A.   Reporting Period:

        September 1, 1997 - August 31, 1999

B.  Summary of Significant Progress:  (Report where applicable)

Objective 1:   Quantify the spatial and temporal variability of factors that can be addressed by precision agriculture practices.

• Participated in two meetings in Lubbock of Resource 21 officials and TAES faculty representatives from Lubbock and Amarillo Centers and USDA-ARS/Lubbock to share information and program plans.
• Developed and obtained approval of a MOA with Resource 21, resulting in $500 each to Dr. Charlie Rush and Dr. Terry Wheeler. As resources permit, Resource 21 plans to add more dollars to this MOA for Amarillo and Lubbock faculty.

Objective 2:   Develop and evaluate instrumentation and software to measure and analyze variability in crop production and plant response to that variability.

• Cost shared purchase of two John Deere 9500 used combines with Greenstar instrumentation for yield monitoring at Etter and Bushland.
• Cost shared purchase of three DGPS units at Etter, Bushland, and Amarillo

Objective 3:   Determine the economic and physical feasibility of precision agriculture components as they relate to farming systems.

• Coordination was provided among the scientists at Amarillo/Bushland/Etter to facilitate and ensure research and demonstration project implementation (Sweeten).
• Planning and budget meetings were held with TAES-Amarillo faculty involved with PA Initiative to assess project work plans, research needs, and funding. Coordinated major expenditures with end of fiscal year closeout.
• Crops group faculty members prioritized support staff needs including precision agriculture research with funding projections and needs. This lead to hiring appropriate Technicians for Etter and Bushland/Bush Farm projects.

Objective 4:   Develop and evaluate variable rate application technology.

• Participated in corporate visit to Valmont Industries in Valley, Nebraska and presented information concerning the High Plains and statewide precision agriculture program, and advantages and mechanisms for developing a possible corporate partnership between Valmont and TAES. Toured the Valmont Plant and explored their development of technology for chemigation with Accu-Pulse^TM system. We met with the following personnel with Valmont: H. Dean Howard, Director, Application Engineering; Richard Panowicz, Senior Application Engineer; Hector Haget, Vice President, Marketing/Engineering; Greg Bartlett, Senior Product Manager; and Jake LaRue, Application Engineer. Discussed five known center pivots or Accu-Pulse^TM systems potentially needed by TAES in the next 2 years. TAES participants included John M. Sweeten, Jim Gilley, Jose Amador, Thomas Marek, Jim Bordovsky, Robert (Dusty) McGee.
• Developed a "standard" Memorandum of Agreement between TAES and Valmont Industries that was agreed to by fiscal officers in both companies. MOA pertained to a manufacturers cost (plus 10% rate of return) basis for Valmont equipment purchase.
• Worked with Valmont Industries, Dr. Charlie Rush, and TAES fiscal officers to obtain approval of sole source/reduced-cost purchase of 3-spans of Accu-Pulse^TM Chemigation System for TAES center pivot at Bushland, used for Precision Agriculture research. Negotiated price represented 43% savings from retail ($8,500 vs. $15,000), or a $6,500 in-kind concession.

Objective 5:   Establish an effective network for technology transfer through the AgriPartners program.

• Brent Bean, Tom Archer, and John Sweeten met in Lubbock in December 1997 with Bob Robinson and Jett Major, the District Extension Directors-Agriculture for Districts 1 and 2 and with Dr. Randy Boman, Extension Agronomist-Cotton, to provide an the overview of the Precision Agriculture research program for the High Plains, including specific projects for Amarillo/ Bushland/Etter and Lubbock/Lamesa/Halfway. Vital coordination of research with County Extension programs via AgriPartners, demonstration work with interested farmers, and educational events was discussed.
• Worked with Extension (Bob Robinson and B. L. Harris) to obtain $10,000 per year ($20,000 total) from Agricultural Soil and Water Conservation Fund to cost share O. R. Jones- salary as Research Associate hired to coordinate Extension AgriPartners Program in District 1 for Precision Agriculture.

C.    Education/Technology transfer:

FY 1999

• Developed material and discussed relationships between the 1997 Precision Agriculture Initiative and the 1999 TAES Water Conservation for Sustainable Communities for State Representative Gary Walker, Plains (November 1998).
• Provided briefing on Precision Agriculture Initiative accomplishments to Senator Teel Bivins and staff representative of the Senate Education Committee, Feb. 23, 1999, Austin.
• Participated in the seminar on Precision Agriculture at the Ag Program Conference on January 12, 1999. Tom Archer, Thomas Marek, Steve Searcy, and Tom Gerik presented the material on projects with good discussion.
• The High Plains Precision Agriculture Initiative was featured in the exhibit in Washington, D.C. on March 2^nd at the Second Annual “Agricultural Research and Education Serving the National Science Exhibition”, sponsored by the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC). The exhibit was presented by Dr. James Clark, Dean of Agriculture, Nursing and Natural Sciences, West Texas A&M University, on behalf of the Cooperative Research, Education, and Extension Triangle (CREET) for Amarillo/Bushland/Canyon, which includes TAES, TAEX, WTAMU, USDA-ARS and TVMDL. An estimated 500 visitors from Congressional and Executive branches of the U.S. Government participated in the exhibition, including Congressman Charles Stenholm.
• Plans were made to present the CREET exhibit with Precision Agriculture information at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Houston in January 2000.
• Thomas Marek, Brent Bean, Carl Patrick, Reggie Jones and Bob Robinson presented reports on the Precision Agriculture Initiative to participants in the Panhandle Agriculture Program Council meeting at the Amarillo Center, March 26, 1999, with 50 agricultural leaders in attendance.
• Sweeten presented information and hosted field tour (July 1999) of TAES Bushland Precision Agriculture research for new TAMUS Chancellor Howard Graves, accompanied by Vice Chancellor Edward Hiler and Associate Vice Chancellors John Beverly and Stanton Calvert.

FY 1998

• Slide set and handouts were prepared depicting synopsis of PI Work Plans for Precision Agriculture at Etter/Bushland, and at Halfway/Lamesa/Lubbock.
• Overview presentation of project titles, PIs, and objectives for Etter and Bushland was made by John Sweeten to Ag Program External Advisory Committee prior to CIAPSE Precision Agriculture Field Day at Halfway, October 13, 1997. Tom Archer made a similar presentation for Halfway and Lamesa sites.
• Introduced State Representative David Swinford as speaker at CIAPSE Precision Ag Field Day at Halfway (October 1997).
• Sweeten presented a 15-minute slide set overviewing Precision Agriculture Initiative in the Texas High Plains at the 13^th Annual Panhandle Farm Management Symposium, Amarillo Farm and Ranch Show, Amarillo, December 3, 1997. Detailed project presentations were provided by Drs. Brent Bean, Steve Winter, and Charlie Rush concerning their precision agriculture research at Etter, Bush Farm, and Bushland, respectively. The program was organized by Dr. Steve Amosson, Professor and Extension Economist, Amarillo.
• Sweeten presented an overview of the High Plains precision agriculture research at the Amarillo/Bushland/Etter stations to interested faculty at the 1998 Agriculture Program Conference in College Station on January 12^th. Similar material was presented for the Lubbock/Halfway/Lamesa stations (Tom Archer), Extension AgriPartners (James Supak), Corpus Christi (Landivar) and Temple (Griggs) stations. Steve Searcy was organizer of this program.
• Presented a 35-minute slide overview of Precision Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative for the Texas High Plains at a Novartis corn producers program on precision agriculture in Amarillo on February 14, 1998 (Sweeten).
• Precision Agriculture Field Day was planned and held at Etter, TX, May 21, 1998 with selected PIs from Amarillo and Lubbock presenting project information or demonstrations.
• Handout and discussion materials were developed and utilized on company visits.
• Presented information concerning the High Plains Precision Agriculture Initiative at the: (a) Panhandle Research and Extension Center's Program Interpretation Event (April 16, 1998) together with WTAMU, USDA-ARS, and TVMDL officials (200 participants); and (b) Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Research Review Panel's briefing at TAES-Amarillo (June 2, 1998).
• Other presentations included an overview of the TAMUS High Plains PA Initiative Projects with Resource 21 officials at a seminar at USDA-ARS, Lubbock (April 30, 1998).

D.    Milestones achieved:

Project Organization

• Served (September 1997) on Ag Program Internal Advisory Committee (Chaired by Steve Searcy) that reviewed and approved for funding the scientists work plans and overall project proposal that was compiled, synthesized, and submitted jointly in July-August to TAES Administration by AREC’s at Lubbock and Amarillo. This resulted in a letter of approval of 2-year project funding from Dr. E. A. Hiler signifying official start of the Precision Agriculture for High Plains Legislative Initiative.
• On behalf of the CIAPSE Coordinating Team, Sweeten designed a monthly reporting system for Precision Agriculture Initiative project leaders that was distributed to PIs, and placed in use (1997). This format was revised in July 1999 for the Biennial Report and subsequent quarterly and annual reports.
• Presented information concerning Amarillo/Bushland/Etter projects at a precision agriculture Research and Extension coordinating meeting organized by Dr. Steve Searcy at the Ag Program Conference in College Station (January 12, 1998). This meeting involved selected faculty from Lubbock, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Temple, and College Station together with the designed Ag Program Coordinator for Precision Agriculture - Dr. Frank Gilstrap, Assistant Vice Chancellor.

Development of Industry Partnerships

• The strong need to coordinate contacts with major companies in the precision agricultural industry on behalf of the Ag Program was identified by Art Onken and others, and a decision was made to address this need.
• Consequently, Sweeten, Gilstrap, and Searcy met in College Station on January 15, 1998 to plan a strategy for coordinating industry contacts and setting priorities to include:
• Goal of establishing 4 or 5 "centers of excellence" in Precision Agriculture within potentially available resources, grants, and industry partnerships, with a rank priority of: Lubbock, Amarillo, Temple, Corpus Christi, and College Station.
• Compiled list of the companies with precision agriculture equipment and products (Marek).
• Compiled list of specific equipment needs for 1998 and 1999 at Amarillo and Lubbock components (Marek, Lascano, Archer).
• Produced educational brochures on the Precision Agriculture Initiative, including a description of the statewide Ag Program Initiative for use with industry (Searcy).
• Introductory letters sent by Dr. E. A. Hiler to 9 major equipment companies announcing the Precision Agriculture Initiative and requesting that coordinated industry contacts and visits be made by representatives of the High Plains Initiative, the statewide PA programs, and his administration (Gilstrap).
• Initiated and coordinated visits with selected industry contacts or designees that received the letters from Hiler and others. Contacts were initiated with company officials (e.g., Resource 21, Case IH, John Deere, etc.) to set up visits to discuss types of industry partnerships for the TAMU Ag Program Precision Agriculture Program.
• Sweeten, Gilstrap, Searcy, Marek, Bean, Robinson, and Harris identified certain PA equipment needs for the Lubbock and Amarillo stations (February 18, 1998); prioritized companies according to type of equipment of professional services provided; determined types of partnerships desired; reviewed the draft educational brochures; designated key administrative and faculty members positioned to call on companies in light of prior contact and pre-existing working relationships; and designed a "tracking chart" that would assure coordination and follow up. This was shared with counterparts in Lubbock.
• To carry out the goal of developing industry partnerships, the following actions were taken:
• Amarillo area farm equipment dealers for John Deere and Case IH were visited (Bean, Marek, and Sweeten) to acquaint them with the research and extension High Plains Precision Agriculture Initiative, partnering opportunities, and future corporate headquarters visits by the PA industry team. They have subsequently been placed on the mailing lists for all precision agriculture field days.
• Corporate Partnership visits -- Six official corporate visits were made in 1998 and one in 1999 (seven total) to major or developing industries involved in Precision Agriculture equipment. Participating faculty presented information describing the Texas Precision Agriculture Consortium, industry partnerships, agricultural production statistics, and statewide projects in precision. The objectives were (A) to begin developing industry partnerships in precision agriculture; (b) enhance the visibility of the TAMU state-wide and High Plains programs; and (c) accelerate development of leveraging, cooperation or funding.
• Specific industry visits by Precision Agriculture Team Representatives were made to the following companies:
• May 1998 John Deere Company, Moline, IL; Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA; Kinze Manufacturing Co., Williamsburg, IA; Rawson Controls, Oelwin, IA; and J. R. Simplot Co., Pocatello, ID. TAMU PA Initiative Team members participating in one or more of these visits with company officials included: Steve Searcy, Thomas Marek, Jaroy Moore, Frank Gilstrap, John Sweeten, Charlie Rush, and Jim Bordovsky.
• July 1998 Resource 21, Englewood, Denver, CO. -- Team members participating were John Sweeten, Jaroy Moore, and Dan Upchurch.
• March 1999 Valmont Industries, Valley, Nebraska -- PA team members participating included: Thomas Marek, Jim Bordovsky, John Sweeten, Jim Gilley, Jose Amador, and Robert McGee.

Results of Corporate Contacts:

• The industry contacts visited were impressed by the TAMU Ag Program's Precision Agriculture team efforts in the High Plains. Opportunities were afforded to expand research and data interpretation and visibility of product or services. Summary Reports on these visits were written.
• Particular interests were expressed in our work with: biological stress factors (insects and diseases) in relation to water stress and water management; soils variability; variable rate irrigation; cotton yield mapping equipment; handling of large data sets; and development of research-based functional relationships for accurate programming of commercial variable rate application equipment. The distinct differences between our production systems, climate, and soils versus the northern states, where PA equipment was largely spawned, offers a particularly attractive expansion of commercial development of the industry.
• Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) were negotiated and drafted in FY98 with (a) J. R. Simplot Company, and (b) Resource 21. Revisions were made pursuant to review comments from the companies and the Ag Program and scientists scopes of work. Both involved Charlie Rush’s research under center pivot at Bushland. Resource 21 provided $1,000 funding in FY99 (half each to PIs Rush and Wheeler) with negotiations for additional funding underway. However, Simplot cancelled plans to further develop its precision agriculture variable rate irrigation in 1999 and therefore the MOA was not signed.
• As a further result of our company visits, representatives from Rawson, Simplot and Resource 21 participated in Bushland Ag Day, August 12, 1998. Seven representatives of Simplot visited Precision Ag sites at Halfway, Lamesa, Bushland, and Etter (August 11-13, 1998). And, Valmont supplied AccuPulse system at cost to Dr. Rush’s project (savings of $6,500)and Thomas Marek obtained a large discount (estimated $8,00 savings) on the new acquired center pivot at Etter.

E.    Publications:

• Work plan summaries from Lubbock/Halfway/Lamesa and Amarillo/Bushland/Etter scientists were combined into a common handout, brochure, and slide set, which was subsequently used as a starting point for a bulletin.
• Produced slide set "Precision Agriculture Initiative: Introduction of Precision Agriculture Concepts and Potential Benefits to the Agriculture Community of the Texas High Plains."
• New bulletin, "Precision Agriculture: Bright Promise In Texas", was published (3,000 copies) and was distributed for the first time at the Precision Agriculture Field Day at Etter in May 21, 1998 and provided to corporate officials during industry visits. This attractive bulletin (4 pages, color) was produced using PA Initiative Funds (TAES-Amarillo) by the Department of Agricultural Communications, under the efforts of Communications Specialists Pam Dillard, Joe Bryant, Dave Mayes, Lynette James, and others.
• A second slide set was developed and produced, "Precision Agriculture: Partnership Opportunities," in relation to the statewide program. This was used in corporate visits.
• Helped write original (1998) and update of the 1999 2-page Legislative Interpretation report "Increasing Producers Profit with Precision Agriculture."

F.    Precision agriculture proposals submitted or funded:

Equipment

• A John Deere 9500 Combine with Greenstar Yield monitor was purchased in FY97 from TAES-Amarillo funds for use in Precision Agriculture project. The combine was deployed for yield mapping of field plots on summer crops at Bush Farm and Etter PIs in Fall 1997 and for wheat in June 1998. Color yield maps that were generated depicted large site-specific differences for irrigated and dryland sorghum and irrigated soybeans. These maps used for publications and education, along with field data to determine factors affecting yields and conditions allowing functional relationships.
• Purchased a second used combine (John Deere Company JD 9500 with Greenstar yield mapping system and corn and wheat headers), using PA initiative and other TAES-Amarillo funds. A similar combine bought in FY97 remained at Bushland for yield mapping on TAES and USDA-ARS crop experiments. This allowed all Precision Agriculture plots and fields as well as some production acreage to be yield mapped in a timely manner.
• Three DGPS units (Satlock) were bought with PA Initiative and TAES-Amarillo funds, in coordination with faculty at TAES- Lubbock. Deployment was as follows: Etter, Bushland, Amarillo. The latter unit was made available for training and field use by research and extension faculty, CEAs, and Demonstration Technicians for on-and off-station projects on Precision Agriculture.