InFARMation (and Beer!) is designed to promote community discussion on the connection between food and farms in Oregon. This is a great opportunity to network with the community of Oregonians who want to have a say in our local food system!

As always, InFARMation (and Beer!) is on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, Beers are only $2.50, and the event is free and open to the public.

Agenda:

A third generation dairy farmer from Monmouth, Jon Bansen of Double J Jersey Farm transitioned from a conventional dairy to an organic dairy in the late 1990s, and is part of the farmer co-op Organic Valley.

Jon has turned farm diversity and organic dairying into a profitable business while providing a comfortable and sustainable life for himself, his family, and his cows. Jon also gives back to the community by providing farm tours and pasture walks for consumers, students, farmers and extension agents.

5:30-6:30 arrive, enjoy food and drinks, networking 6:30-8:00 speaker presentations with Q&A 8:00-8:30 more networking, discussion, and of course, organic brew!

Small unmanned aircraft---more often called drones---are set to make a big impact on agriculture. You already know about military drones operating overseas, and perhaps you've even seen recreational drones starring in youtube videos, but as the FAA begins permitting commercial use of unmanned aircraft in 2015, you'll see drones replacing all sorts of roles that used to require a manned aircraft, and taking on new roles made possible by their low cost, versatility, and safety.

Chris Anderson will speak about the upcoming role of drones in agriculture, a field Chris says "is a big data problem without the big data." Chris will describe how farmers can will drones to curb plant disease, conserve water, and reduce pesticide and fertilizer use. He'll discuss the challenges ahead to integrate air vehicle systems with sensors, specialized cameras, and data processing.

This event is actually on the 4th of August! I double checked with the Hollywood Theater!

Drones, Big Data, and the Next Agricultural Revolution

Ryan M. Jenson, MS, mechanical engineer, CEO & Co-Founder, HoneyComb Corporation

Aerial robotics and agriculture aren’t usually associated with one another, at least not yet. However, agriculture is projected to become the largest adopter of drone technology−surpassing all other use cases. To understand the transformation from military to the farm you need to understand the technology, its disruptive nature, and the intricacies of precision agriculture. In this talk Ryan Jenson will discuss drone-based applications, why they’re a game changer, and how drones will become a ubiquitous tool on the farm and in everyday life.

Ryan is CEO & co-founder of HoneyComb Corporation which specializes in the development and application of drone technology and data services for precision agriculture. He has led HoneyComb to the forefront of the emerging space and is widely considered to be an expert in the technology, capabilities, and its global impact on agriculture. Over the past decade Ryan has played a key strategic and technology role across a range of projects with the USDA, Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, British Royal Navy, NASA and Fortune 500 companies. His experience encompasses agriculture, big data, remote sensing, aerospace systems, and software to name a few. Ryan holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering; along with a bachelor’s degree and minor in electrical engineering that he received at age 19. Today his name appears on over 30 publications & presentations and he routinely advises on business strategy, disruptive technology, and leadership.

Science Pub Portland – Hollywood Theatre is a monthly event open to all ages. No RSVP or scientific background required. Just bring your curiosity, sense of humor, and appetite for food, drinks, and knowledge! $5.00 suggested cover charge. Tell your friends. We hope to see you there!

Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Hack Oregon Spring Buildathon!

Presented with The Oregonian and OregonLive

What is it?

Believe it or not, Hack Oregon actually doesn’t really do a lot of Hackathons. We form specialized teams to build software and open data stories for important themes in Oregon, and work and iterate incrementally over months to create a product.

The “Buildathon” is the one day where we open up our project teams for guest contributors that want to be part of the magic and build something amazing, but might not have the time to participate in our months-long project season.

What’s the goal?

The Buildathon is a production sprint. We’ve laid the groundwork to do research, visualizations, and data storytelling quickly, and we need your help to bring our projects to the next level. Be prepared to make friends and be an instant part of our Hack Oregon family!

How can I get involved?

By joining our sprint, you’ll be placed with a team that needs extra hands on deck in your particular skill set. We’re working toward a public demo day in June, where you can proudly present alongside your team.

Here are the two ways to join the event:

1. We have open roles for experienced developers, creatives, and multimedia storytellers on each team. If you'd like to join one of the project teams for the day, we'll need to match you with the team that needs your skills most and give you an onboarding package. Fill out this inquiry form along with your eventbrite RSVP, and we will be in touch with you shortly!
2. If you are a new to coding or want to contribute in a non-tech way, we have a highly appreciated team working on research, fact-checking, and user testing. No inquiry form required, just go ahead and RSVP for "Research Team". We can't wait to meet you!

Perks

• Team T Shirt
• All Day Food
• Profound Glory

Project Teasers

Food Insecurity: “Oregon Hunger Equation”

Why does Oregon consistently have one of the highest reported rates of food insecurity in the country? We’re analyzing links between regional cost of living, benefit programs, and local school districts to solve for systemic causes of hunger at home.

Campaign Finance: “Behind the Curtain”

Hack Oregon has the only machine readable database for local campaign finance in the country. We’re adding in new meta-data and working on fascinating high level view of influence and money in Oregon’s election cycles.

Urban Development: “Plot PDX”

Data can tell us a lot about our neighborhoods. We’re building maps that take a non-typical approach to hard truths about urban growth, concentration of wealth, and the digital divide.

Agriculture: “Crop Compass”

In the Pacific Northwest, we live in one of the most rich biospheres in the world, with global demand for Oregon grown products. We have the ability to produce a wide range of food in Oregon, but we’re far from self-sustaining. How do our economic and environmental factors work together to shape our food system?

Education: "Programming for Progress"

Across Oregon, some schools are lucky enough to have free or low cost summer school programming and/or afterschool programming. How much of a difference can that programming make for early literacy, attendance, and future academic success of students? What does could this say about Oregon’s statewide performance, and especially those districts facing higher poverty?

Eventbrite RSVP Here!

The Portland Ag Tech Panel brings together founders, investors, educators, and government officials who are building the future of Agriculture Technology. Join us for a fun evening of networking, panel discussions, and AgTech pitches.

Agenda: 6:00 - 6:30 - Food / Networking 6:30 - 7:30 - Panel Discussion 7:30 - 8:30 - AgTech Pitches 8:30 - 9:00 - Networking

Panelists:

Rich Thornton, Moss Adams LLP, Partner Jeff Freeman, Marion Ag Service, Inc., Director of Sales & Marketing Jim Huston, Portland Seed Fund, Managing Partner Erica Riel-Carden, Royse Law Firm, Associate Roger Royse, Royse Law Firm, Founder Scott Sandler, Oregon Angel Fund, Fund Manager

Event Sponsors & Supporters: Moss Adams LLP Rabobank Oregon BEST Oregon Angel Fund (OAF) Royse Law Firm PC Marion AG Service, Inc
Portland Seed Fund

Pitching Companies: 25 Hours Hargol FoodTech Let Um Eat Smart Vineyards Oregon Dulse Try Eco DroneOn AirStream Innovations