PULLMAN, Wash. Precision techniques that allow farmers to change production practices as they move across their fields, adjusting for differences in soil and other growing conditions, are the topic of a conference Feb. 18-19 in Pasco, Wash.
The conference, sponsored by Washington State University, will feature presentations on precision-farming technologies and techniques such as yield mapping, global positioning systems, geographic information systems, grid soil sampling, remote sensing, and precision irrigation.
How the technologies work, what others are finding, who’s selling the products and what farmers need to know to try it are covered in this first-ever western conference on precision agriculture.
Over 200 growers, farm managers, field agents, researchers and ag chemical and food processing representatives are expected to attend from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Canada.
The event will be held at the Red Lion Inn in Pasco.
The program was designed by Co-chairs Tim Fiez and Jim Durfey of WSU’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics. The program is designed for potato, tree fruit and other irrigated crop producers, as well as dryland wheat and legume farmers.
Concurrent sessions after the first morning will allow participants to choose among basic and intermediate sessions on precision farming technology, and between precision farming applications for dryland and irrigated farming. In addition to speakers, vendors will be available to discuss their products and services.
A grower’s roundtable discussion on the evening of the 18th will focus on the pro’s and con’s of precision farming from the grower’s point of view.
Pre-registration is recommended by Feb. 1 through WSU’s Conferences & Institutes. For a free brochure, call (800) 942-4978 or (509) 335-3530. You may request a brochure by FAX (509) 335-0945.
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