Precision Agriculture Series - Erie County
Event Details
Date
February 19, 2020
March 4, 2020
March 25, 2020
Time
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Location
CCE Erie County, Dard Hunter Hall, 2nd floor
21 S Grove St
East Aurora, NY 14052
Cost
FREE!
Host
Cornell Vegetable ProgramAli Nafchi
585-313-6197
email Ali Nafchi

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED but has not yet been rescheduled. If you have any questions, please contact Ali Nafchi at 585-313-6197.
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Erie County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.
Precision Agriculture (Introduction)
- Why should producers be interested in precision agriculture?
- Goals, key factors, information, technology, management
Components of Precision Agriculture Equipment
- Key components, equipment, computer/controllers, sensors, GIS, GPS, remote sensing, satellite imagery, UAV's
Agricultural management philosophy (PA perspective)
- What is zone management?
- Best management practices
- Soil and tillage management
Soil electrical conductivity (EC) and ways to measure it
Precision soil sampling vs. grid sampling
- Soil EC: Veris vs. EM38, EC vs. soil texture, and EC vs. yield map
Site specific management/variable rate applications
- Variable depth tillage control, variable seeding rate, automatic section control, variable rate irrigation, and variable irrigation based on soil texture
Map Principles
- Why is map-making important?
- Yield maps vs. prescription maps
- Importance of yield monitors, yield monitoring components, calibration and factors that effect on it
Introduction to NDVI
- Characteristic of NDVI values
- NDVI estimation and photo analysis
Economics of using precision agriculture Preferred methodology and benefits, evaluation
Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.
This event is FREE. Registration is required. Register online or call Jolie Hibit at 716-652-5400 x176.

Upcoming Events
Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting for Auction Growers -- Seneca
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A field walk will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. CCE Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Judson Reid will identify weeds, insects and diseases in vegetables and will go over management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting, and where appropriate, spray options.
DEC recertification credits available: 2.0 in categories 10, 1a, 23 and 24.
Vegetable Pest and Cultural Management Field Meeting for Auction Growers -- Yates
July 31, 2026
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A field walk will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. CCE Cornell Vegetable Program Specialist Judson Reid will identify weeds, insects and diseases in vegetables and will go over management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting, and where appropriate, spray options.
DEC recertification credits available: 2.0 in categories 10, 1a, 23 and 24.
Chipping Potato and Field Crops Twilight Meeting
August 27, 2026
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This year, our field meeting is bringing together field crops and chipping potatoes. SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Specialist Katelyn Miller will lead a field crops management discussion. Hear the latest updates in potato disease control and see the Cornell chipping potato variety trial run by Walter De Jong. Dinner follows the educational event.
1.5 DEC credits available in 10, 1a, 21, and 23.