30-31 at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island. The Nebraska Farmer reports that precision technology will be a key topic at the event.

One of the featured speakers will be Terry Kastens, Kansas State University agricultural economist, who will revisit the past decade of precision ag successes and challenges and address the practicality and economics of precision agriculture from the perspective of an agricultural economist and producer.

Another speaker is Robert Blair, a farmer and precision agriculture entrepreneur from north central Idaho. He farms 1,500 acres of dryland grain and legumes and has a cowherd. Precision agriculture is an integral part of his farming practices. In 2007, his company, PineCreek Precision, began to bridge the gap between the military and civilian use of Unmanned Air Systems. This innovative technology will assist growers and consultants who require timely, inexpensive and high resolution field images. Blair will share his optimism for the future of precision agriculture.

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New Deere Equipment in UK Features Precision Packages

Laura McNamaraDealers, Displays, Equipment, Events, International, Precision Ag in the News, Satellite, Software

John Deere 6030 SeriesJohn Deere is launching its new 6030 Tractor Series in England next month. The line will debut during January’s New Horizon Tour. The Stackyard News reports the tour will make at stop at the LAMMA Show at Newark on January 16th and 17th, the Royal Welsh Showground on January 22 and 23, and The Dairy Show at the Bath & West Showground on January 30. But that’s not all. The green and yellow will also be featuring new intelligence packages and precision applications.

This special display will also feature the new 7750i self-propelled forager, 5430i self-propelled sprayer and T560 combine, which were launched in 2007, plus the latest John Deere balers and trailed sprayers. The company’s technical and sales staff and local dealer personnel will be on hand to explain the latest technology behind the new machines, which are spearheading John Deere’s equipment range for the 2008 season.

New levels of power, ‘intelligent’ technology and productivity are offered by John Deere’s 7050 Series self-propelled forage harvesters, which includes models from 380 to 690hp. Designed for high capacity harvesting in grass, maize and wholecrop, this latest range continues to use Deere’s unique infinitely variable length of cut (IVLOC) transmission to enable operators to change chop length on the move.

In addition to the basic models, six new i Series machines will be equipped as standard with an integrated ‘intelligent’ package of precision farming technology. This includes the HarvestLab dry matter sensor, GreenStar 2600 display, Harvest Monitor and Harvest Doc software and StarFire iTC receiver with SF2 signal (offering +/-10cm accuracy for yield mapping). The new AutoLOC feature also provides automatic adjustment of the length of cut depending on the dry matter content of the crop being harvested, based on settings programmed in by the operator on the in-cab GreenStar display.

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Precision For Perfecting Wine

Laura McNamaraPrecision Ag in the News

The San Marcos RecordThe Iron Horse strives to produce the best in sparkling wine, good enough even for the President. And, according to the San Marcos Record, Iron Horse sparkling wine was good enough for President Reagan’s toast to peace at his first summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva. The San Marcos record also reports that “precision” is what helps make Iron Horse wine so “presidential.”

Sterling believes Iron Horse is making some of their best wines ever, thanks to a quality revolution that began in the vineyards. Using primarily estate-grown grapes, Iron Horse has engaged in what she calls “precision farming.” It’s using the best farming techniques — organic or otherwise — that apply to a specific vineyard.

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Australian Precision Farming Legacy Retires

Laura McNamaraEducation, International, Precision Ag in the News

The North Queenland RegisterAccording to the North Queensland Register, Australia considered him one of the country’s “foremost pioneers of automatic GPS guidance technology with farming.” Now Alan Fetherstonhaugh has retired. But, farmers in Australia won’t forget the innovation he ushered in “down under.”

Alan Fetherstonhaugh spent a decade working with farmers, innovators and the National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture at the University of Southern Qld, resulting in significant new applications for GPS to aid the rural sector.

A founding director of AgGuide, its RowGuide, RigGuide and RotaGuide products brought him recognition via the AgShow/Qld Country Life Farm Inventor of the Year award, as well as awards from other industry shows.

His legacy is that of bringing considerable improvements to precision farming techniques across the row-crop, broadacre, sugar cane and specialist vegetable sectors, as well as enhanced efficiency, cost-reduction, fatigue-management, controlled-traffic and erosion-mitigation.

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Precision Technology Essential to Mango Production in India

Laura McNamaraInternational, Precision Ag in the News

The Hindu News Update ServiceIndia is reaping high yields in mangoes this year. The Hindu News Update Service reports that precision farming applications had a lot to do with India’s successful mango crop.

Latest technology was essential to increase the yield and meet the growing demand.

Post-harvest technology and precision farming techniques would scale down post-harvest loss. Proper grading, good quality and uniform colour and size alone would fetch better price to the produce.

To achieve that, mango growers needed latest technologies and innovative farming methods. Scientists must take their innovations from the laboratory to the field to help farmers increase the yield and reduce production costs, Mr. Meena said.

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2007 Farm & Gin Show to Capitilize on Technology

Laura McNamaraDisplays, Education, Equipment, Events, Precision Ag in the News, Satellite, Software

The Delta Farm PressThe farming industry is constantly changing and the 2007 Farm & Gin Show wants to give farmers the tools and education to keep up with those changes. The Delta Farm Press reports that this year’s show will feature one of the most innovative tools in farming today, precision application.

Technology’s impact on farming will be even more evident at this year’s show, as agriculture moves rapidly toward development of systems that save time and labor, such as the new cotton harvesters with on-board module builders, and widespread adaptation of global positioning system (GPS) technology that allows precision application of inputs, auto-steering, and other advancements.

More than 400 exhibitors, from almost every state and several worldwide locations, will be participating in this year’s show, which is co-sponsored by Delta Farm Press.

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‘Cover Your Acres’ with Precision

Laura McNamaraPrecision Ag in the News

The Cattle NetworkThe “Cover Your Acres Winter Conference” is slated for January 22-23 in Oberlin, Kan. Of course, precision technology will be a hot topic at the conference. The Cattle Network reports that farmers and growers attending the conference will be able to learn how to take advantage of the latest innovations in precision farming.

Farmers and ranchers interested in the latest technology, methods and conservation practices to improve crop production on the High Plains can learn about those topics and more at the 2008 “Cover Your Acres Winter Conference” Jan. 22-23 in Oberlin, Kan.

The conference, which will begin with registration from 7:45-8:15 a.m., will be held at the Gateway Civic Center. It is sponsored by Kansas State University and the Northwest Kansas Crop Residue Alliance.

University and industry speakers will give presentations on an array of topics over the two-day conference including: New Corn Seed Traits for No-Till; Improving Your Success in No-Till; N Recommendations for Wheat; Outlook for Sorghum, Bioenergy, Food & Export; Grain Marketing & Revenue Protection; No-till Wheat 101; P Placement and Rate in No-till and Strip-Till; Benefits of Chloride on wheat and row crops; and What Precision Ag Can do For You.

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Precision Agriculture in the News

Chuck ZimmermanPrecision Ag in the News

Precision agriculture is finding an application in a segment of agriculture that most people wouldn’t necessarily think of – the California wine industry. Precision ag is mentioned in this story in the San Marcos Record as contributing to the success of a high profile vineyard.

Sterling believes Iron Horse is making some of their best wines ever, thanks to a quality revolution that began in the vineyards. Using primarily estate-grown grapes, Iron Horse has engaged in what she calls “precision farming.” It’s using the best farming techniques — organic or otherwise — that apply to a specific vineyard.

Mississippi and Louisiana Too

Laura McNamaraEvents, Precision Ag in the News

The Delta Farm PressRight about the same time farmers in the Magnolia State are having roundtable discussions on precision ag, cotton producers in Louisana will also be tacking some precision farming tactics during the annual Cotton Forum being held Jan. 23, at the Delhi Civic Center beginning at 9 a.m.

Topics will include wheat/cotton double-cropping considerations and cotton varieties for 2008. Other presentations will feature cotton seed treatments, crop nutrient removal, an insect update, precision application for nematodes and reducing incidence of weed resistance.

The forums will feature LSU AgCenter experts and have been approved as private applicator recertification meetings by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

Click here to view the entire article from The Delta Farm Press.