Job opportunities in crop sciences are booming. Why? More than half of all crop scientists in industry and in government jobs will retire over the next decade. A recent report by Purdue University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture predicts more than 54,000 agriculture-related job openings annually between 2010 and 2015. “There isn’t a … Read More
Continue Your Precision Farming Equipment Knowledge
Almost every farmer I’ve interviewed about their precision agriculture investment over the years talks about technology complexity and the HUGE value they place on their retailer’s expertise. To that end, I like to hear about companies and their retailers continually offering product and software training to customers. Starting next week and running all summer, dealers for Ag Leader Technology will … Read More
Learn How To Tell Your Story To Consumers
Making your farm more efficient, more profitable, more sustainable are all critical precision goals. But what about your ultimate customer, the consumer? Do they believe you are as precise with your fertilizer, manure, herbicides, animal care as you believe you are? In this age of rural and consumer disconnect, isn’t communications with your ultimate customers just as important on your … Read More
Precision Agriculture Workshop in California
UC Davis has prepared a great all-day workshop on Site-Specific Management to help increase widespread adoption of this valuable tool. It will be held July 14 in the UC Davis conference center (the day before Weed Day). Here’s a look at the program: Workshop Goal: Present and discuss SSM concepts and applied research in order to provide the audience with … Read More
Seed Savings With Planter Row Shut-Off
Northern Illinois corn and soybean grower Todd Glendenning says he saved an estimated $1,200 per day during spring planting with his Trimble guidance and row control system, according to a story in the June issue of Trimble’s StraightTalk newsletter. “After planting with RTK and implement guidance, I would never want to plant any other way,” says Glendenning. “I used to … Read More
Ag Leader Sponsors Farm Journal Corn College
Wow, 19 years of test plots is a major undertaking, especially when started and conducted by a magazine. I’m sure you’re familiar with the Farm Journal Test Plots, started by Field Agronomist Ken Ferrie and Editor Charlene Finck. Initially, the plots were basically learning tools about how to grow crops better—shared with farmers. Today, Farm Journal launches into its third … Read More
ARS Using Field Topography To Improve Fertilizer Use
Using an airplane with LIDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors is helping USDA-ARS researchers build better management zone maps that can accurately predict yields based on topography. With the maps fed into computerized, variable-rate fertilizer applicators, precision farmers can divert more of their costly fertilizer to the highest-yielding zones and the least to the lowest-yielding zones. They can also use … Read More
Steps For Precision Agriculture Success
If your looking to add more precision farming technology to your operation, do your homework to build the best adoption plan that fits your system. The International Plant Nutrition Institute recently published a bulletin outlining basic steps for success: 1. Determine your individual need. Do you want greater input efficiency? Better record keeping? Need more farm knowledge? 2. Identify tools … Read More
International Precision Agriculture Conference in July
Registration begins June 18 for the 10th International Precision Agriculture Conference, held July 18-21 at the Hyatt Regency Tech Center in Denver, Colorado. Precision agriculture is growing and so is the precision agricultural community across the world. The 10th International Conference on Precision Agriculture is envisaged to be the largest ever; with more than 500 attendees from all over the U.S … Read More
Think About Your Precision Nutrient Plan
Best Management Practices, or BMPs, are essential for precision farming. Nate Taylor at ZedX wrote a good blog post yesterday on this subject. As with any business, developing Best Management Practices (BMP) is essential to continued success and profitability. As you develop BMP’s for your farm, a critical piece to include are Nutrient Management plans. In this post we are … Read More