FarmBits

Hosted by Nebraska Extension Digital Agriculture

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Latest episode

Oct 2024

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EN-US

About the show

The realm of digital agriculture is ever evolving at a pace that can be challenging to keep up with. Our mission is to help our listeners navigate the digital agriculture revolution by discussing current and honest information about agricultural technologies that is critical to best integrating them into resilient strategies. The "FarmBits" podcast will explore topics in digital agriculture in a well-rounded and accessible way, taking the shine off of new technologies through interviews with academic experts, farmers, and industry specialists. FarmBits is released every Thursday and is a product of Nebraska Extension.

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25 recent

October 31, 2024

Episode 132: Next-Gen Plant Sensors with Dr. Qingshan Wei

This week, FarmBits hosts Katie Bathke and Victor Ferreira welcome Dr. Qingshan Wei from North Carolina State University to discuss his efforts in innovative plant sensor design. Dr. Wei is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering where his research focuses on developing next-generation field deployable molecular imaging, sensing, and diagnostic tools for plants and humans. Listen here as we dive into varying sensor technology that is transforming traditional diagnostic tests to rapid field detection and plant health monitoring for a variety of abiotic and biotic stressors. Be sure to tune in to this exploratory episode to learn more about the cutting edge sensor technology within agricultural pest management. Contact Information: E-mail: qwei3@ncsu.edu Twitter: @SensorNCSU @NC_PSI @NCStateEngr FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFar

October 24, 2024

Episode 131: Smart Farming in the Digital Age: Navigating IoT Security

In this episode of FarmBits, Rana and Katie explore the role of IoT (Internet of Things) in enhancing agricultural security. From smart sensors and biophysical authentications, IoT technologies are transforming how farmers safeguard their crops and livestock. Learn how these innovative tools are being designed to provide real-time monitoring, prevent threats like theft, and ensure the integrity of food production. Join us as we discuss the future of IoT in securing sustainable and efficient farming practices with Dr. Nirnimesh Ghose, an assistant professor from UNL's school of computing. Contact Information: E-mail: nghose@unl.edu Website: https://cse.unl.edu/~nghose/ FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Rana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-farrasati-945aa5141/ Katie's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-bathke-a15082246/ Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

October 18, 2024

Episode 130: Chemigation Insights and Disease-Busting Tips

This week, FarmBits hosts Rana Farrasati and Katie Bathke welcome Talon Mues from University of Nebraska – Lincoln's Plant Pathology Department to talk about chemigation technology for plant pathogen studies in irrigated corn production. Talon is a research technician and graduate student with a passion for leveraging research within disease management based on growers experiences. His work with grower's across the state of Nebraska helping address questions in disease onset, application, and management. We also dive into Nebraska's work of pathogen genetic diversity in the Great Plains. Tune in to this exciting episode to learn more about the several applications of technology within agricultural pest management. Contact Information: E-mail: tmues3@unl.edu Twitter: @Talon_Mues FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Rana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-farrasati-945aa5141/ Katie's LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-bathke-a15082246/ Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

October 10, 2024

Episode 129: The Digital Brain of Greenhouses

In this episode of the FarmBits podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ketut Bagus P. Putra, solutions engineer at Koidra specializing in developing novel wireless sensor hardware and system architecture for environmental monitoring in agriculture. Dr. Putra shares his journey into digital agriculture, exploring the transformative role of IoT software in horticultural crops within greenhouses, and how Koidra's innovative IoT solutions, like DataPilot and KoPilot, empower growers to optimize their greenhouse operations through data-driven decision-making. We dive into the challenges of IoT adoption, the specific crops benefiting from these technologies, and the potential for improving labor efficiency and yields. Tune in to learn how IoT is reshaping sustainable agriculture and what skills are crucial for the next generation of agricultural technologists. Contact Information: E-mail: hello@koidra.ai / ketut.putra@koidra.ai Website: https://www.koidra.ai/ Recent research: https://homegrownchallenge.ca/grantees/autonomous-controlled-environment-system-for-year-round-berry-production/ FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Rana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-farrasati-945aa5141/ Deepak's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-ghimire/ Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

July 25, 2024

Episode 128: AI-Driven Precision Nitrogen Management

On this week's episode of the FarmBits podcast, Camila and Victor are joined by Ankita Kalra, a dual PhD candidate in the Departments of Biological Systems Engineering and Computer Science Engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Ankita focuses on the applications of computer vision and AI in agriculture. In this episode, Ankita shares her current research on developing AI-driven solutions for precision agriculture. One of her key projects is the AIR-N: AI-Enabled Robotic Precision Nitrogen Management Platform. This project aims to optimize nitrogen application in corn fields using advanced AI and robotic systems to enhance crop yield and resource efficiency. Ankita Kalra, Graduate Research Assistant , University of Nebraska - Lincoln Contact Information: E-mail: akalra2@huskers.unl.edu LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitakalra Website: http://ankitakalra.com FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Camila's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/camila-chiaranda-rodrigues-328018154 Victor's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-de-sousa-ferreira-32877484/ Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

July 18, 2024

Episode 127: AI Applications in Agriculture

The advantages of AI technology within agriculture is expanding our use technology by creating automated decision making. Common uses of such technology include crop and soil health monitoring, predictive analytics, intelligent spraying, irrigation management, and more! The benefits we are seeing with AI use in agriculture are data-driven decisions, improved crop yields, reduced costs, and greater sustainability with water and fertilizer use. With that, Katie and Camila are covering all things AI and its application within agriculture with special guest Dr. Nitin Rai. Dr. Nitin Rai is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University. In this episode, Dr. Rai shares his innovative work within drone applications in agriculture. His research focuses on the use AI to help growers apply such technology to their daily operations. Tune in to learn more about how AI technology is revolutionizing agriculture in sunflower, wheat, and canola cropping systems. Contact Information: E-mail: nitin.rai@ndsu.edu Twitter: https://x.com/nitindominic5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitindominic55/ FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-bathke-a15082246/ Camila's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/camila-chiaranda-rodrigues-328018154 Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

July 13, 2024

Episode 126 - The next generation of IoT in agriculture

In the next generation of agriculture, IoT technology is transforming how farmers manage their operations more efficiently. By using smart sensors and devices, farmers can monitor soil moisture levels, track weather conditions, control irrigation systems remotely, and even predict their yield. This data-driven approach helps optimize water usage, improve crop growth and yield. On this episode of Farmbits, we are joined by Dr. Xin Qiao, an Associate Professor at the Panhandle Research & Extension Center. Dr. Qiao, along with his colleagues at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and beyond, shares his groundbreaking work in IoT applications for agriculture. His research focuses on using IoT to help growers manage their fields more efficiently, from optimizing irrigation to predicting crop yields. Tune in to learn more about how IoT technology is revolutionizing agriculture, the challenges faced, and the future prospects for next-generation farming! (Company) Contact Information: E-mail: xin.qiao@unl.edu Twitter: https://x.com/PhrecIrrigation Website: https://phrec-irrigation.com/#/ FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Rana's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rana-farrasati-945aa5141/ Camila's LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/camila-chiaranda-rodrigues-328018154 Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

June 13, 2024

Episode 125 - IoT at Agronomy Environment.

Joshua Dotto is a highly passionate engineer with 2+ years of experience in embedded hardware, sensors, backend databases, web dashboard development, and wireless communication technologies that power Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Visit Joshua’s website https://jdotto.dev to learn more! Email: jdotto2@unl.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-dotto/ Current title: Robotics Software Engineer at Machine Automation and Agricultural Robotics (MAARS) Lab Education Level: Master of Science in Biological Systems Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Computer Science and Engineering focus, specializing in the Internet of Things (IoT).

June 6, 2024

Episode 124: Accessibility and Feasibility meet IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects that are connected to the internet and can exchange data with other devices and systems. IoT devices can include household objects, sensors, cameras, and controllers, among others. On this week's episode to kick off the summer 2024 series, Katie and Deepak met with Nipuna Chamara, postdoctoral research at Biological Systems Engineering department, UNL to talk about the Internet of Things (IoT) and it's application in agriculture. Tune into this week's episode to learn more about how IOT works as well as the current advancements, challenges, and future prospects withing IOT use for advancement in agriculture. Guest Contact Information: E-mail: nabeysingheherathm2@huskers.unl.edu FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-bathke-a15082246/ Deepak's Twitter: https://twitter.com/agrideepak093 Deepak's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-ghimire Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

April 11, 2024

Episode 123 - Soil Health is for Everyone

In this episode, we're having an interesting conversation with Extension Educator Dr. Katja Koehler-Cole about soil health and the enrollment of cover crops, which is a hot topic in agronomy. She also explains some cool aspects of how the University of Nebraska - Lincoln is involved in sharing information about soil health through the Crop Watch portal, giving us the latest news relevant to the agriculture community across Nebraska. Take some time and join Ana and Katie in this engaging conversation with Dr. Katja. 🌱🌳🎙🎧 FarmBits Contact Information: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNLFarmBits Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNLFarmBits Co-host 1 Twitter: @AnaClarGom Co-host 1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-clara-gomes-6b87097a/