Precision Farming Does More Than Save Money

Kurt LawtonEducation, Farmers, sustainability

The more you talk to growers who have been using precision farming technology for awhile, the more you learn about the values they treasure beyond input savings and greater efficiency. Less operator fatigue, more time to think and monitor what’s going on around them, and learning new things about their fields and farms every day are just a few things … Read More

Understanding GPS/GNSS Drift

Kurt LawtonEducation, GPS, Guidance, Planting, Satellite, Spraying

GPS/GNSS drift, or how accurate your guidance system is over time, is explained in a new piece on www.AlabamaPrecisionAgOnline.com. The Alabama Precision Agriculture Team discovered that some users of GPS/GNSS-based technologies were not optimizing the GPS/GNSS correction services for their particular field operations (e.g. using the WAAS correction service for planting). It is imperative to understand the different accuracies associated … Read More

Why Advanced Technology is Needed in Farming

Kurt LawtonConservation, Education, Fertilizer, sustainability, Variable rate

Urban Lehner, head of editorial for DTN/The Progressive Farmer, wrote an opinion piece this week that talks about the need for precision farming technology to help balance high-yield production with environmental needs. In the piece he writes… “But, for the foreseeable future, technology will be the key to boosting yields and avoiding billions of acres of forests and grasslands morphing … Read More

Plow Sets New World Record

Cindy ZimmermanEducation, General

The Manitoba Agricultural Museum has plowed new ground with a world record for the Largest Operational Agricultural Plow, according to the World Records Academy. The museum assembled and used the 77 foot wide plow at the Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion and Stampede. The first plowing pass used five 30-60 E Rumely steam tractors to pull the monster plow across a field … Read More

Excitement Builds for AG CONNECT Expo 2011

Joanna SchroederAg Connect Expo, Audio, Education, Equipment, Irrigation

It’s been nearly a year since the inaugural AG CONNECT Expo happened in Orlando, Florida back in January. A successful first-time event, AG CONNECT Expo 2011 is shaping up to be even better. AgWired reporter Cindy Zimmerman caught up with the show’s director Sara Mooney to learn what is on tap for next year’s event being held at the Georgia … Read More

Early Registration Begins for 2011 Commodity Classic

Kurt LawtonCommodity Classic, Education, Equipment, Farmers, Industry News, Resources

Set sail for Tampa, Fla., March 3-5, 2011 to attend the annual gathering of soybean, corn, wheat and sorghum growers at the 2011 Commodity Classic. Sign up before January 20 and save bushels of value on your registration fees. This year’s Commodity Classic will feature high-energy discussions at more than 30 educational sessions. Explore a trade show floor packed with … Read More

Remote Machinery Diagnostics Capabilities

Kurt LawtonDealers, Education, Equipment, GPS, Harvesting, Internet, Planting, Retailers, Satellite

More equipment companies involved in precision agriculture are deploying remote diagnostic capabilities as part of a broader telematic system offering. Farm Industry News offers a fascinating look at some of the current technology. After being on the agriculture market for almost a decade, telematic systems that once were thought to be useful mostly to large farming and custom application operations … Read More

Real Precision Soil Mapping in a Vineyard

Kurt LawtonEducation, Remote sensing, sustainability, Video

Fascinating video of how one Sonoma County, California vineyard, Jordan Winery, is finding the best grape characteristics in various field locations, digging soil pits and analyzing soil attributes and characteristics in order to bring that location’s success to the whole field. Talk about precision agriculture! Take a look. And here’s a blog post about the soil mapping study.

Precision Pasture Fertilization with GPS

Kurt LawtonEducation, Fertilizer, GPS, Guidance

Who says livestock producers can’t benefit from precision agriculture? Ever tried to follow your tracks when spreading manure in a hayfield or pasture? Extension educators were inspired to secure the same advantages for the southwest Alabama livestock producers. “Much like row-crop farmers, livestock producers use fertilizers and herbicides to make their pastures more productive, but they often have trouble making … Read More