Precision Ag Technologies Save Money

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

Research shows a lightbar can pay for itself in three years on only 300 acres. It can be done with a GPS receiver that receives the free WAAS correction signal that functions within 12-inch accuracy. This was just one precision farming economic message presented by Matt Darr, Iowa State University ag engineer, during a field day at its Northern Research … Read More

Farm Journal Corn College Talks Technology and More

Kurt LawtonAg Leader, Corn, Education, Events, Fertilizer, Insights Weekly, Planting, Remote sensing, Software

Despite the heavy rains at times followed by high heat and humidity, around 800 growers, retailers and crop consultants came to Farm Journal test plots near Bloomington, Ill., to gain in-depth knowledge from experts at the recent Farm Journal Corn College. During this week-long classroom and in-field event, hosted by Farm Journal field agronomists Ken Ferrie and Missy Bauer, participants … Read More

The Value of Precision Farming Tools

Kurt LawtonConservation, Education, Fertilizer, Planting, Spraying, sustainability

Successful Farming recently compiled various statistics on how precision farming pays, based on the experience of some farmers and university experts. Check out this story from it’s special summer 2010 issue, where they highlighted such benefits as: Strip till and RTK guidance saves a huge amount of hours and fuel savings, while delivering big conservation and environmental benefits. Planter clutches … Read More

Precision Ag Expo Touts Variable Rate Technology

Kurt LawtonEducation, Events, Fertilizer, Planting, Remote sensing, Satellite, seed, Variable rate

Producers came to learn at the recent Precision Ag Expo field days held recently in North Dakota. Numerous questions, according to a story in Farm & Ranch Guide, aimed at gathering facts about zone maps, satellite imagery and variable rate precision farming. Kelly Sharpe, of GK Technology, Inc., in Halstad, Minn., said his company creates variable rate mapping, taking an … Read More

Nebraska Extension Launches Precision Ag Course

Kurt LawtonEducation, Farmers, Resources, Retailers, sustainability, University

Are you navigating your precision agriculture technologies and using data to their fullest extent? A new three-day program offered by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Precision Agriculture Practicum, is designed to help participants gain practical experience using their own field data in hands-on exercises. And you’ll have the opportunity to network with each other while collaborating on team projects. Who should … Read More

North Dakota Precision Ag Expo Videos Worth Watching

Kurt LawtonEducation, Events, Farmers, GPS, Research

Special coverage of two recent Precision Ag Expo days, in Casselton and Dickenson, N. Dak., has been documented by Farm & Ranch Guide–and the webpage includes educational videos of numerous presentations. Both field days were hosted by North Dakota State University Extension Service. You can learn about site specific hardware, history of GPS, GPS system choices, accuracy of GPS, LIDAR … Read More

Alabama Precision Ag Topics at International Conference

Kurt LawtonEducation, Events, International, Research

The Alabama Precision Agriculture Team is sponsoring and participating in the International Conference on Precision Agriculture to be held July 18-21, 2010 in Denver Colorado. Team members will present on various topics including Profitability of RTK and Its Influence on Peanut Production, Adoption and Use of Precision Agriculture Technologies and Proper Implementation of Precision Agricultural Technologies for Conducting On-farm Research. … Read More

SMS Software Users Get Hard Core Certified Training

Kurt LawtonAg Leader, Dealers, Education, Insights Weekly, Software

Computers and software are an essential element in a grower’s toolbox to achieve greater efficiency. Without advanced software, the coming explosion of variable-rate prescriptions and precise field management zones will not be possible. Even if you are not a power user of software yourself, it’s nice to know that those suppliers creating maps and prescriptions for your fields have the … Read More

Of Farm Shows and Educating Consumers

Kurt LawtonEducation, Events, Farmers, sustainability

As a agricultural journalist originally from a rural Iowa family farm, who now lives in suburbia close to Minneapolis, I’m always educating urban friends about farming and correcting their misconceptions. To this end, I applaud anyone in agriculture who takes time to listen and understand consumer thoughts and feelings–without getting defensive about farming practices. If you want to learn good … Read More

North Dakota Precision Ag Field Days Next Week

Kurt LawtonEducation, Equipment, Events

The North Dakota State University Extension Service has scheduled Precision Agriculture Expos in conjunction with the NDSU Research Extension Center Field Day tours on July 12 at Casselton and July 14 at Dickinson. The expos will include educational presentations, exhibits, field demonstrations, ride and drive demonstrations and user sharing sessions. Precision agriculture includes management practices that allow farmers to be … Read More