Learning about new technology occurs in different ways. Some people will take classes at the local college. Others may use the internet to search for information or YouTube to learn how to do something. Some may actually read magazine articles. Winter or those slow times between crop production cycles brings another option for learning: conferences, […] Read more
Terry Brase
Stories by Terry Brase
Data collection from above; getting the right stuff from flight
After flying drones for a few years, I was asked to speak at various conferences. Most of these are professional and proper affairs in which people sit quietly to listen, applaud the speaker politely, and ask thoughtful questions afterward. However, at one memorable conference at which there were people representing drones, manned aerial systems and […] Read more
Internet of Things promises to revolutionize farming
Sometimes I wonder how the media comes up with these new terms. For example, the first time I heard the word “cover” used to refer to an old song redone by a different artist, I was confused. We used to call it a “remake,” which I think is very descriptive. I don’t get how the […] Read more
Talented people are everywhere, you just have to find them
A nice thing about having my own column is that I can get on a soapbox about something I believe in. Since this is a column about precision farming, it will get there in a roundabout way. A couple of news items in the past few years have made me wonder how society values talent. […] Read more
Precision ag has plenty of room for error
Learning from your mistakes is an important part of education, especially in precision agriculture, so I thought it would be entertaining to hear about one of the more stupid precision farming mistakes I have made. One of the fields at Kirkwood Community College, where I taught for 15 years, was known as the Beef field. […] Read more
Technicians play major role in precision agriculture
Last month, I noted that operators of agricultural enterprises needed to concentrate on making decisions and avoid getting bogged down with a mountain load of data and the necessary analysis. That is normal procedure in the business world. The chief executive officer and corporate management receive reports and data filtered through various levels of management […] Read more
Data interpretation key to farmer usability
Who makes the decisions in precision farming? As a precision ag instructor, I try to talk with producers to learn more about their business and technology needs. I’ll ask about how they use precision technology, what’s most valuable for them and what they think about new technology. Unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, are […] Read more
Precision ag more than tools; it’s a way of thinking
After spending a career teaching precision farming in the U.S. Midwest, I have made the switch to west coast agriculture. Growing up in Iowa, corn, soybeans, oats, alfalfa and pastureland were pretty much the extent of my experience in crops. There is corn as far as the eye can see in some parts of Iowa, […] Read more
Cellphones play key role in most telemetry systems
So far in this series of articles on telemetry, I’ve written about how wireless signals work, how telemetry works and what it can do. What is missing is how to actually set it up to operate. Most of the time it sounds easier than it actually is. The good news is that precision ag companies […] Read more
Who’s organizing the air waves; sorting out the frequencies
This column has been exploring the concept of telemetry as a tool for agriculture and defined it as the wireless transmission of data. Before discussing how to use telemetry in agriculture, here’s a simplified look to appreciate how it works. Wireless transmission of data is carried on electrical signals of different frequencies. Electrical signals are […] Read more
