Precision Ag Technology on full display

Jan 29, 2020

Farms.com Eastern Precision Agriculture Conference and Ag Tech Showcase Kicks off in London

Farmers across Ontario are headed to RBC Place in London today for the start of the 7^th annual Farms.com Precision Agriculture Conference & Ag Tech Showcase - a two-day event featuring expert speakers and tech demonstrations highlighting the immense value of precision technology on the farm. This year’s conference has an expanded dairy focus and will examine the multiple uses of precision ag tech in the dairy industry.

The conference begins with keynote presentations from Dr. Vern Osborne, Professor, Department of Animal Biosciences at University of Guelph, focusing on the future of the dairy industry, followed by a presentation on Real-time Molecular Diagnostics for Herbicide and Pesticide Resistance Testing by Professor Robert Edwards, Head of School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at Newcastle University in England.

Professor Edwards is representing AGRI-INNOVATIONS Limited, a U.K.-based company that focuses on bringing molecular diagnostics testing directly to the farm. The company has developed a small, portable testing device that can detect herbicide and pesticide resistance in weeds, pests, and pathogens. With results in minutes, the rapid-testing allows producers to have answers in real-time rather than days or weeks. This type of testing allows for quick decisions by producers as to which type of herbicide or pesticide will be the most effective in their crop protection strategies.

The conference will cover a range of topics, with over 20 presenters and many exhibitors, including Climate FieldView, GPS Ontario, Kearney Planters, and more.

Video: Spring Planting Prep Just Got Serious… We NEED This!

Getting closer to planting season means one thing… it’s time to get EVERYTHING ready.

Today didn’t go exactly as planned—we thought we’d be hauling potatoes again, but instead we spent the day digging equipment out of the cellar, hooking up the grain drill, and getting tractors ready to roll. With wheat planting just around the corner, every piece of equipment matters.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a normal day without a few problems… dead batteries, hydraulic issues, and a truck tire that absolutely refused to cooperate. We tried everything—jump packs, bead bazooka, ratchet straps… and eventually had to bring out the “big guns” just to get things moving again.

But that’s farm life—adapt, fix, and keep moving forward.

We’re getting close to go-time. Wheat seed is coming soon, and planting season is right around the corner