Do you have a new precision ag idea?

Jun 09, 2021

The Farms.com Precision Agriculture Scholarship Contest is back in 2021

Farms.com is pleased to announce the return of the Precision Agriculture Scholarship Contest, part of this year’s Farms.com Precision Agriculture Conference & Ag Technology Showcase.

Students who have a new precision agriculture idea are invited to enter the contest for a chance to win one of three US$2,000 scholarships.

The contest is open to students in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with one scholarship to be awarded in each country. To be eligible to win, you must be enrolled full-time in a college or university program.

Students can be studying in any field, not just agriculture, but the idea needs to be practical and applicable to farmers.

These ideas will be submitted via a social media video (Twitter and Facebook). The video should describe the student’s research/thesis or new idea regarding precision agriculture.

A panel of judges, comprised of sponsors, industry leaders, and Farms.com staff, will determine the top submissions in each region, which will be posted on Farms.com, AgCareers.com, and De Lacy Executive for voting.

This year, the theme for the scholarships will be for precision agriculture ideas that meet ESG goals or Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance – three central factors in measuring sustainability.

Farmers will be invited to vote on the concept they believe is most worthy in each country, which will determine with winner of each (3) US$2,000 scholarship.

In addition to the scholarship prize, the winners, as determined by voting in each country, will be invited to participate in a Student Panel as part of the Precision Agriculture Conference. Here they will have the opportunity to present their thesis idea in more detail to farmers attending the event.

Last year’s scholarship winners include:

United States – Austin Brown, Penn State University
Canada – Nicholas Bannon, University of Guelph
United Kingdom – Will Smith, University of Lincoln

“Farms.com is passionate about precision agriculture, and our passion was reinvigorated last year when we reviewed the wealth of innovative ideas submitted by the scholarship entries,” said Farms.com President and CEO Graham Dyer. “Their ideas were practical, insightful, as well as leading edge.”

The scholarship contest will open this summer, stay tuned for more information.

This article is featured in the June edition of the Farms.com Precision Agriculture Digital Digest.

Video: Canadian Wildfire Smoke Creates a Red Sunrise Over North Carolina Sunflower field - July 2026

A sunrise unlike any other.

This peaceful morning at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina was transformed by smoke drifting south from the Canadian wildfires. As the rising sun filtered through the haze, the sky glowed in deep shades of red and orange, casting a surreal light over the blooming sunflower field. While the colors were breathtaking, they also served as a reminder of how connected our environment is. Smoke from wildfires hundreds of miles away changed the appearance of a North Carolina sunrise, creating a rare and unforgettable moment in nature.

Take a few minutes to experience this quiet morning as the sun slowly rises through the smoky haze above one of Raleigh's most beloved summer landscapes.