Paris, 26 January 2004


EFITA newsletter / 144 / European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


New Ag International Conference
17-19 March 2004 – Roma
See: http://www.newaginternational.com/
Contact : Jean-Pierre LEYMONIE
mailto:newagedit@calixo.net


10th International Conference: Information Systems at Agricultural, Forestry and Rural Areas - enlargement of EU (Call for papers)
20–21 April 2004, Seč u Chrudimi, Czech Republic
Please, send your abstracts matching to one of down stated topics by means of on-line interface at address: http://www.ccss.cz/sec/sec2004en/abstract the latest till 29th February.

You will be noticed by program committee about receiving your paper not later than 15 March. The final paper will be demand till 31 March.
Topics for 2004 year:
>>> Enlargement of EU – opportunities and experiences
- Impact of Enlargement of Europe on Czech foresters and farmers
- Bridging digital divide in forestry and agricultural field
- Structural founds for foresters and farmers
- Eu research for rural regions
>>> ICT technology for rural areas
- Broadband
- Mobil systems
- Location based services
- Open source technology
- Web technology
>>> IACS, traceability, precision farming
- Control systems in Agriculture and Forestry
- Food safety and traceability
- Precision farming
>>> E-rural
- E-work and e-business in rural regions
- New tools in rural development
- Tourism in rural areas
- Culture heritage as part of European Identity
- Distance learning and its roll in rural development
>>> Application ICT for agricultural and forestry
- Information systems for management
- Web technologies for business
- Open source solution for Czech foresters and farmers
- Geographic information system for foresters and farmers
- Remote sensing in forestry and agriculture
Contact: Karel CHARVAT
mailto:kch@volny.cz


7th International Symposium on Modelling in Fruit Research and Orchard Management
20-24 June 2004 - Copenhagen - Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
See: http://www.hortplus.com/ISHSModel/NextMeet.htm
Contact: Dr. Peter BRAUN
mailto:pbr@kvl.dk


Canada (2001)
Have a PC : 39,4%
Are connected to the Internet: 27,8%
See: http://www.infometre.cefrio.qc.ca/fiches/fiche686.asp
See: http://www.infometre.cefrio.qc.ca/fiches/fiche543.asp
See: http://www.infometre.cefrio.qc.ca/fiches/fiche357.asp
Contact: René LACROIX
mailto:rene.lacroix@mcgill.ca


International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS)
The objectives of the IUSS are to foster all branches of the soil sciences and their applications, and to give support to soil scientists in the pursuit of their activities.
See: http://www.iuss.org/
Contact: Hans VAN BAREN
mailto:hans.vanbaren@wur.nl


Marketing and business strategy consulting services
See: http://www.prospectmanagement.co.uk
Contact: David THELWALL
mailto:david@prospectmanagement.co.uk


The cow is always right
This site contains information about dairy related issues relevant to producers, advisors and interested persons around the world:
- a large library of information
- a discussion area
- a number of handy tools and calculators
…/…
There is a quick and easy login and verification process to view the entire site.
See: http://www.milkproduction.com/
Contact: Chanda LINDSAY
mailto:clindsay@milkproduction.com


Animal disease control: EU Council adopts ear tagging for sheep and goats
See: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/03/1761|0|RAPID&lg=EN&display=


Farm benchmark in Bavaria
See: http://ssl.stmlf.bayern.de/bfm/form/index.jsp


Making the Rural Connection -- FCC Rural Satellite Forum Final Details Announced - January 27, 2004, Event Will Explore the Use of Satellite Technologies in Serving the Communications Needs of Rural America
> Making The Rural Connection: FCC Rural Satellite Forum will be webcast live and archived for later viewing. The sessions will be recorded and made available for later viewing. Access to and additional information concerning the webcast is available at: http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/#jan27

> Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released the agenda and final details for the Rural Satellite Forum, “Making the Rural Connection” to be held at the Commission on January 27, 2004. The forum is part of ongoing FCC efforts intended to explore various technologies being used to serve the communications needs of rural America.
The all-day event, which is open to the public, will be held at the FCC headquarters building, 445 12^th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. starting at 10:00 am and ending at 3:45 pm. The FCC Chairman and Commissioners will participate in different programming sessions during the day. Exhibits and demonstrations will be open from 9:00 am until 4:45 pm. The agenda and list of participants is attached.
The forum will feature satellite-based communications systems serving rural areas of the United States. It will include four panels of experts and providers as well as demonstrations and exhibits. The event will highlight specific consumer applications:
- Education and Telemedicine;
- Public Safety;
- Farming and USDA Funding; and
- Internet and Mass Media Entertainment.
Satellite technology holds tremendous potential as an effective solution for many parts of the nation, especially rural and remote areas. This forum is designed to explore that potential by educating the public and users about the availability of services, the development of new and innovative service and economic approaches to serving the communications needs of rural America. It will include company representatives, government officials and users.
> AGENDA - Tuesday January 27, 2004 - Federal Communications Commission - 445 12^th Street SW, Washington, DC

- 10:00 am Opening Session and Satellite Overview
- 11:00 am Distance Learning and Telemedicine
Satellites can deliver medical and educational services in any remote area where Americans need them. Service providers will describe satellite-based, life-saving telemedicine services; satellite-delivered Head Start programs in Native American tribal communities; and distance learning applications that merge computing, communications, content, teacher/user training, and comprehensive 24/7 virtual support.
- 12:00 pm  Public Safety
Public safety communications can be made available in virtually any location in America by satellite. Service providers will describe interoperable services that combine mobile satellite communications with terrestrial links to lone workers in isolated locations; and mobile telephone support of firefighters and other first responders.
- 12:45 pm: Lunch Break
- 02:00 pm   Farming and US Department of Agriculture Funding
Satellites work wherever Americans work. Farmers and craftsmen laboring on even the most distant farmland can market their products via satellite and the Internet. Cutting-edge satellite technology is enabling precision mapping of farm yields, precise application of fertilizer and seeds, and even automatic guidance of farm vehicles. In addition, America’s top commercial farms can connect to their suppliers, dealers and commodity end users through two-way broadband satellite network systems. The Rural Utilities Service administers USDA grant and loan funding for satellite-based services in rural America.
- 03:00 pm   Information, Internet and Mass Media Entertainment
Satellites provide advanced broadband Internet service and entertainment media in rural America that matches service available in cities and suburbs.
- 03:45 PM   Closing Remarks

> Rural satellite forum showcase
The following organizations will be providing displays in rooms TW-A402, TW-B445B&C; and TW-C438-468 from 9:00 AM until 4:45 PM:
- @Contact  
- EchoStar Dish Network  
- GlobalStar  
- Hughes Network Systems  
- Inmarsat
- Institute for Telecommunications, Oklahoma State University
- MSV
- Panhandle Area Education Consortium, Florida
- Rainbow DBS VOOM
- RFD-TV
- Sirius Satellite Radio
- Starband
- SkyWay USA
- Telenor  
- Vox2 Healthcare  
- XM Satellite Radio
See: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/rural/
Contact: Douglas Webbink, Mark Young
mailto:mdouglas.webbink@fcc.gov, mailto:mark.young@fcc.gov
Information provided by Bernard P AUXENFANS
mailto:auxenfansb@attglobal.net


Hard of hearing?
An elderly gentleman of 85 feared his wife was getting hard of hearing. So one day he called her doctor to make an appointment to have her hearing checked. The Doctor made an appointment for a hearing test in two weeks, and meanwhile there's a simple informal test the husband could do to give the doctor some idea of the state of her problem.

"Here's what you do," said the doctor, "start out about 40 feet away from her, and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response."

That evening, the wife is in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he's in the living room. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens."

Then in a normal tone he asks, 'Honey, what's for supper?" No response.

So the husband moved to the other end of the room, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for supper?" Still no response.

Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for supper?" Again he gets no response.

So he walks up to the kitchen door, only 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for supper?" Again there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for supper?"

"Damn it Earl, for the fifth time, CHICKEN!"

Contact: Mick HARKIN
mailto:harkin@iol.ie


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