CORPUS CHRISTI — Workshops conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to train farmers and ranchers to use their iPhones and iPads to help increase profits are scheduled in Corpus Christi and near Houston.
The workshop, Apps for Agriculture – Taking Technology to the Field with iPads/iPhones, will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Oct. 23 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 10345 State Highway 44 in Corpus Christi, according to AgriLife Extension personnel.
It will again be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Northside Education Center, 707 Fahrenthold in El Campo.
“As we look to the future of agriculture, we are sure to continue seeing the increased presence of technology in farming and ranching operations,” said Kara Matheney, an AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Colorado County.
“Technology and agriculture go hand in hand,” she said. “This workshop will have lots of hands-on training activities. It is an effort to help area farmers and ranchers take advantage of the apps or technologies available to them.”
App is an abbreviation for a computer or smart phone application, a software program shared on the Internet.
Participants will be introduced to a wide range of apps related to marketing, budgeting, irrigation decisions, time management and more, according to Matheney. Each workshop participant will have access to iPads with apps already installed.
“The participants will enter data and learn to utilize various apps that can help them make decisions related to profitability, and improve their price and production risk-management skills,” she said. “They will learn to use their iPhones and iPads to make quick decisions in the field, on the tractor or in the pickup.”
Instruction will also be provided on accessing market data to help in evaluating relevant pricing strategies.
“Moreover, they will improve their knowledge of costs and break-even details using the Cost of Production app developed by AgriLife Extension,” Matheney said.
For more information on the workshop in Corpus Christi, call the AgriLife Extension office for Nueces County at 361-767-5223.
Space is limited for the workshop in El Campo and preregistration is required by Oct. 22 by calling the AgriLife Extension office for Colorado County at 979-732-2082 or email to kjmatheney@ag.tamu.edu.
Registration fee at each event is $25 per person and includes refreshments, publications and lunch.
Participants at the workshop in El Campo will be entered for a chance to win an iPad, which will be given away at the conclusion of the workshop.
