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“The objectives of the program were to introduce and familiarize producers
with the basics of GPS operation, the practical application of GPS on their
farms, installing and upgrading equipment, calibrating and storing yield
monitor information, planting and harvesting patterns for data analysis and
management changes.”
Tom Miller
Ballard County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
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By Laura Skillman
PRINCETON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2004) – In western Kentucky, where grain is the
predominant agricultural enterprise, county agricultural leaders were looking
for ways to spend their share of the Master Tobacco Settlement money on
something to enhance this farming sector.
To that end, Ballard County was the first to formulate a plan and develop a
program for a 50 percent cost share up to $4,000 per farm to gain entry into
precision agriculture. Since its successful program was implemented in 2003,
three other counties have adopted similar plans.
The counties that have implemented precision agriculture programs and the amount
of county funds utilized are Ballard, $74,000; McCracken, $60,000; Graves,
$40,000; and Carlisle, $50,000, according to the Governor’s Office of
Agricultural Policy.
“Very few farmers in west Kentucky have begun using any GPS (Global Positioning
System) equipment, whether a light bar guidance system or a yield monitor
system,” said Tom Miller, Ballard County Extension agent for agriculture and
natural resources with the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.
“The objectives of the program were to introduce and familiarize producers with
the basics of GPS operation, the practical application of GPS on their farms,
installing and upgrading equipment, calibrating and storing yield monitor
information, planting and harvesting patterns for data analysis and management
changes.”
The Ballard program started with a general meeting for producers detailing GPS
technology with a focus on using light bar guidance and yield monitor systems.
Information also was provided on what to look for and questions to ask when
buying this equipment. A second meeting on a producer’s farm demonstrated proper
installation. Other meetings included one prior to harvest to demonstrate proper
yield monitor calibration and data handling.
Through the cost share program, 23 light bar guidance systems were purchased and
used on 75,000 acres for uses ranging from fertilizer to herbicide applications.
Nine producers purchased yield monitors and mapping equipment through the
program. This equipment was used to harvest and map more than 27,000 acres of
wheat, corn and soybeans.
“Everyone saw a benefit to the guidance system immediately,” Miller said. “They
could tell it was easy to use and accurate. It caused less driver fatigue than
the foam-marker system. Several farmers commented that it should be standard
equipment on sprayers.”
The mapping and yield monitors will take longer to see results, he said. Farmers
first need to get two to three years of data before making many management
decisions as a result of the information, he said.
In McCracken County, the program was implemented because of farmer interest,
especially from those living along the Ballard County line, said Doug Wilson,
McCracken County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. The
program is under way, with about a third of the money allocated so far.
The Ballard program was honored this summer during the meeting of the National
Association of County Agricultural Agents. The program was one of four national
finalists in the Remote Sensing and Precision Agriculture Program sponsored by
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
“I think we accomplished what we set out to accomplish,” Miller said. “We were
able to utilize Phase I money for advances in grain production, introduced GPS
to farmers and made it more cost effective. We are at the stage now of
determining where we go from here.”
Writer: Laura Skillman
270-365-7541 ext. 278
Sources: Tom Miller, 270-665-9918;
Doug Wilson, 270-554-9520
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