Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting called to order at 8:42 a.m. CDT by NCERA 180 Chair Ganesh Bora, Mississippi State University

Ajay Sharda was confirmed via telephone as Vice Chair of the committee for 2017 and Chair/Meeting host for 2018.

2016 meeting minutes were distributed via email prior to the meeting and approved unanimously (m: Fulton/ s: Saraswat).

Update on USDA NIFA (Steve Thompson)

• State of the budget: Level budget
• Sonny Perdue New Secretary
• Engineering Program; National Robotics Initiative; Cyber Physical Systems. Panel submitting top 5 for National Robotics which is 12%-20% funding rate. NIFA AFRI Ag. Engineering 12% funding rate. Cyber physical systems will not be paneled until late August and decisions January 2018.
• Cyber Physical Systems $5M, Robotics $3M,
• Precision ag/remote sensing there must be something different, new, or innovative because of saturation in the past.
• Engineering Deadline is June 8, 2017 and do not wait until the last minute!!!
• Steve attended Ag. Innovations Conference:
  • No faculty there
  • Interesting to see what crop consultants dealing with
  • On-the-Go data collection and management.
  • Hybrid evaluation on-the-go with yield, variety, and soil type
  • Remote sensing – track insect and disease interpretation of remote sensing data
  • Personal weather stations
  • Yield monitor calibration is still an issue (extension)
  • Speed of moving data and challenges of moving data.
• Possibly pair with other societies or people outside the ag. realm for future proposals.
• Change next year: NIFA AFRI Ag. Eng. RFA is research only which has no benefit/impact to outreach. Do not include extension component this year (2017). Expand NIFA AFRI Ag. Eng. to outreach and teaching components (2018).
• Submit questions to Ganesh and Steve will respond due to abbreviated report.

Updates from upcoming meetings and conferences:

• ICPA – June 24-27, 2018, Le Centre Sheraton, Montreal Quebec, Canada
  • 10 Graduate Student Awards, 1 Senior Scientist Award, and 1 Young Scientist Award available.
  • Conference is stable and external sponsors are not required.
• ECPA – July 16-20, 2017, Edinburgh, Scotland (http://www.ecpa2017.com/)
• InfoAg
  • 25 years in existance and last year changed to an annual event
  • Conference is well attended.
  • July 25-27, 2017 in St. Louis, MO
  • Fulton encourages attendance: good for networking
• ASABE AIM, July 16-19, 2017 in Spokane, WA
  • Precision Ag., Machinery Automation, UAV/UAS Standards committees apply to this group.
  • Standards being developed: Evaluate Variable Rate Applicators Standard has been accepted, Yield Monitor Data Standard in progress.
• Asian/Australian Precision Ag. Conference; October 16-18, 2017, Hamilton, New Zealand
• Planter Research Group; November 6-8, 2017, Burr Ridge, IL

Big Data Discussions and Efforts

• Need for a working group between professional organizations (ASA, CSSA, SSSA, and ASABE) that aim to consolidate and focus on big data ag issues.
  • Joby – Big data conference grant as a collaboration from NCERA 180 group: Write a paper on legal hurdles of collecting data at universities with open data records request. Maybe reach out to law-school for collaboration and something else like social sciences to assess data privacy.
  • John N. – focus on data privacy as well as data management
  • Fulton: See what Steve says, but put a deliverable in as write a paper.
  • Dharmendra: S1069 UAV group divided into 4 and collaborated to submit a grant proposal. NCERA 180 should set collaborations as the same. Making pitch as a USDA previously approved regional project.
  • Raj: Bring together diverse groups of researchers that come together to submit multi-state projects. Contribution to the science literature from NCERA directly. @ Nebraska meeting getting priority language in RFA that focuses on precision ag. Have Steve Thompson help get some priority language in RFA. Create a sub-committee from this group (5 people).

Old Business

• 2016 Annual Report not discussed due to Fulton needing to depart early to catch a flight.

New Business

• Future Group Initiatives and Outcomes
  • White paper(s): Ag. Big Data Issues
    • Special issue of a journal on data issues
      • Precision Ag. Journal or Frontiers of plant science (Raj)
      • 6-10 papers on different aspects of data privacy/security and an executive summary
        • Computer science experts on ideas to remove georeference info. and anonymize ag. data
        • What is the difference in the info. I can obtain in pay for service vs. public information
        • University public records and data privacy issue
        • Data collection on-the-go, how to manage and pass data effectively, and training for data management
      • Joby to identify and chair sub-committee to convene sometime in mid-June
    • Develop cross-disciplinary conference proposal to NSF and/or USDA for Ag. Big Data issues information gathering, networking, and collaboration development. Brenda and others
    • Send a representative group sub-committee to meet with Steve Thompson to inquire about focusing RFA language on precision ag specific concerns. Raj
  • Incoming Vice Chair
    • Dharmendra nominated Brian Luck as Vice Chair for 2018 (s: Ganesh). Nomination was accepted by acclamation.
    • 2019 meeting will be held in Madison, WI.

Announcements

• USDA NIFA Higher Challenge Grant Project for developing precision ag. curriculum for the nation. 20 land grant schools involved. Two text books developed but not published. Engagement of 1890 schools and 1994 schools. Fly them to Colorado State for hands-on training and equipment demonstration. July 31- Aug. 4, 2017. Travel partially or fully funded by the project. Raj asks that this group help recruit 1890 and 1994 faculty.
  • Distribute announcement to NCERA 180 group and invite colleagues.
  • Next conference call for the project is May 25, 2017.
• Mississippi State University recently implemented 2+2 precision ag program in collaboration with two year technical colleges. Certificate program in undergrad and graduate in precision ag.

• Motion to adjourn (m: B. Luck/ s: Lee): Adjourned 11:25 a.m. CDT.

NCERA 180 2017 Accomplishments

Members made tremendous contribution to knowledge on production machinery, variable rate input decision and application strategies, technology utilization, agronomic practices and enhancing optimal input use to improve yields and economic viability of producers. Research projects conducted and output/outcomes are listed below:

• Assess how consistently soil apparent Electrical Conductivity (EC_a) derived management zones characterize soil water content at the field scale and to determine whether apparent soil electrical conductivity coupled with additional soil properties could further improve the characterization of soil water content.

Output/Outcomes: Ongoing project

• Projects on N trials, seeding rate trials, planter technology evaluation, pinch-row compaction, remote sensing, strip-tillage and manure application

Output/Outcomes

1. Nitrogen projects indicated that a reduced rate of applied N would maximize yield and profit over traditional applied N rates within the 180 to 200 lbs acre. These results support the notion that late-season N strategies can be profitable if applied N is withheld through side-dress.  There may be years like the 2017 Ohio growing conditions a profitable late-season strategy includes not operating a high-clearance machine between V14 and R corn growth stages resulting in saved N costs.
2. Soybean seeding rate trials indicated an average of 87% emergence over all trials with optimum seeding rates in the 100k to 120k seeds per acres; a deviation from traditional optimum seeding rates.

• Assess potential data layers that farmers can collect with commercial digital tools today. This project was called “terra” determining the level of data that can be collected on 1 corn plant.

Output/Outcomes

1. Results revealed that 18.4 GB of data could be collected with today’s technologies generating nearly 2500 unique data files.

• Developing sensors that measure plants in higher resolution, with the capability to independently measure crop stress in individual regions of the plant canopy.

Output/Outcomes: Ongoing project

• Understanding effects of different perineal crops planted in headlands instead of grains or legumes.

Output/Outcomes: Ongoing project

• Access the carbon life-cycle analysis of different tillage and site-specific management approaches, including residue removal, in an effort to improve the carbon balance of precision agriculture practices.

Output/Outcomes: Ongoing project

• Development of an immature green citrus fruit yield mapping, a study conducted to compare the performance of three different cameras (color, near-infrared, and depth cameras).

Output/outcomes

1. A circular object detection method, ‘CHOICE’, was proposed and the near-infrared images yielded the best detection results with a 96% detection accuracy. A prototype yield mapping system for immature citrus fruit was developed with an autonomous navigation and a fruit detection systems. A faster R-CNN network yielded a 77% correct fruit detection accuracy in the validation images.
2. A low-cost portable soil apparent electrical conductivity sensor was developed for use in mountainous areas and small farms to collect georeferenced data at various user-defined signal frequencies. The sensor was tested in a laboratory and a coffee field, and yielded good results.

• Effect of planter downforce on seed spacing, depth and emergence uniformity; and quantify seed singulation using soy-protein based seed lubricant for planters.

Output/outcomes

1. Results indicated that seeding depth was maintained within the 0.25 inch of target when selecting a downforce target of 220 lbs; and spacing COV varied from 18% to 32% for speeds from 4.5mph through 10 mph.
2. Seed lubrication study showed that there is no significant seed singulation and flowability between the new soy-protein based seed lubricant and other commercially available lubricants and the round shape of soy-based protein might be less abrasive compared to particle shape of other lubricants.

• Assess the accuracy of thermal infrared imaging to identify drought and SDS resistant varieties were conducted.

Output/outcomes

1. Preliminary results exhibited that there was strong correlation between elevated canopy temperature and varieties which were not resistant to SDS and drought. Future studies are planned to conduct temporal studies.

• Study was conducted to determine the effect of aftermarket closing wheels on corn plant emergence and yield. Replicated studies were conducted at four locations within Wisconsin, representing four soil types and climates.

Output/outcomes

1. Preliminary results indicated the aftermarket wheels resulted in higher final emergence as compared to standard rubber closing wheels.
2. New data collection systems were developed to better understand work states in the absence of Controller Area Network data on older transport vehicles.

• Investigate different sensors aboard UAVs for agricultural crop

Output/outcomes

1. Invasive and noxious weeds - Researchers use UAS imagery to monitor leafy spurge and purple loosestrife in ditches and on rangeland and other public and private land.
2. Weed identification - UAS imagery detects troublesome weeds such as kochia, waterhemp and redroot pigweed.
3. Herbicide injury - UAS imagery shows where damage occurred if herbicide isn’t applied at the proper rates or it drifted outside the application area.
4. Plant stand - Sensors provide data on a variety of issues, including when seeds germinate and the number of plants growing per acre.
5. Herbicide resistance - Sensors on UAS flying over a field hours after a herbicide application can detect whether weeds are resistant to the chemical. Herbicide-sensitive weeds are about 5 degrees warmer than resistant weeds because healthy plants have enough water in their cells to keep them cooler.

• Teaching, extension and outreach including new courses, online course modules, research /extension talks, website content, videos and extension publications to promote adoption, and expedite applications across cropping systems and regions; and experiential learning opportunities in precision applications for secondary education, community colleges and universities.

Output/outcomes

1. Numerous extension talks; precision ag websites at universities; producer collaborative on-farm research to develop crop input management practices and machine technology implementation; extension publications; focused workshops on specific precision technologies, data management, and UAV.

Arriaga, F. J., S. P. Conley, B. M. Jensen, C. A.M. Laboski, J. G. Lauer, B. D. Luck, P. D. Mitchell, and D. L. Smith. 2017. Grain Management Considerations in Low-Margin Years. University of Wisconsin Extension Learning Store Article # A4137.

Barocco, R., W. S. Lee, and G. Hortman. 2017. Yield mapping hardware components for grains and cotton using on-the-go monitoring systems. UF/IFAS EDIS AE518.  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae518.

Choi, D., W. S. Lee, J. K. Schueller, R. Ehsani, F. Roka and J. Diamond. 2017. A performance comparison of RGB, NIR, and depth images in immature citrus detection using deep learning algorithms for yield prediction. ASABE Paper No. 1700076. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.

Colley III, R.T. J.P. Fulton, S.S. Virk, and E. Hawkins. 2017. Dry Fertilizer Distribution Uniformity of Two Sources when Applying with VRT Spinner-disc Spreader. In Proceedings of ASABE AIM 2017, Spokane, WA. Paper No. 1700094.

Dix, P. D. Flippo and A. Sharda. 2017. An Innovative Approach to Aphid Mitigation. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science. 10(7): 30-33.

Drewry, J. L., C. Y. Choi, J. M. Powell, and B. D. Luck. 2017. Computational model of methane and ammonia emissions from dairy barns:  Development and validation. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. In Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2017.07.012

Drewry, J. L., M. R. Mondaca, B. D. Luck, C. Y. Choi. 2017. A computational fluid dynamics model of biological heat and gaseous generation in a dairy holding area. Transactions of the ASABE. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.12394. Accepted and In Press.

Dudenhoeffer, N. E., Luck, B. D., Digman, M. F., & Drewry, J. L. (2017). Simulation of the forage harvest cycle for asset allocation. In press. DOI: 10.13031/aea.12619

Ferraretto, L. F., R. D. Shaver, and B. D. Luck. 2017. Silage review:  Recent advances and future technologies for whole-plant and fractionated corn silage harvesting. Journal of Dairy Science. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-13728. Accepted and In Press.

Gan, H., W. S. Lee, and V. Alchanatis. 2017. Development of a prototype of an immature citrus fruit yield mapping system. ASABE Paper No. 1700164. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.

Geomar, M. Corassa,* T. J. C. Amado, T. Liska, A. Sharda, J. Fulton, and I. A. Ciampitti. 2018. Planter technology to reduce double-planted areas and improve corn and soybean yields. Agronomy Journal. 110(1). doi:10.2134/agronj2017.07.0380

Griffin, T.W., Miller, N.J., Bergtold, J., Shanoyan, A., Sharda, A., and Ciampitti, I.A. 2017. Farm’s Sequence of Adoption of Information-Intensive Precision Agricultural Technology. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 33(4): 521-527.  http://doi.org/10.13031/aea.12228.

Harmon, J. D. and B. D. Luck. 2017. A case study of a commercial dairy and a custom harvest operation to evaluate forage harvest efficiency. ASABE Annual International Meeting. Spokane, WA.

Harmon, J. D., Luck, B. D., Shinners, K. J., Anex, R. P., & Drewry, J. L. (2017). Time–motion analysis of forage harvest: A case study. In press. DOI: 10.13031/trans.12484

Hawkins, E., J.P. Fulton, and K. Port. 2017. ANR-8: Tips for Calibrating Grain Yield Monitors—Maximizing Value of Your Yield Data. The Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, Ohio. 8pp. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-8

Hawkins, E., J.P. Fulton, and K. Port. 2017. FABE-565-16: Using Soil Electrical Conductivity (EC) to Delineate Field Variation. The Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, Ohio. 9pp. http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/fabe-565.

Khanal, S., J.P. Fulton, and S.A. Shearer.  2017. An overview of current and potential applications of thermal remote sensing in precision agriculture. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 139(15June2017): 22-32.

Khanal, S., J.P. Fulton, E. Hawkins, K. Port and A. Klopfenstein. 2017. FABE-554.1: Remote Sensing in Precision Agriculture: Best Management Practices for Addressing Challenges with Imagery Quality. The Ohio State University Extension, Columbus, Ohio. 7pp. http://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/fabe-5541

Khedher Agha, M. K., R. A. Bucklin, W. S. Lee, R. W. Mankin, and A. R. Blount. 2017. Effect of drying conditions on triticale seed germination and weevil infestation. Trans. ASABE 60(2): 571-575.

Khedher Agha, M. K., W. S. Lee, C. Wang, R. W. Mankin, A. R. Blount, R. A. Bucklin, and N. Bliznyuk. 2017. Detection and prediction of Sitophilus oryzae infestations in triticale via visible and near infrared spectral signatures. Journal of Stored Products Research 72: 1-10.

Khosla, R. and L. Longchamps. 2017. Precision Maize cultivation. In. Achieving sustainable cultivation of maize Vol 2: Cultivation techniques, pest and disease control. D. Watson (ed) In press

Kleinman, P.J.A., A. R. Buda, A. N. Sharpley and R. Khosla. 2017. Elements of Precision Manure Management. In Precision Conservation. J. Delgado (ed) doi:10.2134/agronmonogr59.2013.0023

Lal, R., A. Sharda and P. Prabhakar. 2017. Optimal Multi-robot Path Planning for Pesticide Spraying in Agricultural Fields. 56th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), 2017.

Luck, B. D., J. D. Davis, J. L. Purswell, A. S. Kiess, and S. J. Hoff. 2017. Assessing the effect of house size and design on air velocity distribution in commercial broiler houses. Transactions of the ASABE 60(4):  1313-1323

Luck, B. D., J. L. Drewry, J. W. Nelson. 2017. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Drones):  What you need to know for use in Agriculture. University of Wisconsin Extension Learning Store. In Press.

Luck, B. D.. 2017. Calibrate Your Yield Monitor for Greater Accuracy During Harvest. UW Extension Learning Store Publication. University of Wisconsin Extension Learning Store Article #A4146.

Mangus, D., A. Sharda, A. Engelhardt, D. Flippo, R. Strasser, J. D. Luck and T. Griffin. 2017. Analyzing the nozzle spray fan pattern on an agricultural sprayer using pulse width modulation technology to generate an on-ground coverage map. Trans. Of ASABE. 60(2):315-325.

Mangus, D., A. Sharda, D. Flippo, R. Strasser, and T. Griffin. 2017. Development of high speed camera hardware and software package to evaluate real-time electric seed meter accuracy of a variable rate planter. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 142: 314-325.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2017.09.014

Mizuta, K., S. Grunwald, C. M. Clingensmith, G. M. Vasques, W. S. Lee, M. A. Phillips, W. P. Cropper, X. Xiong, B. D. Myers. Novel Pedometrics-Econometrics Modeling Using VNIR spectroscopy: developing soil carbon sequestration capability index. Soil Science Society of America, October

Mizuta, K., S. Grunwald, C. M. Clingensmith, W. P. Cropper, W. S. Lee, G. M. Vasques, M. A. Phillips, W. G.Harris, B. M. Myers, and X. Xiong. Modeling pedo-econimetric carbon scores with VNIR spectroscopy. Poster Presentation in Pedometrics 2017, June 26-July 1, 2017, Wageningen, Netherlands.

Pengmin, P., T. McDonald, J.P. Fulton, B. Via, and J.Hung. 2017. Simultaneous moisture content and mass flow measurements in wood chip flows using coupled dielectric and impact sensors. Sensors in Agriculture and Forestry. Sensors 2017, 17(1), 20.

Pourreza, A., W. S. Lee, E. Czarnecka, L. Verner, and W. Gurley. 2017. Feasibility of using the optical sensing techniques for early detection of Huanglongbing in citrus seedlings. Robotics 6(11). Doi:10.3390/robotics6020011.

Qiang Cao, Y. Miao, G Feng, X. Gao, B. Liua, Y. Liu, F. Lie, R. Khosla, D. J. Mulla, F. Zhang. 2017. Improving nitrogen use efficiency with minimal environmental risks using an active canopy sensor in a wheat-maize cropping system. Field Crops Research 214 (2017) 365–372

Queiroz, D. M., W. S. Lee, J. K. Schueller, and E. D. T. Santos. Development and test of a low cost portable soil apparent electrical conductivity sensor using a Beaglebone Black. ASABE Paper No. 1700062. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE.

Sebastian Varela, Y. Assefa, P. V. Vara Prasad, N. R. Peralta, T. W. Griffin, A. Sharda, A. Ferguson, I. A. Ciampitti. 2017. Spatio-temporal evaluation of plant height in corn via unmanned aerial systems. J. Appl. Remote Sens. 11(3), 036013 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1117/1.JRS.11.036013.

Seigfried, J, R. Khosla, and L. Longchamps. 2017. Infrared thermometry to quantify in-field soil moisture variability. J. of Crop Improvement Vol. 31 (1) 2017

Sharda, A., L. Haag, T.Griffin, J.P. Fulton, S. Badua, and I. Ciampitti. 2017. Planter downforce system for seed depth uniformity. K-State Research and Extension. MF3331. https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF3331.pdf

Shuaibu, M., W. S. Lee, Y. K. Hong, and S. Kim. 2017. Detection of apple Marssonina blotch disease using particle swarm optimization. Trans. ASABE 60(2): 303-312.

Virk, S.S., J.P. Fulton, W.M. Porter and G.L. Pate. 2017. Field Validation of Seed Meter Performance at Varying Seeding Rates and Ground Speeds. In Proceedings of ASABE AIM 2017, Spokane, WA. Pages 1-9.