“We are extremely pleased with the way the conference went this year,” said KARTA’s outgoing board president Dietrich Kastens. “Those in attendance enjoyed the line-up of speakers, and got exclusive inside information about new technologies that will be on the market in the near future.”

One of those new technologies provides a way for producers and researchers to monitor their crops and grasslands without ever stepping foot on the field.

A new RC drone, called a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) was unveiled and demonstrated during the evening session on the first day. Kevin Price, professor of Agronomy and Geography at Kansas State University, presented information on the new surveillance equipment.

Other topics presented included nutrient management, nozzle control systems, telematics, wheat breeding and on-farm research. Between speakers, attendees enjoyed catered meals and the opportunity to network with numerous exhibitors in a casual environment.

An important part of the Technologies Conference is the KARTA annual meeting, which determines the amount of funds to be made available in research grants and introduces the new board of directors for KARTA.

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Steve Arnold was inducted as president, Matt Wolters as vice president, Jeff Bueler as secretary, Roger Brining as treasurer, with Tony Stueve and Tyler Rider as the newest board members.

The new board, with the direction of the KARTA members in attendance, approved that $11,000 would be made available for research grants in the coming year.

The next major event for the KARTA group will be the Kansas Applicator Institute, which is put on cooperatively with the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association. The KAI will take place Aug. 6-7, 2013 in a place to be determined.  FG

—From KARTA news release

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Photo courtesy of KARTA.