Precision Ag Events Offered During MAGIE, MATE

Producers can learn more about precision ag equipment and ask questions from industry experts during Precision Ag events being held by Montana Farmers Union during the MAGIE and the MATE.

The first event will be 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Paddock Club in Great Falls.

Two additional Precision Ag focused events will take place from 10 a.m. to noon both Thursday, Feb. 15, and Friday, Feb. 16, at the MATE Theater in Billings. Panelists will discuss precision ag and its applications for more resilient operations.

“Montana Farmers Union wants to give area producers the newest and most productive methods for farming. Farmers will get to hear from local agriculture dealers, along with Montana State University Precision Ag Faculty, on how to use Precision Ag to make their businesses as productive as possible,” MFU Education Director Matthew Hauk said.

January’s event begins with a panel discussion at 10 a.m. with time for questions and one-on-one conversations, followed at 12:15 p.m. by guest speaker Paul Nugent, a Montana State University faculty member specializing in agriculture engineering.

Nugent holds a PhD in Engineering from Montana State University with a focus on optical remote sensing and data analysis. His research at MSU combines on-farm and remote sensing data with machine learning to address problems facing Montana farms, such as soil acidification. He is also interested in understanding the potential impact of forward-looking technologies such as sensor networks, vehicle electrification, and automation.

Another panel discussion, featuring the same panelists from the morning session, with time for questions and one-on-one conversations will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Panelists on Jan. 18 will be: Torgerson’s:  Lowell Harris (Torgerson’s), James Neumann (Hoven Equipment), Shane Strizich (Heartland Ag Systems), Pat Wheeler (John Deere, Frontline Ag Solutions), Charles Good (Max Ag), and Brent Heiken (Vantage America West).