Delegates from Beijing
visited the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) campus November 8 and
9, 1999, to meet with faculty from the Precision
Agriculture program. Aziz Rahman, assistant professor, coordinated the
visit.
This is the second
group from Beijing that has visited UMC. An earlier group came this
summer. The delegation continues to look at ways to improve their program
with technology.
"We show how
technology enhanced agriculture is playing a role in improving agriculture
and how UMC delivers the science of agriculture using modern tools,"
Rahman said. "We learn from each other."
Delegates from Beijing were from the State Development Planning Commission; High Tech Industries; General Corporation of Agriculture, Industry and Commerce; Beijing Municipal Development Planning; Beijing Nanijo Farm; Commission for Integrated Survey of Natural Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and China Agricultural University.
Photo above: Paul Aakre, assistant professor, and
UMC student Kip Kovarik, agriculture industries and sales management major
from Adams, ND, demonstrate technology enhanced agriculture to the
delegation from Beijing.
The visit was a
collaborative effort between UMC and the International Agricultural
Programs of the College of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences
on the St. Paul Campus. Rahman worked closely with John Vreyens, training
coordinator on the St. Paul campus.
The Crookston area
visit included a stop at the Wagner Farm, lunch on the Crookston campus
and a tour of the Precision Agriculture facility. The group also visited
the St. Paul campus for a workshop.
The Precision
Agriculture emphasis focuses on information gathering, management
planning, and field operations that improve the understanding and
management of soil and landscape resources. Optimized management allows
more efficient utilization and cost control of agricultural inputs such as
fertilizers, chemicals, seed, water, and tillage practices, among others.
Currently, major agricultural machinery manufacturers like Case-IH and
Deere are aligning themselves with companies that deal with precision
agricultural applications.
Contact: Aziz Rahman
arahman@mail.crk.umn.edu
218-281-8103
Posted by Andrew Svec 10/25/99
Author and Contact: Barbara Weiler, 218-281-8435