PRECISION AGRICULTURE INITIATIVE FOR THE TEXAS HIGH PLAINS

2001 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE REPORT

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension

Principal Investigator:  Pam Dillard, Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center                                6500 Amarillo Blvd., Amarillo, TX 79106 Cooperators:  Tim McAlavy, Communications Specialist, Texas Cooperative Extension, Lubbock Technical Advisors:  Dr. Karl Steddom, Research Scientist, Texas Agricultural Experiment                    Station, Bushland  and Dr. Calvin Trostle, Agronomist,                    Texas Cooperative Extension, Lubbock Primary Location:      Amarillo Project Title:           Development and Maintenance of Precision Agriculture Web Presence Project Objective:       Provides statewide service and support of the Precision Agriculture Website.  The Amarillo Center in close cooperation with Lubbock, manages the technical attributes of the website with dedicated equipment software and project personnel.

Reporting Period:    January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2001

A.     Summary of Progress:

Website location:

Our commitment is delivering focused, factual data on precision farming technology, site-specific production tactics, and the unbiased evaluation and testing of equipment.  Communication of research results and other timely, information is designed to educate and inform the end user.  Anyone with a computer and internet connection is able to conveniently download and review research results provided by A&M scientists in this evolutionary field.  In 2000, after initial startup phase of the project, a full server upgrade was initiated and completed by the project coordinator and a part time student employee.  The website construction and improvements continued. Updates to the current website is enabling the overall communication mission of the project and expanding venues for scientists to present results of individual precision agriculture accomplishments.

B.      Education/transfer:    

Reports are continuing in two formats, hypertext markup lanquage (html) and portable document format (pdf).  Profiles and highlights are being expanded.  Password restricted areas, dubbed ‘niches’ are being allocated to project investigators enabling scientists to make additional reports further enhancing the information provided within the website.

C.     Milestones achieved:                 N/A                                         

D.     Publications:                                   None

E.     Precision agriculture proposals: None                  

F.     Precision agriculture

      meetings attended/papers

      (posters) presented:                None                  

G.     Other Developments:                    Part time student support was pre-empted by graduation and permanent job placement opportunity.  Funds are leveraged to ensure hiring of another student for the summer.