If you already use GPS equipment or are thinking of kitting up, don't miss Precision Farming 2009 on Wednesday 4 March at the East of England Showground near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
All the main GPS firms will be there and there's a working demo area and an HGCA Be PRECISE workshop. Cost is £10 on the gate or £5 in advance.
KEY FACTS
* Where: East of England showground, near Peterborough PE2 6XE
* When: Wednesday 4 March 9am-5pm
* Cost: £10 on the door or £5 if you book in advance on the Precision Farming official website up to 27 February.
* More details: 0845 4900 142 or see the Precision Farming official website
SEMINARS
Including the HGCA Be PRECISE workshop
(for full details see the Precision farming Event official website):
* Growers are faced with higher fuel and input costs, a demand for higher yields and the pressure of increased environmental awareness and compliance. Finding a balance between these competing needs can be difficult. Precision technology can offer solutions to many of these issues.
* Precision technology can help to improve the efficiency of your farm operations including cultivations and better-targeted fertiliser and agrochemical applications. This can save on fertilisers and sprays and also reduce fuel costs and improve soil structure. However, new technology can be confusing and is not suitable for every situation.
* If you’re intrigued as to whether precision farming systems may benefit your business, then this is the ideal workshop for you. This workshop will provide you with the information and knowledge to make informed decisions about whether any of the precision farming techniques are appropriate for you and your farm.
The presentations will cover:
* How precision farming technology works on farm
* The fundamental aspects of machine control
* Soil, nutrient and yield mapping and how they can assist agronomic decisions
* What is variable rate application and how it works in practice
* How to start interpreting data from the range of sources on farm
* Explore whether precision farming technology makes sense for your business
Timetable
10am Is precision farming for me? Machine control and automation,
10.45am Variable rate and agronomy
11.30am Data management and interpretation
12.15pm Case study
1pm See how Natural England can support your farm business and the environment
2pm Remote sensing technology within agriculture, Richard Hood, project manager
Harper Adams University College
3pm Think soils - help erosion and run-off, Mat David, technical advisor, soil protection, Environment Agency
WHO'S THERE
AGCO
ARC Addington Fund
CLAAS
David King Electronics (Muller-Elektronik)
John Deere
DGPS 4U
Environment Agency
Farmade Management Systems
Farmex
Farm Image
FarmPlan
Farm Works
Hardi
Harper Adams University College
HGCA
Kverneland
Muddy Boots Software
Natural England
Patchwork Technology
Precise Solutions (Trimble)
RABI
RDS Technology
Saderet
Safety Revolution
Soilessentials (Leica)
Soyl
The Courtyard Partnership
Yara
Recent articles on GPS and precision farming:
Sharing an RTK base station - the benefits
Using one in-tractor ISOBUS screen instead of several small ones
Kent farmer uses GPS to get near to achieving true Controlled Traffic Farming
Precision farming developments widen on-farm potential
N-spreading from satellite images shows promise
Telematics takes hold in agriculture
Tagging bales with key information works with GPS too
Patchwork shows off new fertiliser spreader shut-off system
HGCA Be PRECISE workshops to take place at Precision Farming Event
Controlled Traffic Farming cuts establishment costs