Texas Plant Protection Association

2007 Precision Ag Expo

September 6, 2007
Ollie Liner Center, Plainview, Texas

Registration Form
Exhibitor Form
Information Sheet
Program
Media

Farmers, extension agents, agribusiness representatives, crop consultants, ag researchers and others involved in crop production should be marking their calendars for the second TPPA Precision Ag Expo sponsored by the nonprofit association Texas Plant Protection Association (TPPA). This daylong Expo will be at the Ollie Liner Center in Plainview on September 6, 2007.

Ray Smith, TPPA Board Chairman explained, "TPPA sponsored the first TPPA Precision Ag Expo last June in Corpus Christi. Based on the excellent attendance, interest and suggestions, our Expo Planning Committee has begun making plans for 2007. Due to its central location for West Texas farmers, Plainview has been selected as the site for 2007 Expo."

The Expo agenda will include both classroom style presentations and "hands-on" demonstrations and discussions in the field. This will be great opportunity for learning about the latest precision ag practices and products from those that are leaders in working with this new technology.

The cut off date for early registrations is August 10. By sending in your registration early you save $10 and help us in our planning for the Expo.

Hotel Information
Plainview has several hotels available. Rooms have been blocked at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, 4213 W 13th St, Plainview, TX 79072, phone 806/296-9900 or Fax 806/296-9901 Ask for the Precision Ag Expo rate. Other hotels are available about 1 hour away in Lubbock or in Amarillo.

The Expo has been receiving some good press both from the various ag publications as well as local newspapers and radio in West Texas. Also the Precision Ag Information has been included in newsletters from Extension and from Agribusiness. Several of these newsletters are on line. Thanks for all the help we are receiving in getting the word out on this outstanding ag event.

Co-Sponsors of the TPPA Precision Ag Expo are:
Texas Agriculture Publication of the Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Cooperative Extension
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station - Lubbock
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station - Amarillo
West Texas A & M University
Texas Tech University
New Mexico State University
USDA - Agricultural Research Service
International Plant Nutrition Institute
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants

Continuing Education Credits (CEU's) will be offered during the Expo for Texas Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator License and for Certified Crop Advisers.

Program
An outstanding program has been developed. The following is the agenda listing the presentations and presenters.

7 - 8 am	Registration / View Displays
8:00 - 8:30 am	Welcome / Comments Todd Staples, Texas Commissioner of Agriculture (invited)
8:30 - 8:50 am	Why consider Precision Ag? Basic overview of Precision Ag and the benefits it could offer West Texas farmers Olan Moore, High Plains Consulting, Springlake, TX
8:50 - 9:10 am	Guidance Systems: What can it do for my farming operation? What are the benefits? How to maximize the system? How to choose a system? How much does a system cost? (Opportunity to view various guidance systems during the afternoon demonstrations) Jarred Karnei, AMS Regional Specialist, AG Management Solutions Factory, John Deere
9:10 - 9:30 am	Using Monitors to Improve Efficiency Using monitors for planting seed, fertilizer, herbicides, etc. Can they improve the efficiency of your farming operation? Trent Murphree, Precision Ag. Specialist, Raven Industries
9:30 - 10:00	Break /View Displays
10:00 - 10:20 am	Irrigation Management, Including Irrigation Scheduling System and Variable Rate Irrigation (Drip & Center Pivot) - based on soil temperature and soil moisture as well as plant stress (Biotic Systems) James R. Mahan Ph.D., Plant Physiologist, USDA/ARS Plant Stress and Water Conservation Laboratory, Lubbock, TX
10:20 - 10:50 am	Methods of Measuring Soil & Crop Variabilities Discussion on using the Soil Conductivity Equipment, Aerial Imaging and Sprayer Mounted Remote-Sensing. Benefits and use of each to maximize crop inputs and improve profits. Dr. Subbarao Yarlagadda, National Agronomist, Helena Chemical Co., Collierville, TN
10:50 - 11:20 am	Data Collection & Management (Consultants, agribusiness, Farmers) How is the data collected? Who manages the data? Who makes recommendation using the data? How do we measure the economics of the systems? Dr. David Waits, President & CEO, SST Development Group, Inc., Stillwater, OK
11:20 - 11:45 am	Putting it all together Can Precision Ag work on West Texas Farms to increase profits and reduce risk? Eddie Griffs, Lubbock area Farmer & Radio Farm Broadcaster
11:45 - 1:15 pm	Lunch (included in registration fee) and Visit Displays
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm	What Precision Ag does for me on my farm? (3 farmers to discuss how to get started in Precision Ag and some of their experiences with precision ag) Tom Moore – Sunray, TX Farmer, Ron Hopper – Petersburg, TX Farmer Mitch Worrell, Altus, OK Farmer
2:15 pm	Field Demonstrations & Visit DisplaysMichael Dolle, Hale County Agent, Field Committee Chairman Field demonstration ideas: Guidance Systems Demonstrations Soil Electricity Conductivity Demonstrations Strip-Till Demonstrations Variable Rate Technology & Aerial Imaging Green Seeker & Weed Seeker Demonstration Irrigation displays
5:30 pm	Adjourn

For more information, contact
Bob Sasser,
TPPA Executive Director
Phone: (936) 539-2349
E-mail: TPPA@consolidated.net
Mailing address: P.O. Box 1897, Conroe, TX 77305-1897