NDSU Extension Precision Agriculture Web Seminars Scheduled

Join online seminars to learn about the technology and skills needed to implement variable-rate fertilizer applications and other precision agriculture topics.

North Dakota State University Extension Service agricultural machine systems specialist John Nowatzki, is coordinating the series. The seminars are designed to allow farmers using precision agriculture technologies to interact with NDSU Extension specialists and industry representatives. Anyone can join the seminars on the Internet from his or her own computer. Two-hour seminars are scheduled for Feb. 6, 13 and 20.

The Feb. 6 seminar is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. Presentations for this seminar will be on creating field crop management zones, with an emphasis on identifying distinctive field areas, grouping these areas into zones and determining appropriate fertilizer rates for each zone. Presenters include Dave Franzen, NDSU Extension soil specialist; Kelly Sharpe, GK Technologies agronomist; and Lanny Faleide, Agri ImaGIS president.

The seminar on Feb. 13 is scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m., with the agenda focusing on software used to create prescription maps and the technology needed on planting equipment to accomplish variable-rate fertilization. Presenters include Nate Ohrtman, an Ag Leader regional sales representative; Perry Rust, Rust Sales president; and a John Deere Company precision agricultural specialist.

The third seminar is scheduled for Feb. 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. The agenda is directed toward evaluating the effectiveness of field crop variable-rate fertilization. Presenters include Roger Ashley, NDSU Extension cropping specialist and area farmers who have incorporated variable rate fertilizer application in their crop production systems.

The seminars are free. Anyone with Internet access can join the seminars at http://www.ndivnlc.horizonwimba.com. First-time users can go to www.ag.ndsu.edu/wimba for instructions on how to use Wimba. Participants will need speakers and a microphone on their computer to hear presenters and speak to others.

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 ID (the login is case-sensitive)
• Type your name in the “name” location
• Click the “enter” tab to enter the lobby of the Wimba conferencing site
• Click on “NDSU Extension: Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering” to join the meeting.

Individuals who miss any of the three seminars will be able to download archived recordings of the seminars from the NDSU precision agriculture and geospatial technology Web site at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/geospatial/.

NDSU Agriculture Communication