NDSU Extension Schedules Online Agricultural Machinery and Technology Seminars

The North Dakota State University Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department has scheduled a series of Web seminars on agricultural machinery and technology topics.

Seminar dates and topics are:

• Jan. 26, Monitoring Camera Applications in Agriculture
• Feb. 1, New Features in Row Crop Planters
• Feb. 4, Air Seeder Opener Features
• March 9, Field Zone Management

These free online seminars will feature university and industry experts, according to John Nowatzki, NDSU Extension Service agricultural machine systems specialist. All seminars are scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. and will be available on the Internet at http://www.ndivnlc.horizonwimba.com using an interactive Web-based program that allows participants to interact with presenters and other participants.

The Monitoring Camera Applications in Agriculture seminar will include information on still and video cameras in wired and wireless applications. Presentations will include basic setup information and equipment costs. A representative of the North Dakota-based Dakota Micro Inc. will discuss applications of the AgCam camera system. The seminar also will provide information on other brands of remote monitoring cameras.

The New Features in Row Crop Planters seminar will begin with a presentation by Nowatzki on the effects of row planter functions on crop growth and development. Case IH, John Deere, Kinze Manufacturing and White Planters representatives will present information on their planters.

The Air Seeder Opener Features seminar will include new air seeder features with a primary focus on opener technology. This seminar will begin with a presentation on the important functions of air seeder openers. John Deere, Seedmaster, CNH, Bourgault Industries, Amity and Seed Hawk representatives will present information on their air seeders.

The Field Zone Management seminar will focus on preparing field productivity zone maps that can be used with global positioning system-enabled fertilizer application equipment so different rates of fertilizer can be applied in each zone. The workshop will include presentations on factors that can be used to delineate field management zones, soil sampling recommendations and available services for field zoning. The workshop is intended for individuals considering adapting zone management and as a discussion for those people who have or are using zone management in crop production.

The seminars use the Web conferencing software Wimba. Anyone with Internet access on a computer can join the precision agriculture seminars at http://www.ndivnlc.horizonwimba.com.

First-time users will need to run the setup wizard available on the Wimba site. The wizard allows users to check their browser settings, Internet connection and hardware configuration to make sure they will be able to participate in the seminars. Participants will need speakers and a microphone on their computer to hear presenters and speak to others.

Participants are encouraged to go to the Wimba site a day before the seminar to run the Wimba wizard and practice online participation. To run the wizard or enter the room, go to http://ndivnlc.wimba.com/ and click on "participant login.” For the room identification, enter “NDSU_Ext_Conf” and in the name box enter your name.

At the appropriate dates and times, follow these steps to join the seminars:

• Go to http://www.ndivnlc.horizonwimba.com
• At the Wimba conference site, click the “participant” tab
• In the participant login window, type “NDSU_Ext_Conf” as the room identification (the login is case-sensitive)
• Type your name and home town in the “name” location
• Click the “enter” tab to display the lobby of the Wimba conferencing site
• Click on “NDSU Extension: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering” to join the seminar

NDSU Agriculture Communication