Seminar Programme 2008

(Click on Seminar titles to view each speaker's presentation)

10.30am           

The economic argument for Precision Farming, what it costs, and makes.  Neil Cameron BSc, MSc. Associate Agribusiness Consultant, Bidwells 

Precision Farming has long been seen as a preserve of a minority of farmers – is still the case?

First of all Neil will define what is meant by Precision Farming and then go on to examine a number of crucial factors which can impact on the economic case for Precision Farming, including:

*  Enterprise scale

*  Operator skill

*  Regulation compliance

*  Input Costs / Output Prices

It is essential that where Precision Technology is applied there is science to justify it and drive the best results.

11.30am

Controlled traffic farming - increasing farm profit through smart soil management. Tim Chamen BSc, CEng, CEnv, FIAgrE. Company Director,

Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF Europe) Ltd

Good soil health is fundamental to efficient crop production but to protect this asset while growing crops we often have to rely on chance and good timing as well as tillage and repair. But if we’re smart, we can avoid these uncertainties! “Controlled Traffic Farming” (CTF) is all about using clever and practical ways of increasing productivity and reducing costs. The talk will enlarge on the background and principles of CTF and focus on how farms can achieve and realise the improved economics and benefits of adoption.

1.30pm

Precision farming and good agronomy: natural partners?  Jim Watson, Technical Director, Soilessentials.

 Good agronomy has traditionally been about application of uniform rates, appropriate to the average of the field, with well calibrated applicators. Now, with the introduction of new sensors, should good agronomy be about the appropriate dose at every point in the field? If so, then uniform rates should not be seen as the norm but as poor practice.

2.30pm

Patchwork WebTrack – A fully integrated web-based farm traceability system.  Richard Price MBA, Managing Director, Patchwork Technology Limited

The WebTrack website uses information derived from BlackBox GPS guidance and tracking devices to generate the following information.

• Job costing information for farm operations.

• Recording of work areas and time taken for charge out in contract and share farming.

• Information for statutory records for spray fertiliser and slurry.

• Recording of operations as part of cross compliance.

• Recording of farm operations for quality assurance and retailer schemes.

WebTrack, brings simplicity and functionality to office side record keeping with the minimum disturbance to field operations.