The development and use of autonomous vehicles are increasing worldwide.  Autonomous vehicles are enabled by a combination of different technologies and sensors that allow the vehicle itself to identify the optimal trajectory needed to perform the required work. Safety-critical applications leverage precise and secure positioning in situations where humans can come into harm or where systems or the environment could be damaged. Position accuracy and reliability is key and in most applications, GNSS provides that position information. In the agricultural industry, growers have been using GNSS for well over two decades to guide equipment through their fields — along with a host of other ag-related, site-specific applications. In this presentation we show how NovAtel is ready for the new challenges of providing position and velocity information with high continuity, integrity and availability to address the safety and certification requirements for autonomous navigation and guidance of agricultural vehicles.

In this presentation, The Weather Company (an IBM Business) will describe new methods for predicting key weather variables that would impact grower decisions at the farm field with the use of high precision probabilistic forecasting data streams for critical weather variables like temperature, precipitation, wind, and humidity.

Blockchain in Precision Ag:  Blockchain’s effect on Risks Facing Precision Ag Product and Service Providers

Data authenticity and security is a top of mind issue for all precision Ag companies that handle customer data and financial information. This program provides a basic introduction to Blockchain—what it is, how it works, what it does, and why it seems destined to become the gold standard of data authentication and security in many industries.  The speakers will also describe how the use of Blockchain may reduce risk in applications of data security, collection, ownership, and privacy considerations, as well as applications of Blockchain for crop, livestock and product certification purposes, and reducing disputes in contractual situations.

With ever tightening margins in production ag, the search for management practices that result in documental return on investment has never been greater. While return on investment is a critical metric, what really matters​ is that we are making informed decisions that drive profitability at the grower level. As technology becomes more of a fixture on our farms, the opportunity for us to plan, execute and evaluate the decisions takes on a whole new level of granularity. Over the course of this presentation, we will explore strategies in executing precision practices that maximize grower profitably in the context of the logistical, economic and agronomic reality unique to each grower.

Ag Technology vendors are constantly trying to distract you with a list of “features” and the future because they don’t have their house’s fundamentals in order. Not all features are created equal. The temptation is to quickly build said “features” but not spend the time on the fundamentals that actually make your life easier and give your business the real ROI in a sustainable way. Why is Agworld the world’s most adopted Farm Information Management system? We’ll show you how we’re changing the industry with real, high quality software. Let’s Make Ag Technology Great Again!