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: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.