1. Increasing Awareness of Precision Agriculture:
From the Research to the Field
Jessica Sheffield
SOIL/BAE 4213

2. Issues to Overcome Getting the information to producers Tradition
Economics
Crops produced
Internet is good, but…

3. Getting the Information to Producers
Baby steps, no information overload!
Most Producers live in rural areas
They don’t have high speed internet, dial up is too slow, people are impatient
Information needs to be fast, easy, and accessible
The soil fertility handbook is too big and intimidating

4. Producers are Visual Learners
Producers want to be able to see the difference and results of the technology
The technology has to be accessible!!!
Most farms are in remote areas and don’t have access to the information on the web or it would already be implemented more often
Information should be provided to Coops, Cooperative Extension offices, and at growers meetings

5. Tradition
Most farms that are in production now have been in production for 60+ years using the yield goal method, it will take education and time for the yield potential method to gain acceptance

6. Economics Farmers need to see the bottom line
In crops other than wheat (higher value)
Fuel, energy, and the cost of farmland keep increasing
Farmers have to cut corners wherever possible
Nitrogen technology is the easiest way thus far

7. Crop and Forage Species
Nitrogen Efficiency Technology Currently applied to:
Corn
Bermudagrass
Wheat
Sorghum
Potassium and Phosphorus technology for Soybeans and Alfalfa
Specialty crops like Spinach and Greens
Point is that this technology has endless possibilities and could quickly become too big for the current Cooperative Extension Programs to promote

8. Possible Solutions New County Agronomist Position
New Assistant Region Agronomist Position
County Agronomy Ambassador
Brochures

9. County Agronomist
Create a new position for each county to address the production agriculture issues, these positions should be filled by students with Agronomy education background
Why create this position?
- County Agents are already extremely busy
- Better enthusiasm for the programs
- Able to meet one on one with more producers

10. Assistant Regional Agronomist
Create a new position to assist the Regional Agronomist in educating and encouraging producers to implement new technologies
They would be responsible more for teaching the new techniques and helping the Regional Agronomist where needed

11. Agronomy Ambassador Each county will have an “ambassador”
This producer would have access to technology and equipment, and be able to have on farm demonstrations annually
Other producers will feel less intimidated by “the university”
So, this producer will serve as a liaison of sorts
Not a permanent appointment, switch every so many years

12. Brochures Easy to Access
Strategically placed where Producers often visit
Something Producers can file
This would be an introduction to the whole idea
Brochures are supposed to catch the attention of the target audience and lead them to seek more information about the subject

13. Brochures Continued A picture is worth a thousand words
Producers can hang on to them, file, read later
A brochure will get the correct information into the hands of producers
Brochures are cheap - compared to all the excess Nitrogen flowing down the Mississippi

14. “Perfect World” Scenario
All the before mentioned techniques would be used
Ambassador and Brochures would be the best outreach option
County Agronomist and Regional Assistant Agronomist positions are going to be too expensive

15. Resources and Acknowledgements
Julia Boyd, OSU English Department, Technical Writing Instructor
Dr. Raun, Dr. Solie, and Dr. Karen Hickman

16. Questions?
Questions?