PrecisionAg Institute At AgConnect Expo

WILLOUGHBY, OHIO, (AgPR), January 5, 2010 -- At next week’s Ag Connect Expo in Orlando, the PrecisionAg Institute (Booth 2787) will present five technology education sessions as part of the conference’s robust education offerings.

“In keeping with the Institute’s mission of education and outreach to growers and service providers, we are pleased to present these sessions at the Ag Connect Expo,” said Paul Schrimpf, Institute manager who will be moderating the sessions. “We selected five exceptional presenters based on their depth of experience and their ability to maximize attendee learning, and we’re confident that attendees will take home a wealth of valuable information.”

The Institute is sponsoring the following sessions:

3 - 4 p.m.

Active optical sensors represent a major step forward in N management. Commercially available sensors emit and capture reflected light and through various algorithms determine crop N need. These sensors can be mounted on fertilizer application equipment and guide variable N applications in real-time. John McGrath will discuss research on corn in the mid-Atlantic which revealed that an N savings of 20% could be achieved with sensor guided variable N application.

Speaker: Joshua McGrath, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Existing and emerging wireless technology is improving efficiency across the crop production chain. Jeff Dearborn shares his experiences in exploring and implementing wireless technology for ag retailer and service provider Jimmy Sanders Inc., and how it will help farmers, consultants, agronomists, and retailers to be more efficient and effective in their work.

Speaker: Jeffrey Dearborn, Jimmy Sanders Inc.

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The Mitchell Farm is renowned as one of the most technologically advanced farming operations in the Midwest, driven by Clay's desire for pinpoint accuracy in every aspect. In this session, Clay shares his agronomic practices and technology implementation that ensures a crop that reaches its full potential.

 

Speaker: Clay T. Mitchell, The Mitchell Farm

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Water scarcity has become a burden for many farms. New government ordinances and the need for conservation have prompted many farmers to consider making the switch from surface to precision irrigation. In this presentation, you will learn the proper steps to take when making your conversion and how precision irrigation can help you grow more crops with less water.

Speaker: Mike Mills, Instructor, Irrigation Association

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Vanacht has traveled the world in search of best practices and technologies being employed in agriculture. In this session, he shares some of the best working models of food traceability in agriculture today, and where technology in this area is headed.

Speaker: Marc Vanacht, ABC Consultants

For more information about the Institute, visit www.precisionagworks.com.

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