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: Syngenta Ag Stories - Reanna Hagel, Channel Marketing Manager

Growing up on a cow-calf operation and small feedlot near Lumby, BC, Reanna learned agriculture the hands-on way with her sister on the family farm. Today, as Channel Marketing Manager for Syngenta Canada, what Reanna loves most about her work is simple: the customer is always at the centre. Whether that's a grower or a channel partner, she understands them on a personal level - because she's the daughter of one. But for Reanna, supporting ag doesn't stop at her job. She volunteers with local 4-H clubs, lends a hand to her farming neighbours, and is raising her own kids to understand and respect the land. Her advice to the next generation? "It's an amazing time to be in the industry - it's going to look completely different in 20 years. To be part of the evolution is very exciting."