August 8, 2010
Implementing precision agriculture into a farm operation or business involves a substantial time and financial investment. To optimize that investment, a clear understanding of how to best select and put these technologies to use is essential.
UNL Extension's Precision Agriculture Practicum is designed to assist participants in navigating precision ag technologies and in utilizing data collected to the fullest potential.
Keith Glewen, UNL Extension educator, said sometimes farm operators or agribusiness representatives purchase the equipment and have a good idea of how to collect the data.
"The challenge is not only knowing how to operate the equipment and collect data, but is also understanding how to utilize the information once it is collected," he said.
The practicum will immerse participants in the world of precision agriculture.
"In the process of exploring and learning site-specific farming technologies they will have an opportunity to apply this information directly to their professional livelihood," said Dave Varner, UNL Extension educator.
This multi-session course includes a combination of presentations and exercises. The practicum begins Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, Neb. It continues in early December for 1 1/2 days (location to be determined). The final session will be Feb. 9-10, 2011, at the Nebraska Ag Technology Association (NeATA) Conference in Grand Island, Neb. Weekly inter-sessions will be held via web conferencing.
Practicum participants will gain practical experience using their own field data in hands-on exercises. The class is limited to 24 participants in order to provide individualized attention from the presenters. Sessions will be taught by university and industry professionals. Participants will have the opportunity to network with each other while collaborating on team projects.
The practicum is for farm operators wishing to get more return on their precision ag investment, crop consultants and industry agronomists who desire to provide more accurate information and better service to their customers, corporate industry and government agency personnel needing to know and understand the technology being used in today's production agriculture, and precision ag instructors.
Participants will have access to real time sensor information in practicum fields. Practicum graduates will be able to track implementation of any practice adopted on case study fields at UNL's Agricultural Research and Development Center.
Registration fee is $600 per person. Included in this fee are all educational materials, meals and breaks, as well as the registration for the NeATA conference. Companion fee is $200 per family member. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses.
Participants are required to bring their own laptop computers.
Participants should include a $200 payment when registering. Deposits will be refunded if space is not available. Balance of registration fee is due Aug. 31.
Details, practicum agenda and registration online at: http://ardc.unl.edu/precisionagpracticum.
For more information or to register, call (402) 624-8030, e-mail kglewen1@unl.edu or contact UNL Extension at 1071 County Road G, Ithaca,
Neb. 68033.
