The Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference takes place Jan. 19-20 in Junction City
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Technology changes rapidly in every aspect of life. For farmers, keeping up with all changes in equipment, analysis methods and best practices can make a major difference in their productivity and, ultimately, their bottom line.
From aerial crop-monitoring drones to driverless tractors, the present and future of Kansas agriculture takes center stage at the Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference Jan. 19-20 at the Geary County Convention Center, 310 Hammons Dr., in Junction City.
The conference is sponsored by the Kansas Ag Research & Technology Association (KARTA) and K-State Research and Extension.
KARTA designs the annual conference to be an thought-provoking forum for the exchange of information about new and old technologies with a focus on supporting scientifically valid on-farm research efforts and increasing overall farm business profitability.
On-site registration begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, with the opening session featuring a look back at 20 years of KARTA, along with a look to the future.
Among other session topics are:
- Project SENSE – On Farm Trials to Evaluate Sensor-based Nitrogen Management
- Vendor presentations
- Collecting Data that Matters
Following the 5:45 p.m. dinner and a social hour will be a 7 p.m. keynote titled “Big Data Implications for Precision Ag,” presented by Terry Griffin of Kansas State University and Shannon Ferrell of Oklahoma State University.
The second day’s featured presentations include:
- Ag UAVs – Where Are We At?
- K-State Precision Ag Rapid-Fire Session
- Fully Autonomous Electric Tractors – Has the Future Arrived?
Throughout the conference, KARTA members will make presentations on research conducted on their farms with financial help from KARTA. Presenters will show their peers how to put technology to work collecting and analyzing data in ways that can benefit their farm operations. Ample time will be available to question speakers, visit with vendors and share with other conference participants.
Among the research conducted last year and eligible to be featured in presentations are:
- Ascend in Winter Wheat
- Ascend in Irrigated Corn
- Grain Sorghum Seeding Rates
- Haney Soil Test Fertilizer Rates
- Gypsum as a Soil Amendment
- Cover Crops in Irrigated Corn in East KS
- Long Term Impact of Canola in Crop Rotation
- Grain Sorghum Seeding Rates in NE OK
- AgBoost NutriPlant in Irrigated Corn
- Comparison of Soil Sampling Methods
- Row Spacing in Grain Sorghum
- Row Spacing in Corn
- Vegetable Production Tunnel Comparison
The annual KARTA business meeting also will take place during the conference.
Admission for both days costs $225 and includes meals and refreshments. Attendees can save $50 by registering online on or before Jan. 10. Agriculture students at any Kansas post-secondary school are eligible for a reduced rate of $50 per day.
Funds raised through registration fees will be used to provide 2017 research grants and technology workshops that are held in locations across the state.
To register online or download a printable schedule and registration form, visit: www.karta-online.org/events.
