Second Annual Nebraska Precision Agriculture Conference to Focus on ‘Getting Back to Basics’

Oct 09, 2025

How can growers ensure that technology serves the farm — not the other way around?

The second annual Nebraska Precision Agriculture Conference, to be held Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, at the Hall County Extension Office (3180 US-34) in Grand Island, will explore that question. This year’s theme, “Getting Back to Basics,” emphasizes the importance of foundational precision agriculture principles amid the rapid advancement of ag technology.

While agriculture continues to evolve through automation, sensors, data analytics and artificial intelligence, the conference aims to ensure that new farmers, students and educators have a strong understanding of the essential tools and concepts that underpin digital and precision farming. At the same time, sessions will provide experienced growers with practical strategies to maximize their return on investment (ROI) from the technologies they already use.

Source : unl.edu

Video: Sclerotinia and Lygus in Seed Canola: Field Update with George Lubberts, CCA | Enchant, Alberta

Join Certified Crop Advisor George Lubberts for this Prairie Certified Crop Advisor (Prairie CCA) field update from Enchant, Alberta. In this 12th video of the series, George takes us into a seed canola field where the male rows have been removed and the female plants are filling pods. This video was taken in the third week of August 2025.

George discusses the early signs of sclerotinia stem rot, explaining how infection begins in the stem, impacts pod development, and leads to premature ripening. He also shares insights on lygus bug management, including timing of spray applications to minimize feeding damage and maintain seed size and quality.

With cool, damp summer conditions, George notes that while disease pressure is present, overall field health remains good. The crop is just beginning to show early seed colour change, signaling progress toward maturity.

Topics Covered:

•Sclerotinia stem rot identification and impact

•Managing lygus bugs in seed canola

•Crop stage and seed colour change observations

•Timing insecticide sprays for optimal protection

•Insights from a CCA field perspective in southern Alberta