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Precision Agriculture by using GPS
| Name | Robert E. Bett | | Situation | Marion County farmers have always depended on tobacco and continued to follow what has worked for them in the past. The crops they grow -- except tobacco -- are low profit enterprises. The challenge is to work with them where they are and to try to move them to methods that are more cost-effective. | | Response | As the Extension Agent, I targeted four county growers. I discussed with them and showed them possible ways they could benefit by adopting new methods. | | Impact | The results are:
*One grower purchased an iPAQ as well as a Nav3 sleve and is using GPS to measure the length of his tobacco rows so he can lay out his rows so when he is harvesting he does not end up in the middle of the field with his tobacco box full. Instead he is at the end of the row and thus more efficent, saving money.
*Grower number two has bought the iPAQ and is using it on his
4-wheeler to measure land. So far this is all he is doing with it, but
we'll work to move the peg some more.
* The third grower (a "used-to-be" Fertilizer Retailer) has invested
some "big" bucks on an applicator truck -- slightly used, but in good shape, with all the GPS equipment in it to do Variabile Rate Application. Currently we have two growers who are letting another dealer do some mapping on their farm. |
Last update4/24/2008
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