This Wednesday – Aug. 8 – close to 300 Mid-Atlantic farmers are expected to converge on the Caroline County 4-H Park just south of Denton, Md., for the second annual Mid-Atlantic Precision Ag Equipment Day. Like last year's event, it's a must-do mecca for farmers contemplating the purchase of precision ag tools or upgrading what they're already using.
The packed program runs from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., reports Josh McGrath, organizer of the event and University of Maryland Extension agronomist. Five of the country's best experts on precision agriculture technology are on the program. The park is located at 8230 Detour Road, southeast of Denton. Click here for a Google map.
WIRED TO GO! This planter at last year's field day was wired and ready with section controls and variable-rate planting.
You'll get practical, informative advice on precision seeding, economics, planter section control, modifying equipment for variable-rate application, variable-rate irrigation, and more, says McGrath. And, you can take a close look at the technologies and equipment on display.
Session topics and the speakers include
- Precision seeding: Randy Taylor, from Oklahoma State University, will address how corn planter performance can be boosted. Typical planters, for instance, meter 12 to 30 seeds per revolution. But seed metering system need to meter 5 to 20 seeds per second to improve stand uniformity and yield. He's a national expert in crop sensor systems used for in-season nitrogen management for corn and wheat.
- *Variable-rate fertilizer application: Joe Luck, from University of Nebraska, will cover how many VRA technology options address in-field variability. He'll cover equipment selection, manual and automatic boom section controls, developing prescription maps and components for modifying equipment.
- Automated section controls for planters: Mike Buschermohle and Lori Gibson, from University of Tennessee, will show how this technology can boost farm profits. In brief, it uses row clutches to automatically turn off individual row units or planter sections where you've already planted or in designated no-plant zones.
- His Automatic Section Control for Planters Cost Calculator can help you decide whether to invest in ASC.
- Variable-rate irrigation: Wesley Porter, also from Oklahoma State University, tackles how irrigation systems can be fitted for prescription water application – applying more where its needed most – without wasting water on spots that trend towards higher soil moisture.
The precision ag event is sponsored by: Rural Community Insurance Services, Southern States Coop, Willard Agri-Service, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Farm Credit, Atlantic Tractor, and Hoober, Inc.
Complete Schedule Register now!