InfoAg Talk: Technology You Can Use

Kurt LawtonAudio, Education, Equipment, GPS, InfoAg, Satellite, Software, University

Speaking at the bi-annual precision agriculture InfoAg conference in Springfield, Ill., recently, Utah State Geospatial Extension Specialist Phil Rasmussen talked about the latest tools he uses in the field. Rasmussen has worked with NASA on remote sensing projects, and 10 years ago began a geospatial training program for County Extension agents called “On Target.” In his talk he highlighted the … Read More

InfoAg Speaker Promotes Fertilizer BMP Needs

Kurt LawtonAudio, Education, Fertilizer, InfoAg, International, Software, sustainability, University

Encouraging all farmers, not just the technology adopters, to use precision fertilizer Best Management Practices (BMPs) was the theme of an opening session talk by Clyde Graham, VP of Strategy and Alliances with the Canadian Fertilizer Institute. Speaking at the bi-annual precision agriculture InfoAg conference in Springfield, Ill., today, Graham cited the importance of a global 4Rs BMP effort with … Read More

Target Pests With Precision Ag Technologies

Kurt LawtonEducation, Equipment, GPS, Research, University

Maximizing economic return is the payoff sought by growers with any precision farming technology. And a new story in Southeast Farm Press talks about how the Precision Farming team at the University of Georgia is using soil texture to target nematodes. With precision agriculture, we try to refine things in order to achieve the goal of maximizing returns,” says Richard Davis, … Read More

Bright Future for Precision Farming Field Techs

Kurt LawtonDealers, Education, University

Ask any grower who is succeeding with the various tools of precision agriculture, and you’ll hear about the importance of the local dealer’s field technician–such as John Deere’s AMS Technician program. For anyone interested in this growing job field, check out Oklahoma State University’s Institute of Technology, which offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Precision Agriculture Technology. … Read More

Ohio Conference Features Precision Agriculture

Kurt LawtonEducation, Events, University

The popular Ohio State University Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference has a six-hour session on precision agriculture technology topics. Last year, more than 770 growers, crop consultants and industry representatives from Ohio and surrounding states found big benefits from attending a wide variety of presentations at this conference. This year’s annual meeting is scheduled for February 25, 26 and 27 … Read More

Robotic Tractor and Sprayer Technology Coming

Kurt LawtonPrecision Ag in the News, Research, University

Spraying orchards is a messy but necessary job. And if Cornell researchers succeed, a driverless tractor and sprayer could simplify the task. This fruit tree sprayer, fitted with sensors to determine location and height of trees, is part of a $3.9 million USDA-funded project at Cornell–in collaboration with the National Robotics Engineering Center at Carnegie Mellon University. The objective is … Read More

Get Precision Answers From University Experts

Kurt LawtonEducation, GPS, Resources, University

Got any burning questions in the geospatial technology realm? How about simply reading good Q&A about everything and anything related to GPS-based technology? You can do both thanks to an ask the experts page in the new website being started by knowledge and experts from 74 land grant institutions. For example, here is one recent Q&A… QUESTION: If the GPS … Read More

Online Precision Training Module

Chuck ZimmermanEducation, University

I was just searching for precision agriculture training and found the TransAtlantic Precision Agriculture Consortium. It doesn’t look like they’re currently offering classes but they do have an educational training module still online. The presentations on this page cover 15 topics important to precision agriculture. After carefully reviewing these topics, you should have a good appreciation for the techniques, technologies, … Read More

Automated Systems For Apples and Oranges

Chuck ZimmermanEquipment, University

It looks like more precision equipment is coming to apple and orange growers. You may not want to compare them except when it comes to the equipment you use to grow them though. Two groups of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute have received a total of $10 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to … Read More

Precision Myth Busting #3

Cindy ZimmermanEducation, University

This is the third and final precision farming myth busted by Raj Khosla of Colorado State University. You could call this one the money myth – and the whole basis of Precision.AgWired.com. MYTH 3: Precision farming will not pay for itself First of all, Khosla points out that “precision farming is not just the addition of new technologies, but is … Read More