Precision Pays

There were lots of innovative ideas on display at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Farmer Idea Exchange this year, but only one could be the winner, and that was John McDowell Jr., of Texas and his “Sprayer Nurse Trailer.” McDowell’s unique shop-built trailer can refill a self-propelled sprayer three times. It carries a 265-gallon shuttle that gravity-feeds chemicals into an induction cone. The trailer allows the sprayer operator to refill the sprayer in less than five minutes and get back to the field.

As the grand prize winner in the competition at the AFBF 92nd annual meeting, McDowell won one full year’s use (or 300 operating hours) of a New Holland tractor. New Holland has provided a year’s free use of a tractor to the grand prize winner for 21 of the 22 years the program has been conducted.

Other top awards of $500 apiece included Rory Frick of Illinois who developed both the “most innovative” and “most widely useable” concept. Frick’s multi-functional ladder contains platform steps that remain parallel to the surface at any inclination. When unfolded at a 45-degree pitch, the ladder resembles a staircase. When in the storage position, folded and locked, the ladder is only 2 inches thick and can be used as a ramp. Wheels can be added to convert the ladder to a creeper (mechanic’s tool) and push bars can be added to make a utility cart. It provides safe, easy accessibility to even the physically challenged and reduces the risk of injury.

The “most cost-effective” idea came from Merle Langeland of Michigan. Langeland’s Care Chute with Quick-Attach Skid Steer Bracket is a calf-sized, portable animal care chute that is easy to set up, clean, move and store. It is the ideal size for working with calves.

The fourth largest indoor farm show in the country is prepping for it’s 56th annual show in Des Moines, Ia., on February 1-3. It continues to break attendance records now for seven years in a row, with around 19,000 attendees spread out among six floors in the three buildings that comprise the Iowa Events Center (Hy-Vee Exhibit Hall, Wells Fargo Arena and Polk County Convention Complex). This year you’ll find around 640 companies exhibiting their products and services.

I caught up with Katie Beeler yesterday, Ag Leader’s marketing communications coordinator, to talk about their presence at the show. Aside from being a major sponsor at the three-day event, the company will conduct three educational sessions during the show.

• Tuesday, February 1 at 11:30am, Ag Leader’s Chad Huedepohl will talk about the OptRx Crop Sensor system. You’ll learn how they measure and record data as you drive through the field—providing information on crop health, while allowing you to apply prescription nitrogen rates based on plant need.

• On Wednesday, February 2 at 10:45 am, Jeff Bentley from Ag Leader will help growers understand its ParaDyme Autosteer system and CORS networks. Come learn about the most advanced guidance system, and how it has the capability of using built-in cellular signals for remote service and connection to the CORS network.

• Also Wednesday at 12:15 pm, Ag Leader’s Michael Vos will discuss the power of all the data that can be collected during a cropping season, and show how the company’s SMS software can work the data to help improve management decisions.

Click on ‘Seminars’ at the Iowa Power Farming Show website for the entire rundown.

And if new products excite you, Beeler says Ag Leader will be talking about three new precision farming tools at their booth, along with their full product line. “Come learn about our new Advanced Seed Monitoring through the SeedCommand system that improves planter performance monitoring and control through the INTEGRA display. We’ll also showcase the new GPS 2500 all-in-one antenna and GNSS Receiver that can utilize GLONASS satellites and differential correction from WAAS/EGNOS and OmniSTAR XP/HP/VBS. And we’ll have the new Mesa Rugged Notepad at the show running our SMS Mobile software so growers can check out this valuable in-field tool,” she says. Ag Leader will be in Booth #306 in the Polk County Convention Complex.

The Iowa Power Farming Show is sponsored in part by Farm Credit Services of America, Ag Leader Technology, Bayer CropScience, Stine Seed, and The Stewart-Peterson Group. The show is owned and managed by the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association (I-NEDA). I-NEDA represents over 400 agricultural, outdoor power and industrial equipment dealers throughout Iowa and Nebraska. For more information about the show and a list of show exhibitors, visit www.iowapowershow.com.

Visit these links for more information.
Iowa Power Farming Show http://www.iowapowershow.com/

New Advanced Seed Monitoring
http://www.agleader.com/2010/12/03/ag-leader-announces-advanced-seed-monitoring-functionality-for-integra™-display/

New GPS 2500 GNSS Receiver
http://www.agleader.com/2010/11/01/ag-leader-announces-new-gps-2500-gnss-receiver/

New Mesa Rugged Notepad
http://www.agleader.com/2010/11/01/ag-leader-offers-new-hardware-option-for-sms™-mobile/

Ag Leader dealer locator http://www.agleader.com/dealer-search/

Don’t miss the upcoming February 9-10 NeATA conference in Grand Island, Neb., as it promises a technology extravaganza, along with other valuable topics such as precision Nitrogen management, social media, building consumer trust and much more.

The Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association (NeATA), founded in 2001 by innovative Nebraska farmers, ranchers, agribusiness representatives and the University of Nebraska Extension, has compiled another great conference.

Need a technology makeover? How about using Nitrogen more wisely? Do you want to learn how to tell your story and share your values with consumers? How about learning a better way to select crop genetics? Check out the upcoming program, and book your trip now.

For Facebook users, find NeATA here and add them as a favorite.

If you irrigate and have not considered wireless sensors, the time is now to save money and improve yields.

The University of Missouri will sponsor three free breakfast workshops on wireless soil-moisture monitoring for timing irrigation. The workshops will feature representatives from six leading manufacturers of wireless sensors.

The workshops will take place Jan. 18 in Kennett, Jan. 19 in Sikeston and Jan. 20 in Columbia.

“The price of wireless technology has decreased so much in recent years that the annual cost for complete wireless systems can be as low as three to six dollars per acre,” said Joe Henggeler of MU’s Commercial Agriculture Program and workshop coordinator. “It won’t take too much extra cotton, corn or soybeans to pay for that investment.”

MU specialists and others will provide information on types of sensors, how far they can transmit signals and their usefulness to farmers. Company representatives will briefly explain their products.
Use of wireless sensors by 500 farmers in Nebraska has shown an average pump savings of $25 per acre for corn and $19 per acre for soybeans. Missouri survey results show that irrigators who use sensors have yields that are much higher than irrigators who do not use the wireless technology, Henggeler said.

Computer workstations linked to Google Earth will be available for use by farmers and company representatives. Farmers will be able to zoom to aerial views of their farms to see where to place sensors, measure the distances involved and observe if there are obstructions that may block signals.

The companies to be represented at the workshops are Campbell Scientific, Decagon Devices, Irrometer Company, John Deere Water, Onset Computer Corporation and Smartfield. Smartfield manufactures an infrared canopy temperature sensor that can determine when a crop needs to be watered.

Data is gathered 24/7 on the crop’s moisture conditions and is displayed on the computer as graphs. Almost all of the products can be set up to text-message an irrigator when a crop needs water.
Henggeler said he is pleased with the companies that will be represented at the workshops and with the personnel they will be sending. “Companies are not just sending regular sales staff but their vice presidents, product managers and other higher-echelon staff. They are eager to meet Midwestern irrigators because they feel they have products that will help them and they want to start partnerships here.”

Workshops are free of charge, but attendees are asked to preregister at http://agebb.missouri.edu/irrigate/bhconf/2011/prereg.htm.
Workshops begin 7 a.m. with a hot breakfast and conclude at 10 a.m. Dealers will be available later in the day to make site visits. Special workshop discounts will be awarded to attendees.

Dates and locations of the workshops:
-Tuesday, Jan. 18: American Legion Building, Kennett, Mo.
-Wednesday, Jan. 19: Clinton Building, Sikeston, Mo.
-Thursday, Jan. 20: MU Bradford Farm, Columbia, Mo.

For more information, see http://agebb.missouri.edu/irrigate/bhconf/2011/agenda.htm, or contact Joe Henggeler at 573- 225-7986 or henggelerj@missouri.edu.

An Indiana-based mobile technology company has developed a farming and industrial smart Phone application that will be spotlighted during AG CONNECT Expo 2011 in Atlanta.

LoadOut Technologies CEO Neil Mylet will be presenting the company’s technology during an AG CONNECT breakout session from 9:30-10:30 Saturday morning.

Mylet will discuss various applications and different types of Smartphone features that can help make any farming operation more efficient. He will also discuss where the mobile devices are going in the future, and highlight the top 5 applications for agriculture.

Following the session, Mylet will also host a roundtable discussion on ideas, solutions, and ways agriculture can foster technological entrepreneurship to transform farms and communities of rural America.

Educating growers on efficient use of precision agriculture technology was the idea behind a mobile classroom that is hitting the road for Hoober farm equipment dealership, according to a recent story in Lancaster Farming.

Hoober Inc., a farm equipment dealer with stores in Pennsylvania and Delaware, recently completed work on a precision ag training center that will go on the road to provide farmers with knowledge and training.

“Instead of farmers having to come to us, we’re going to the farmers,” said Scott Hoober, product support manager. “What we have done is create a mobile classroom to help farmers understand how to get the most from precision farming technology.

“The use of this technology has just exploded the past several years and it’s reached the point where training is needed to effectively operate the equipment,” Hoober said. “There’s so much this technology can do that many farmers may not fully understand the complete capabilities of their precision ag equipment.”

The climate controlled mobile education center provides a comfortable classroom setting that Hoober believes will enable farmers to feel more comfortable and confident with the technology.

“We believe this kind of essential training is going to help our customers save time because they will then be familiar with the equipment and will be able to, in many cases, make adjustments and corrections when needed themselves,” Hoober said. “That helps them be more productive, and that’s what matters most.”

Read more…

The 15th annual Computers on the Farm conference sponsored by the University of Missouri is coming up January 7-8 in Osage Beach, MO.

The program is markedly different and vastly expanded from the first one held in 1997. The first program started out with “How to access the Internet” and breakouts included “Getting Started with Windows 95,” “Using your spreadsheet for Farm Decisions,” and “Using Electronic Mail.” It is really amazing to see how fast the technology has changed and integrated into agriculture in such a short period of time!

Among the many topics on the schedule for the 2011 event are: Fast Internet in Rural Missouri; Ag production software tools; Digital media; Social networking; and Cell phone use.

Registration for the event is $115 and includes meals and materials. Sessions begin at 1 pm on January 7 and continue into the evening, begin again January 8 with an early breakfast and end at noon.

As you start preparing your 2011 calendar for precision farming events not to miss, mark your calendars for the next edition of the popular Information Agriculture Conference, set for July 12-14, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois. This is the same location as InfoAg 2009 and previous conferences.

InfoAg 2011 is organized by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and the Foundation for Agronomic Research (FAR), with exhibits coordinated by CropLife. Since the first conference in 1995, InfoAg has been a leading event in precision agriculture. Information Agriculture Conference occurs at 2-year intervals, alternating years with the International Conference on Precision Agriculture (ICPA). InfoAg 2011 will present a wide range of educational and networking opportunities for manufacturers, practitioners, Certified Crop Advisers, input suppliers, farmers, Extension and NRCS personnel, and anyone interested in site-specific techniques and technology.

Watch for further details and program updates at the conference website: www.infoag.org

Come to the Crowne Plaza in Baton Rouge, La., on February 1-2 to hear more than 90 presentations on precision farming and much more at the 14th annual National Conservation Systems Cotton and Rice Conference.

As in the past 13 years, the conference is Co-Sponsored the following seven mid-south universities: University of Arkansas, Mississippi State University, University of Missouri, University of Tennessee, LSU Ag Center, Auburn University, and Texas A&M. USDA-NRCS of Washington DC and USDA-ARS centers in the Southern states are co-sponsors as well.

The conference has numerous Corporate Co-Sponsors and will feature a large trade show. Ag-Media Co-Sponsors are Farm Press Publications, Delta and Southwest Farm Press.

This conference, a perennial success, first opened in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1997 and alternated locations in succeeding years between Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. This year’s conference in Tunica, Mississippi drew a record attendance of farmers who accounted for over 1.5 million acres of agriculture production last year.

“Baton Rouge is an ideal setting for the conference, providing a relaxing environment where farmers can visit with other farmers and researchers,” said John LaRose, Chairman of the Conference Steering Committee.

“This conference is recognized as the leading Southern Agriculture Production Conference mainly because over 40 farmers along with over 40 researchers and numerous crop consultants make presentations during the 90 plus breakout sessions,” stated LaRose. “During a given hour, there are over 20 unique breakout sessions to choose from.”

“This is the only annual conference in the United States where attendees can participate in approximately 40 agriculture production breakout sessions being presented by actual farmers.”

As in the past, two other conferences will be sponsored by the Cotton and Rice Conference and held at the same time and location. The Mid-South Corn and Soybean Conference and the Mid-South Precision Ag Conference are held in conjunction with the Cotton & Rice Conference.

The Cotton and Rice Conference is a must-attend event for all farmers wishing to hone their production methods. The conference offers farmers ways to trim inputs while boosting yields. In recent years both farmers and landlords have found that beyond tillage, there are many other farming resources that can be conserved through a properly designed conservation systems program. The importance of conserving soil moisture, as well as reducing fuel, labor, seed, chemical, fertilizer and other input costs is the key to economic success for all farmers and landowners.

“The main emphasis of the conference is reducing production costs and increasing yields in cotton rice, soybeans and corn through precision agriculture in its many forms,” said LaRose.

Farmers from Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee will be able to receive their state pesticide re-certification credits. Certified crop consultants can select from over 40 hours of qualifying sessions to earn CEU’s during the conference.

Farm News is hosting its ninth annual agriculture show this week in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Nearly 60 exhibitors from Iowa and surrounding states will showcase their latest state-of-the-art technology in grain and livestock products, ag services, seed varieties and farm toys.

Featured speakers at the event include David Kruse, president of CommStock Investments and Brazil Iowa Farms of Royal, and author of The CommStock Report; Jerry Nelson, freelance writer and humorist, Farm News columnist and author; and Bob Streit, a Farm News columnist and author of “Crop Watch.”

The show runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 1 and from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Career Education Building on the Iowa Central Community College campus, Fort Dodge.

Corn and soybean growers in Ohio and surrounding states should definitely attend an excellent late-February conference to pick up great information that can improve their farm operation.

The Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference is the largest, most comprehensive program of conservation tillage techniques in the Midwest. About 60 presenters (farmers, industry professionals, and university specialists) from around the country focus on cost-saving, production management topics. The conference is broken down into tracks covering soil and water; nutrient and manure management; advanced scouting techniques; cover crops; crop management; and planters and precision agriculture.

This will be the third year for Corn University and the second year for the Soybean School, both of which cover the latest in corn and soybean management from the top researchers and industry specialists across the Midwest.

“Both programs are a main draw,” said Randall Reeder, an Ohio State University Extension agricultural engineer and an organizer of the conference. “Last year, we had about 300 to 400 in attendance at each program interested in learning the latest in crop production techniques to get the most economic yields with conservation tillage.”

Corn University will take place on Feb. 24 from 11 a.m. until 5:50 p.m. and will feature Peter Thomison, an OSU Extension corn agronomist; Bob Nielsen, a Purdue Extension corn specialist; Fred Below and Laura Overstreet, University of Illinois; and Chad Lee, University of Kentucky.

The theme will focus on achieving 300 bushels per acre using a variety of production management techniques from strip-till to nutrient management to fungicide use. Corn University is supported by Dekalb/Asgrow.

Soybean School will be held on Feb. 25 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:50 p.m. and will feature OSU Extension Specialists; Missouri farmer Kip Cullers, who set the world soybean production record this year of 160.6 bushels per acre; Shaun Casteel of Purdue University; Vince Davis of University of Illinois; and Shawn Conley, University of Wisconsin. Pioneer and Seed Consultants support Soybean School.

Other sessions taking place at the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference include a daylong session on cover crops on Feb. 24, a daylong session on nutrient management on Feb. 25, and a half-day session on Feb. 25 on soil and water, which will include discussions of phosphorus and nitrogen management related water quality, including algal blooms.

Crop Certified Advisor credits be will offered during the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference, including coveted nutrient management and soil and water credits.

“CCAs can get all the credits they need in both of these areas in just two days,” said Reeder.

Elwynn Taylor, Iowa State University agricultural climatologist, will be the speaker for the opening general session at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 24.

The Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference broke an attendance record in 2010 with 966 farmers, crop consultants and industry representatives attending the event. Farmers valued the education they received at $13 per acre, roughly a $7 million value. Crop consultants placed a value on their educational experiences at $16 per acre for the land they influence.

The event will be held Feb. 24-25 at the McIntosh Center of Ohio Northern University in Ada. Sponsors include Ohio State University Extension, the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Northwest Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, and the Ohio No-Till Council.

Early registration is $50 for one day or $75 for both days. At the door, registration is $60 for one day and $85 for both days. Complete registration and program information will be available after Jan. 1, 2011 at http://ctc.osu.edu.

Marathon County will be hosting Wisconsin’s Farm Technology Days in 2011 and they are already offering official Marathon County Farm Technology Days apparel and collector’s items for that special someone on your Christmas list.

Among the items they have for sale on-line are hats, hooded sweatshirts, t-shirts (youth & adult), tote bags, travel mugs – and the collectible IH544 toy tractor with a 2-point mounted sickle mower is available for the first time ever. The tractor is being sold exclusively through the 2011 Marathon County Farm Tech Days and only 1,000 will be produced. Proceeds will support the 2011 Marathon County Farm Tech Days. The only catch with the tractor is that you can buy it now, but it will not be available until the show in July.

Wisconsin Farm Technology Days is the largest agriculture exposition in Wisconsin that showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture. Each year, the three day event is held in a different Wisconsin county on a different host family farm. With over 600 exhibitors, the show draws 60,000 agriculture and rural visitors from Wisconsin and surrounding states.

The July 12-14, 2011 show will be held at the Ken & Karen Seehafer farm north of Marshfield. The 3rd generation family farm was originally purchased by Ken’s grandfather in 1930 consisting of 80 acres. The farm grew to 200 acres by Ken’s parents, Alma and Elmer Sr., and were milking 36 cows when Ken joined the operation in l968. He purchased the farm in 1972 and it continued to change throughout the years to its existing 750 acres owned plus 100 rented and 250 milking cows.

I’m here in Iowa at the Farm Progress Show. Although there are farmers from all over the world in attendance, farmers in Central Iowa have been struggling with excessive amounts of rain. This causes crops, such as corn, to lose nitrogen, which negatively impacts crop yield.

Nitrogen has also become more expensive over the past couple of years so more effective nitrogen programs are of great value to them. Enter the OptRx Crop Sensor by Ag Leader. This is variable rate technology that not only applies nitrogen, but adjusts the rate of application on the go. The sensor is able to determine if the soil needs more or less nitrogen and on the fly, makes appropriate adjustments.

Jessica Reis, with Ag Leader, explained that being able to adjust nitrogen offers a multitude of benefits but one of the most important of them is the ability to use appropriate amounts of nitrogen on each area of the field will improve yield and that means improved profit.

Check out our Farm Progress Photo AlbumFarm Progress Photo Album.

Precision Pays coverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by: .

As the nights begin to cool, we know harvest is just around the corner. But before your mind gets totally wrapped around the culmination event of your hard work, take a break to visit and learn at one of the best outdoor farm shows, the Farm Progress Show, Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 near the central Iowa community of Boone.

If you’re going to the show, Ag Leader Technology has a special free t-shirt offer with a chance to win an EDGE display. Before you go, just visit the Ag Leader Facebook page and click on the invite under the tab ‘EDGE Giveaway.’ Then fill out the survey and bring it to the Ag Leader booth (Lot 517).

While at the booth, check out the live demonstration of the OptRx Crop Sensor. A Hagie sprayer, complete with the OptRx sensors, INTEGRA display and ParaDyme steering system, will be gathering crop condition data on live corn plants.

Also check out the new SMS Mobile PC software that will be available this fall for PC-based devices such as laptops, netbooks and tablets that run Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7.

And stop inside the tent to learn more about all the products from Ag Leader—from displays and guidance to planter/sprayer controls and software that handles all the data. Product experts will be on hand to help you learn what can best fit your operation.

Visit these links for more information.

Farm Progress Show Website http://www.farmprogressshow.com/

Ag Leader Precision Point Blog: Calling Farm Progress Show Attendees!
http://www.agleader.com/2010/08/23/calling-farm-progress-show-attendees/

Ag Leader Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/AgLeader?v=app_4949752878

Survey for Free t-shirt and EDGE drawing http://www.agleader.com/mirror/FB-EDGE-Survey.pdf

OptRx Crop Sensor http://www.agleader.com/products/directcommand/optrx/

Fall Release of SMS Mobile Software http://www.agleader.com/2010/07/19/ag-leader-announces-fall-release-of-sms-mobile-pc/

The debut of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Precision Ag Practicum is next week at the Ag Research and Development Center near Mead.  There is still time to enroll if you are looking for an opportunity to sharpen your Precision Agriculture skills and learn about the latest developments with this technology including irrigation applications.

This new program offered by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension is designed for:

• Farm operators wishing to get more return on their precision ag dollar investment
• Crop consultants and industry agronomists who desire to provide more accurate information and better service to their customers
• Corporate industry and government agency personnel needing to know and understand the technology being used in today’s production agriculture.
• Precision ag instructors

Learn more at http://ardc.unl.edu/precisionagpracticum/.