Announcement for the Training Program:
 
   "Optimizing Management for Precision Farming: A Systems Approach"
 
            March 10 - 15, 1997, Gainesville, Florida
 
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********    WWW-SITE:  http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~workshop/ ********
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 ### SPONSORED BY:
 
- University of Florida, Gainesville
- Wageningen Agricultural University
- University of Georgia
- International Fertilizer Development Center
- International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Applications (ICASA)
 
 
### RATIONALE
 
Precision Farming has a goal of optimizing the use of soil and water
resources and chemical inputs (fertilizers and pesticides) on a
site-specific basis.  This goal is now technically feasible due to
recent advances in sensor technology and controllers that allows
variable rate application of materials across a field.  Technological
advances in GPS, remote sensing, grain yield monitoring, and GIS
provide new opportunities for characterizing variability in crop
fields.  These new tools have now shown that many crop fields are
highly variable, thereby reducing overall field yield and resource
use efficiency.  However, once one has a measure of the spatial
variability, optimizing management requires an understanding of what
caused the variability first of all, and a method to determine
optimal management over the field.  Crop simulation models are needed
to help consultants, researchers, and other farm advisors determine
the pattern of field management that optimizes production or profit.
 However, the effective use of these tools requires their evaluation
in fields to be optimized, their integration with other information
tools such as GIS, geostatistics, remote sensing, and optimization
analysis.  A comprehensive crop model application package has been
developed by researchers from several countries.  This system, DSSAT
v3.1, incorporates crop/soil/weather models, data input and
management software, and analysis programs for optimizing production
or profit for homogenous fields.  It also has features linking DSSAT
crop models with GIS, geostatistics, and other software to enable
users to optimize management over spatially-variable fields
considering a number of important factors that affect crop
development and yield.  This training program is designed to provide
participants with necessary concepts and a practical working
knowledge of these tools, with case study projects.  It will also
provide them with information on how to link crop model components
with other packages being designed and developed for practical
application to precision farming.
 
 
### PROGRAM GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
 
The overall goal of this training program is to increase the
capabilities of participants to apply quantitative tools to optimize
management of spatially-variable fields, taking advantage of new
sources of information, methods for its use, and equipment for
precision farming.  Specifically, the program will focus on:
 
1.  Information tools for managing spatial data, including GIS,
Remote Sensing, and Yield monitoring data.
 
2.  Analysis software to gain insight into the magnitude of spatial
variability and possible reasons for this variability, including
kriging, correlation, and crop and soil model approaches.
 
3.  Description of CERES and CROPGRO crop simulation models, focusing
on corn, wheat, and soybean crops, and information required for their
applications to spatially-variable fields.
 
4.  Operation of the DSSAT v3.1 software system, including components
linking DSSAT crop models with GIS and spatial analysis programs.
 
5.  Example applications of DSSAT v3.1 to optimize management in
specific field situations.
 
 
### PROGRAM CONTENT
 
This training program will describe concepts of spatial variability
and precision farming.  It will describe practical approaches for
characterizing spatial variability and methods for analyzing reasons
for the variability.  The program will make extensive use of
"hands-on" practical sessions that demonstrate the concepts, software
for analyzing spatial data, and models for determining management
that optimizes production, taking into account possible effects on
the environment.
 
The program will make extensive use of the Decision Support System
for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) v3.1 software package.  This
comprehensive package includes the CERES (maize, wheat, rice,
sorghum, barley, and millet) CROPGRO (soybean, peanut, dry bean, and
tomato), SUBSTOR (potato), and CROPSIM (cassava) models for crop
growth and yield.  These models respond to weather, soil water
holding and root growth characteristics, cultivar, water management,
nitrogen management, and row spacing/plant population.  The program
will describe information inputs required by these models, outputs
predicted by the models, and methods to interpret uncertainty and
risk associated with uncertain inputs.  The DSSAT also includes links
to GIS and remote sensing information, which allows mapping of
spatially variable inputs across a field and mapping of predicted
outputs from the models, such as yield, nitrogen leaching, water use,
etc.  The entire DSSAT v3.1 will be provided to each participant
along with documentation on its use.  The program length will be six
working days.
 
 
### OUTLINE:
 
Day 1 Concepts of Precision Farming
      GPS, Yield Maps,
      GIS, and Remote Sensing Tools
 
Day 2 Characterizing spatial variability of fields
      Spatial Interpolation of Point Data,
      Relating Remote Sensing Images to Yield Maps,
      GIS Technology for Digital Terrain Map Analysis,
      Spatial Data Bases for Crop Model Analyses
 
Day 3 Crop Simulation Models
      Overview of Concepts
      DSSAT v3.1 Operation
      Example Corn, Soybean, and Wheat Crop Simulations
 
Day 4   Soil Water and Nutrient Components
      Data in DSSAT v3.1 for Applying Crop Models
      Model Evaluation Exercises
 
Day 5 Optimizing Management for a Homogenous Field
      Obtaining Inputs for Spatially Variable Fields
      Simulating Different Segments of a Spatially-Variable Field
      Economic Analysis
 
Day 6 Optimizing Management for Spatially Variable Fields:
      Case Studies
 
 
### QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPLICATION
 
1.  Participants should be university graduates currently engaged in
crop consulting, research on precision farming, providing advice to
farmers on precision farming, or development of information tools and
methods for precision farming.
 
2.  They should have an understanding of crop production systems and
be relatively familiar with terminology in crop production.
 
3.  They should be familiar with personal computers, including DOS
and Windows operating environments, and with the operation of
software packages in these environments.  Computer programming skills
are not required.
 
4.  They should be fluent in English.
 
 
### TRAINING FACULTY
 
Dr. James W. Jones, University of Florida,
Dr. Kenneth J. Boote, University of Florida
Dr. Johan Bouma, Wageningen Agricultural University,
Dr. Harry Booltink, Wageningen Agricultural University
Dr. Gerrit Hoogenboom, University of Georgia
Dr. Philip Thornton, International Livestock Research Center, Kenya
Dr. Paul Wilkens, International Fertilizer Development Center,
Dr. Harold Reetz, Potash & Phosphate Institute
and other experts from University of Florida, Wageningen Agricultural
University, and ICASA
 
 
### REGISTRATION
 
There are four ways to register:
 
   Mail: Optimizing Management for Precision Farming: A Systems Approach
         International Programs/Training Unit
         P.O. Box 110329
         Gainesville, FL 32611-0329,
         United States of America
   Fax:  +1 (352) 392-7127
   Tel:  +1 (352) 392-1965
   Email: [log in to unmask]
 
In order to register, you have to provide all information on the
registration form. This form can be obtained by writing to the
address above, or preferably, by downloading the registration form
from our WWW-site:  http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~workshop/
 
QUARANTY AND REGISTRATION DEADLINE: To guarantee enrollment, payment
must be made with a purchase order, check or credit card by February
1, 1997. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants. Priorities for
enrollment will be on the basis of date of receipt of payment.
 
REGISTRATION FEE: The fee for this training workshop is $1,900.  It
covers registration for the six-day program, resource material
including DSSAT v3.1 software, and tea/coffee breaks.  It does not
cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, or lodging during the program nor air
transportation and health insurance.  Each participant is responsible
for these costs. Food and hotel lodging will average about $75/day.
 
LODGING: Rooms for participants will be reserved in the Rush Lake
Motel. This is a good quality motel which is located close to the
university campus and several restaurants. It is a 15-minute walk to
the university campus or the city bus can be used ($0.75 per ride).
Special arrangements can be made for parking on campus. Please
indicate on your registration form if you would like to have lodging
reserved at the Rush Lake Motel. Payment for lodging is to be made
directly to the motel (advanced payment is not required).
 
VISA: A visa is required for entry into the United States.  Each
Participant must obtain a visitor visa from the Embassy or Consulate
of the United States in his or her country of residence.
 
PROGRAM CANCELLATION POLICIES: Cancellation of pre-registration must
be made at least 72 hours before the program begins in order to avoid
being billed 25 percent of the registration fee. Substitution of
personnel is recommended in lieu of cancellation. Pre-registrants who
fail to attend or to send a substitute are liable for full
registration fee. To cancel a registration, call (352) 392-7127. In
the event the program is cancelled for any reason, the organizers
will not be responsible for any cancellation changes or charges
assessed by airlines or travel agencies.
 
 
### MORE INFORMATION
 
More information on the training program can be found in the above
mentioned WWW-site. If you have specific questions on program
information (NOT on registration and facilities information!!!),
your may direct them to:
 
   Dr James W. Jones
   Agricultural & Biological Engineering Dept.
   University of Florida
   Gainesville, FL 32611-0570
   Fax: +1 (352) 392-4092
   Email: [log in to unmask]