Workshops to teach use of iPad ag apps

Shauna Lewis

Five hands-on workshops are scheduled in January to teach agricultural applications for iPhones and iPads to farmers.

Texas AgriLife Extension Service

LUBBOCK -- The Texas AgriLife Extension Service is conducting a new project to develop and teach agricultural applications for iPhones and iPads to farmers.

Five hands-on workshops, all with the same curriculum, are scheduled from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in January.

Dates and locations are:

* Jan. 9, Lamesa, Forrest Park Community Center, South 10th and Houston streets.

* Jan. 23, Lubbock, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 1102 E.F.M. 1294.

* Jan. 27, Plainview, South Plains College, 1920 W. 24th St.

* Jan. 30, Amarillo, Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd.

* Jan. 31, Dumas, location to be announced.

"Our AgriLife Extension team will train producers to use these apps to more effectively manage risks in their business and improve their financial bottomline," said Jackie Smith, AgriLife Extension economist in Lubbock.

"They'll learn to access market data to help evaluate relevant pricing strategies. They'll also improve their knowledge of costs and breakevens by using the Cost of Production app the team developed," Smith said.

Smith said other apps will relate to crop insurance, marketing plans, optimum irrigation water allocation and various time-saving calculators and other tools.

Each workshop participant will have access to iPads with apps already installed, Smith said. They'll use case studies to improve their price and production risk management skills.

Each workshop will be restricted to 30 participants. Hus-band-and-wife participation will require only one registration fee.

Regis-tration is $50 to be paid at the door by check.

For more details on each workshop, go to SouthPlainsprofit. tamu.edu and click on iPhone/iPad Workshops.

To reserve a spot in any of the workshops, call the Lub-bock Extension center at 806-746-6101 and ask for Viki.