GIS and site-specific nitrogen management among the topics

January 2007

New technologies are changing the way of agriculture. Producers will learn how to benefit from these advances at the seventh annual Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association Conference and Trade Show Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Midtown Holiday Inn in Grand Island.

"The theme of this year's conference is putting technology to work," said University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educator Dave Varner. "Conference participants will learn how to employ technology to improve efficiencies across their operations."

Featured speakers will include Joseph Berry, University of Denver Keck Scholar in Geosciences. Berry pioneered multiple components of geographical information systems and specializes in looking at related issues "beyond mapping." He focuses on applications that fully incorporate map analysis into decision-making through spatial consideration of social and economic factors.

Newell Kitchen, soil scientist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, will share new nitrogen management strategies that Missouri producers initiated last summer. Sensor-controlled commercial applicator rigs applying variable rate nitrogen fertilizer could be on the horizon for Nebraska producers.

Participants may choose from 15 concurrent sessions that address topics such as spatial weed management, establishing rural RTK farm networks, when and how to choose autosteering, purchasing and maintaining your home computer, podcasting applications in agriculture, multimedia mapping in agriculture, making the most of your yield data, using electrical conductivity to understand your soils better, using aerial photography in natural resources management, and a demonstration of open source software Manifold GIS software.

Advance registration is $85 if postmarked by Jan. 26 and $110 thereafter for NeATA members, $110 and $135 respectively for non-members. Those planning to attend can register by sending their name, address, phone number, e-mail address and payment to the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association, Inc., 1206 W. 23rd St., Fremont, Neb. 68025-2504. Conference brochures are available at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Offices, at the neata.org Web site, or by calling (800) 830-4855.

Six Certified Crop Advisor continuing education credits are available to conference participants. Additional credits are available for pre-conference workshops focusing on developing podcasts and analyzing precision agriculture data.

Reservations can be made at the Midtown Grand Island Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center. Call (800) 548-5542 for reservations.

The conference is sponsored by the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, a division of the university's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information, call Varner at (402) 727-2775 or e-mail dvarner1@unl.edu.IANR News Release