Precision ag program on Feb. 25, by the NYFVI steering committee, tackles using the technology for profitable decision-making.
Really want to harness precision ag technology for profit? Then don’t miss the “Precision Ag: Decision-making for a profitable future” program. That’s the theme driving a fast-moving afternoon seminar on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the 2016 New York Farm Show. The program, developed by New York Farm Viability Institute’s precision ag steering committee, will be a strong mix of keen farmer experience and ag industry expertise, says NYFVI Executive Director Dave Grusenmeyer.
Here’s a quick summary of the program that begins with registration and refreshments at 2:30 p.m. in the Bistro Room at the State Fairgrounds’ Arts and Home Center. Certified crop advisers are eligible for 2.5 continuing education units.
2:50 p.m.: Welcome and introductions
3:00 p.m.: Precision Ag basics, opportunities and industry trends:
Cornell University’s Harold Van Es will cover concepts supporting precision management of crop inputs in field crop and horticultural systems, plus enabling technologies. He’ll home in on greatest opportunity areas and new technologies enhancing precision
management.
3:20 p.m.: Hardware and software capabilities, and options:
* Evaluating the data collected over the growing season (planting, soil testing, yield, application, Feed Quality from JD Harvest Lab) and interpreting big data in desktop software setting to provide real information from which the grower can either streamline record keeping for FSA/Crop Insurance and/or understand what practices are making a profit on their farm. Winter planning allows optimization of the crop season to best fit your agronomic and profit practices.
* Harvest tech tools to document production is the topic for Erick Haas, integrated solutions specialist for Cazenovia Equipment Company. He’ll demonstrate the value of yield maps/data and it be used to improve farm operation efficiency.
4:00 p.m.: Cost and benefits of entry-point tech:
That’s the topic tackled by Hass and John Hanchar, from Cornell’s Northwest dairy and field crops team. Haas will give an overview of auto-steer technology and important points to consider. John Hanchar will review auto-steer’s expected financial impacts via partial budgeting and capital investment analysis.
4:20 p.m.: Optimizing variable-rate seeding tech:
Savanna Crossman, precision ag research coordinator for the N.Y. Corn and Soybean Growers Association will present a variable-rate seeding model to be farm-tested this year. It’s customized to vary prescription seeding rate by hybrid, soil type, topography, plus soil sample data.
4:40 p.m.: Precision ag survey summary:
Josh Woodard, The Dyson School at Cornell, will share results of a farmer survey on promising technologies, barriers to adoption, cost, labor concerns, plus educational and infrastructure needs.
4:50 p.m.: Grower panel:
Bruce Wright, SUNY Cobleskill, will moderate a panel discussion of precision tech experience with three products by three producers: Ag Leader by Travis Torrey of Torrey Farms; John Deere by Dan Shirley of North Harbor Dairy; and Trimble by
Joe Brightly, Brightly Farms.
The session closes with summary comments and door prize drawings.
Program sponsors include: Farm Credit East, New York Farm Viability, New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association, Cornell University, SUNY Cobleskill, Morrisville State College, Ag Leader, Trimble, Agrinetix, Cazenovia Equipment, Z & M Equipment, Soil Max, Clinton Tractor, Whites Farm Supply, and Empire Tractor of Cazenovia.
