Precision Agriculture Meeting Set for Feb. 5 in Dickinson

Producers can learn how to utilize available technology at a Precision Agriculture workshop on Feb. 5 at Dickinson State University. The workshop begins at 10 a.m. in the DSU Agriculture Building at 470 State Ave.

“Producers have adopted guidance systems for their agricultural equipment and collected yield data, but have not used this technology to improve potential efficiencies in applying inputs,” says Roger Ashley, North Dakota State University Extension Service area specialist/cropping systems. “Also, increasing fertilizer prices have squeezed the profitability of North Dakota grain producers.”

Ashley will lead a discussion on factors affecting yields and verifying the validity of yield data.

John Nowatzki, NDSU Extension agricultural machinery systems specialist, will discuss the use of satellite imagery and yield data to create field zone and application maps.

Producers will be able to develop field zones for four of their fields, so they are encouraged to bring their laptop computers to the workshop. Wireless Internet service will be provided so producers can download various sources of information needed to create zone maps, as well as utilizing the ZoneMap program from the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium Web site. The Web site is a joint venture of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and University of North Dakota.

A computer will be available for use for those without a laptop.

The workshop is free, but space is limited. To register by the Feb. 4 deadline, contact Ashley at (701) 483-2348, ext. 106, or roger.ashley@ndsu.edu. Producers also can contact Kurt Froelich, NDSU Extension Service agent for Stark County, at (701) 456-7665.

NDSU Agriculture Communication