Precision Irrigation
Speakers: Nick Emanuel (Crop Metrics)

Session Description: With Precision Irrigation, the goal is to increase water use efficiency, improve yields and maximize profitability throughout the entire field. We can achieve this by optimizing irrigation on every acre by automatically adjusting water application amounts site-specifically to account for field variability. Before other inputs such as seeding and nitrogen are applied using variable rate, fields must first be optimized with precision irrigation. This presentation will explain the principals on how variable rate irrigation works and the CropMetrics VRI Optimization potential of each field. An overview of 2011 yield results from in field VRI trials proves the success of the technology along with further opportunity for improved benefits.

Nick Emanuel is the president of CropMetrics, a precision ag company that provides advanced solutions with an emphasis on specializing in variable rate irrigation. Emanuel co-founded CropMetrics in 2009 and is based in North Bend, Nebraska. CropMetrics recently partnered with Valmont Irrigation to provide a full service variable rate irrigation program. Prior to CropMetrics, Emanuel worked as an independent precision ag specialist and also worked for John Deere AMS in research and development. Emanuel received his BS in Agricultural Sciences and his MA in Geography specializing in GIS and Remote Sensing with a focus on Agronomy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Precision Software
Speaker: John Deere & Farm Works

Session Description: John Deere- too much to manage, trying to find quality help, training new people are some of the issues facing farmers today. The JDLink system allows for these issues to be addressed through JDLink website management.

Trimble/FarmWorks- Successful implementation of Precision Ag technology requires improved data collection and exchange. Farm Works has created a seamless environment to manage this flow of information to maximize efficiency and benefit all parties.

Ian Henderson is originally from a small farming community in South Eastern Saskatchewan.  He has been with John Deere dealers since May 1, 1979; 33 years of living and breathing John Deere. Ian started is career at the John Deere Dealership in Humboldt Saskatchewan, he moved to Lloydminster in 1995. He then moved to Stettler in Jan of 1997 to become a partner in Agrotec Farm Equipment and the start of Cervus Equipment Corporation. Agrotec became part of the Agro group the fall of 2004. The roles he has filled throughout his career include Service technician, Shop foreman, Service Manager, Parts Manager, Customer Service Representative, Used Equipment Manager, Sales Manager, Training Manager, Large Ag Division Manager, and Integrated Solutions Manager. He has also been involved with numerous John Deere Advisory councils. In the past 8 years he has specialized in Staff and Customer training on Large Ag Products. As of Jan 2012 Ian will now be leading an exciting new Strategy from John Deere called Farm Sight.Through the new Integrated Solutions Department he will move the Farm Sight Strategy forward at Agro here in Alberta and FGC in Saskatchewan. 

Determining Management Zones 1
Speakers: Agri-Trend & Farmers Edge

Session Description: With the implementation of GIS software into the Precision Ag world producers now have the ability to work with organizations to determine zones in their fields and see a greater year end return. Zone management along with variable rate technologies has the potential to save produces plenty of coin by seeing higher yields and reduced input costs.

Warren Bills grew up on a grain farm near Marwayne, Alberta and has been involved in the
development of Agri-Trend's Precision Management Process since 2007.  As the first Geo-Coach(r) in the Network Warren has pursued his ambition to help farmers be better at precision farming.  Being passionate and interested in the technologies involved in precision agriculture and working along the shoulders of Agri-Coaches, the programs of variable rate and site specific management at Agri-Trend that have resulted are proving to be profitable and scientifically sound.  As President of Agri-Trend Geo Solutions, Warren and a team of Geo-Coaches are leading clients to become become the best precision farmers possible.  A graduate from the U of A in Crop science, he is also a P.Ag and member of the Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association.  Warren and his wife, Rebecca, currently live in Langdon, AB.

Jay Bruggencate was raised on a grains and oilseed farm near Coronation, Alberta. Jay received a Diploma in Business Administration from Red Deer College in 1993, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan in 1996. Jay was employed by Dow Elanco/Dow AgroSciences from 1996 to 2004 as a territory Sales Specialist in both West Central Saskatchewan and Central Alberta. During this time Jay was also actively involved with the family farm. In 1998 Jay purchased 640 acres of grain land in the Brownfield Alberta district which he actively farmed together with the family farm. In 2004 Jay started his own agronomic consulting business "Demeter Solutions" that provides independent crop, manure, and fer-tility planning for farmers in central Alberta. Jay received his Professional Agrologist designation in 2005 as well his Certified Crop Advisor designation in the same year. In 2006 Jay partnered with other local agrono-mists to form Saturn Environmental, a company assisting Alberta farmers with oil and gas facility reclama-tion and construction issues on their land. In 2008, Jay joined with the Farmers Edge group to provide Preci-sion Ag solutions, and Variable Rate agronomy to his clients and other farmers across Alberta and Saskatch-ewan. Currently Jay is working fulltime with Farmers Edge as managing partner for Alberta and Western Saskatchewan. Jay and his father still actively farm 130 acres of the family farms 3,000 acres.

Determining Management Zones 2
Speakers: Echelon Ag & Decisive Farming

Session Description: With the implementation of GIS software into the Precision Ag world producers now have the ability to work with organizations to determine zones in their fields and see a greater year end return. Zone management along with variable rate technologies has the potential to save produces plenty of coin by seeing higher yields and reduced input costs. Using "Right Rate Analysis" various variable rate methodologies will be compared.

Alex Melnitchouck is the Manager of Research and Data Integration at Decisive Farming.  He oversees all aspects of data management and analysis, including aerial and satellite imagery, field boundaries, soil and yield data, prescription, as-applied files, and other types of spatial data. He also coordinates research and development work throughout the company to monitor global advancements in the agricultural industry and develops new leading edge products, services and programs based on the latest scientific information.  Alex holds a doctoral degree in Agricultural Sciences and master’s degree in Soil Science, backed up by over 15 years of work experience at the international level.  He is also a member of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists (P.Ag.).  Alex is an author of almost 50 publications in scientific journals and proceedings of conferences. 

Tom Staples is the President of Echelon Ag Inc, and works in their head office in Weyburn, SK. Tom comes from a mixed farm in south east SK, and completed his Bachelors and Masters in Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Tom has spent his career providing agronomic, agricultural retail, and farm management advice from a local to a national level.

Social Farming
Speakers: Peter Gredig & Shaun Haney

Session Description: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube how can these social media outlets benefit the everyday farmer? Through networking these types of social media outlets are allowing farmers to communicate with not only other farmers and industry personal but allow them to see what is happening in the world of agriculture on a global scale.

Peter Gredig is a corn, soybean and wheat producer based near London, Ontario. He completed a Bsc.Agr at the University of Guelph, majoring in Agricultural Economics. Peter also brings a strong background in agricultural media and communications. Peter is the former editor of Country Guide East magazine and current President of Kettle Creek Communications. As a partner in AgNition Inc., Peter is involved in developing mobile products and strategies for agri-business, producer organizations and for farmers across North America. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Shaun Haney has been active in the seed industry his entire life. He is a partner in Haney Farms, an independently owned and operated seed production, processing and retail company based in Lethbridge, Alberta. Shaun is also the founder of RealAgriculture.com, an agriculturally-focused media-rich website that uses a wide array of social media applications to engage farmers in agricultural issues.

On Farm Research
Speaker: Dr. Ty Faechner

Session Description: There is a significant interest by producers in Western Canada to utilize agronomic information due to field variability. The potential for on-farm research is huge since farm co-operators offer equipment, land and motivation to become engaged. However, a method of scientifically recording and analyzing data from these fields has been missing. 

Erroneous data due to weather, equipment settings or failure needs to be addressed. A method which relies on a team (farmer, agronomist and researcher) is needed to evaluate the response of crops to agronomic inputs. On-farm research data accuracy must be validated using various measuring techniques. The profitability of on-farm research for local decision-making is just beginning to be realized.

Ty Faechner is a professional agrologist and certified agricultural consultant who has worked for the Alberta Government and private business in the agriculture industry. He has taught GIS, GPS and precision agriculture courses at Assiniboine Community College and Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba and the University of Alberta and King’s University College in Edmonton. Ty completed his Ph.D. in variable rate herbicide application at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta. He currently works as Executive Director with ARECA, a non-profit applied research organization based out of Sherwood Park, Alberta.

Advanced Precision Ag
Speakers: Dennis Dey & Doug McKay

Session Description: What are the current trends in Precision Agriculture? I want to take my farm management to the next level, how can I do it? This session will provide an overview of the extensive tools available for managing field variability. From sensors to imagery, variable rate application to yield maps, telematics, data management, ISOBUS compatibility and GNSS are just some of the industry buzz words that will be explained.
This session will also include an overview of the economic effects of VRT fertilizer application when compared with constant rate applications in same field.

Dennis Dey is an agricultural economist, providing economic and management support to farm managers for over 25 years.  As well, he has completed detailed research on a wide range of economic and management issues in agriculture including risk management processes, changing management practices and changing production practices. He also has international experience in the development of information and training activities to support changed practices in Eastern Europe.

Doug Mackay, P.Eng. is an Agri-Trend Geo-Coach working with the Precision Farming Solutions division of Agro, part of the largest John Deere dealership group in Canada. He is passionate about bringing practical precision farming solutions to producers and agri-businesses by simplifying technical complexities into understandable and affordable solutions. Doug works shoulder-to-shoulder with Agri-Trend Coaches, Agro locations and farm clients to bring the “geo” world down to earth.

Doug has been involved in precision farming technology since 1995 with early-stage precision farming research at Alberta Agriculture. He has brought many innovations to market through his years of industry experience including: development and marketing of an award-winning on-screen GPS guidance and control system with advanced synthetic vision displays, autosteering, automatic section control, mapping and field management. Doug has consulted to agricultural colleges and provincial research and extension groups to further precision farming training and education, having authored numerous papers, presentations and reference guides on the topic. Doug is a Professional Engineer and a graduate of the University of Alberta (B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering, Co-op Program) and was raised on a mixed farm near Waskatenau, Alberta.

Controlled Traffic Farming
Speakers: Peter Gamache & Steve Larocque

Session Description: Steve and his in-laws began modifications to their equipment in the spring of 2010 to convert their farm to a controlled traffic farming system. After two years, there have been more modifications made and lessons learned to fine tune their CTF and inter-row seeding system. This session will outline the lessons learned through two years of seeding, spraying and harvests in a CTF system. Peter Gamache will outline the project details and results of cooperator trials from the Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta initiative.

Peter Gamache is a graduate of the University of Alberta with a Masters of Agriculture. He worked on farms in Southern Alberta after graduation and was a district agriculturist for five years. He was team leader for the Alberta Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL) program for 15 years. He is currently working as the project leader for Controlled Traffic Farming Alberta, a farmer led initiative to assess CTF in Alberta. Peter lives in Edmonton, AB. He is married to Doreen and has two adult daughters and one granddaughter.

Steve Larocque is an independent crop advisor based out of Three Hills, Alberta. As owner of Beyond Agronomy, he manages 32,000 acres of cropland and publishes Beyond Agronomy News, a weekly crop production and grain market newsletter with his wife Vanessa. He is also a first generation grain farmer who began in 2007. Steve is a Canadian Nuffield Scholar and studied Controlled Traffic Farming around the globe before implementing his own CTF system in 2010.

Variable Rate Fertilzer: Case Studies
Speaker: Dr. Tom Jensen