ISSUE DATE: 01/25/2010
By Jennifer M. Latzke
Farmers are nothing if not an innovative lot.
About 20 years ago that innovation and creativity brought about the precision agriculture revolution. Using new technologies, farmers for the first time had data available to them to enhance their decision-making skills, improve their efficiency and boost their yields.
The early years
"Precision agriculture is an information-based management strategy," explained Viacheslav Adamchuk, associate professor in Biological Systems Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He explained there are three goals of precision agriculture. First, using these tools and techniques allows producers to optimize their resources to increase the profitability and sustainability of production. Second, they help farmers minimize their impact on environment. And, finally, he said there's a social aspect to precision agriculture--use of this technology changes the status of farming and agriculture from a labor-intensive job to a profession. These goals haven't changed since the onset of precision ag, but the tools to reach them have evolved over the years.
NEWS
"I Heart Beef" campaign set to kick off in February 2010 Colorado Farm Show is saluting American ag 25th Women in Ag Conference Feb. 25 and 26 in Kearney 6th annual agricultural trade show rolls out AFBF supports halt to EPA regulation of greenhouse gases ARS gene collections vital to animal research efforts Association disappointed in failure to uphold California law in Low Carbon Fuels Standard decision Boy Scouts of Southwest Kansas begin Celebration of 100th Anniversary Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame to induct four new members Commerce Department and USDA announce availability of $4.8 billion in Recovery Act funding to bring Do our kids know about agriculture? Extension Service presents seminars at Southwest Farm & Ranch Classic Extension sets outlook and management conferences across state Final SPCC rule released Fritz receives Superior Service award from Extension KFU convention features health care panel K-State scientists work to improve food security in Mali and Ghana Microbe collections accelerate discoveries Missouri uses beets to melt snow, ice from highways NDA sponsors seventh annual poster contest NMSU works with institutions around the world to study secrets of the sun Norman Borlaug posthumously awarded Distinguished Texan in Agriculture Award NRCS announces funding for farmland protection program Oklahoma agritourism rolling workshop announced Precision agriculture moves farming forward Rural Advantage/Healthy Farms Conference offers innovative ideas Sen. Chambliss, ag groups voice support for Sen. Murkowski's resolution of disapproval Smithsonian acquires historic food coupons from USDA Staple food prices trend down for 5th straight quarter Staples keynote speaker at Farm Show Power Breakfast State budget reform tops list of Farm Bureau legislative priorities in 2010 USDA, Navy sign agreement to encourage development, use of renewable energy Vilsack announces capacity building efforts in Afghanistan Zebra chip research gets $3.9 million in funding CROPS
Above-average precipitation causes groundwater level increases over much of state American Corn Growers Association challenges criticism of energy and climate legislation Blackland Income Growth Conference scheduled Feb. 9 and 10 Cold weather could spell death knell for boll weevil Crop profitability meeting Jan. 27 in Hugoton Experts: South Central Texas residents can choose, prepare plants for colder weather Extension, Producers Cooperative Oil Mill hold canola meetings High Plains Ag Conference set for Dec. 2 in Lubbock Master Farmer Award honors Missouri's best New farming wrinkle may help peanut growers NSP announces national Yield and Management Contest winners Organic farming conference slated for Albuquerque Feb. 19 and 20 OSU provides information about purchasing and storing biodiesel Peanut industry raising donations for Haitian earthquake victims Reduce soybean planting populations and save $10 to $18 per acre RMFU supports Growing Safe Food Act Sixth annual Arkansas Valley Farm/Ranch/Water Symposium and Trade Show coming Feb. 4 Soy potentially healthy for cancer survivors Soybean association announces seminar Third Lower South Platte River watershed meeting set U.S. farmers provide food, feed and fuel USCP, USGC hosting international grain buying teams USDA provides funding to cooperators for pest and disease management USDA provides web-based disaster program payment calculator to help producers with business planning Weed ecologist hired at UNL Center Winter wheat seedings down Workshops focus on helping ag operators with disabilities LIVESTOCK
2010 Beef Feedlot Roundtables offered Feb. 9-11 2010 Colorado legislative session under way 36th annual bull test completes 41 days AHA announces Spring 2010 Gold TPR Breeders Bizarre calf mutilations found on Colorado ranch Book marks life of lady bronc pioneer Brod receives Excellence Award from veterinary diagnostic lab Circle A presented Hereford Innovator award Consumers want high-quality, branded beef Education options available to producers at 2010 Iowa Pork Congress Federal poultry pollution trial starts in Oklahoma Feed not a problem for N.D. ranchers this winter 'Free' producer training sessions offered at 2010 Iowa Pork Congress Iowa Pork Producers Association to present industry awards Jan. 27 Judging livestock, building character Lean hog contracts, PRRS eradication among resolutions to be discussed at IPPA annual meeting Nebraska dairy farm recovering from roof collapse Nebraska rancher found guilty of 145 counts of cruelty New pork cut finds success in Japan New test may help address costly parasite in sheep industry No boundaries Nominees sought for Leopold Conservation Award November beef, pork exports continue 2009 rebound NWSS Junior Gelbvieh Show results OPSU Bull Test 84-day update; Sale set for Feb. 22 Outstanding quality exhibited in NWSS Gelbvieh Pen Bull Show Quality beef affected by nutrition, environment, genetics and more Research aims at forecasting boar fertility at birth Scientists turn stem cells into pork Show-Me-Select Heifers sell well at Palmyra South Korea confirms new outbreaks of FMD Taiwanese protest imports of U.S. beef Testimony comes to halt in poultry litter case Third generation Texas rancher learned on the job This trich is no treat Two cases confirmed: Colorado livestock affected by rabies USDA hosts outreach webinars on mobile slaughter units EDITOR
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Court to rule on Monsanto alfalfa challenge Funding available for Texas grassland owners Learning the hot topics of prescribed burning at OSU FAMILY
Aberdeen units designed with economy in mind Annual directory seeks farms and farmers' markets for 2010 edition Conference to focus on plasticulture production, small farmers Dates set for panhandle master gardener training program Football culture boosts wing sales Goshen County 4-H team wins meat judging contest Grandparents can help children grieve Growing vegetable transplants ISU horticulture student researches printing messages on apples Market Gardening School to take place in Enid Master Gardener Association honored with Partnership Award Master Gardener training set Meditation for 1-25-10 Nebraska 4-H science, engineering and technology programs making new scientists Oklahoma gardeners gear up for spring gardening with free OSU Extension seminar Parasites: Packing up, moving on Small steps for debt reduction Still in the round with extra pounds?
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