On-Target Benchmark Results: Specific Examples

Hans Hayden and his brother Twain operate a farm in Arbon, Idaho, in the mountains southwest of Pocatello. Hans participates in the Idaho Wheat Commission, serving as District 5 Commissioner as well as Chair. As a result of On-Target, Hans purchased and installed yield monitor, purchased an Ipaq, an upgraded GPS, and GIS Software. He has initiated four workshops with Idaho Wheat Commission members.He estimates that 200,581 acres are, as a result, under improved management.

Dave Varner Extension Educator - Agriculture and Unit Leader, University of Nebraska Cooperative Extensinon, Dodge County. After On-Target, Dave started his own training program and a regional Precision Agriculture “Club” for over 120 farmers through the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association (NeATA). He estimates that over 120 farms/ranches actively using Remote Sensing/GIS/GPS (through the Geospatial Tool Kit in improved management on over 356,000 acres.

Larry Halsey is the Director of the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service in Florida. After On-Target, Larry introduced the Geospatial Tool Kit in their efforts to address some transportation mapping issues and helped them save $30,000. He has held 22 training events with over 182 participants from throughout Florida & Georgia. He estimates there are 25,900 acres with decreased pesticide residues (on-site and off-site) and increased net returns to the growers. He has won numerous awards for these efforts, including one from his peers called the "Extension Program Award for Excellence in Remote Sensing and Precision Agriculture."

Jeff Carter is an Extension Agent in Vermont's Northwest Region, based in Middlebury. He is a Crop Specialist working with field crops and nutrient management. Putting geospatial technology to use has been primary to his programming since On-Target. He estimates 28 Vermont farms (over 19,500 acres) and farm families are now using Remote Sensing /GIS/GPS management.

Dr. Kevin Kesler is the Director of 4-H and Youth Programs for Utah State University Extension. Utah 4-H has fully established GPS and GIS training programs. He and many of the 4-H agents in Utah have taken full advantage of the ESRI GIS Program for 4-H. Dr. Kessler reports that "4-H now has GIS clubs all over Utah, making it possible for Utah 4-H to move into a new age of technology from which youth and adults benefit for generations." Over 1,500 youth and adults have been trained in the use of GPS in the Utah 4-H GPS program.Community mapping is a program with the goal of helping people learn more about the areas where they live. Dr. Kessler estimates that there are over 622 families in the Intermoutain region readily utilizing space-based information as a result of these programs.