CTIC: Healthy Crops Start with Healthy Soils

John DavisAg Group, Agribusiness, Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Soil Sampling, Tillage

Attendees of the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., heard about the importance of soil health and how it can pay big dividends back to producers … and the consequences of not taking care of the soil. “We have really degraded our soils in the Midwest,” explained Hans Kok (on the right, pointing to his demonstration … Read More

Web-based Water Quality Index Tool

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Conservation, General, Resources, Soil Sampling, USDA

Scientists at the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service recently developed a simple, web-based tool that helps producers easily understand the quality of water flowing off their fields – the Water Quality Index for Agricultural Runoff (WQIag). “Water quality is complex,” said NRCS National Water Quality and Quantity team leader Shaun McKinney. “Experts usually focus on one aspect of water quality … Read More

Soil Sampling and Remote Sensing

Talia GoesAgribusiness, Remote sensing, Soil Sampling

The 2013 Precision Ag Action Summit was held on January 21 & 22 in North Dakota. David Clay of South Dakota State University gave a presentation on “Precision farming, soil sampling, remote sensing for in‐season N recommendations”. In the presentation he asked the question “can we improve our management of an extremely variable system with remote sensing?” Summary from his … Read More

Precision.AgWired.com Podcast: Using apps to forecast yield

Meghan GrebnerAg Leader, Fertilizer, Precision Pays Podcast, Scouting, Soil Sampling, technology, yields

What is your favorite app on your phone?  How does it make your life easier?  Advanced Ag Solutions, LLC is trying to make it easier for farmers with their recently launched Optimizer 2.0 app.  It allows users to upload GPS soil sampling data and then use that information to leverage the information they already have (and use) even further.  In … Read More

Soil Test Results May Not Reveal Accurate Field Nutrient Availability

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Soil Sampling

Growers conducting soil tests this fall may be surprised at unexpectedly low potassium (K) levels. It’s likely, however, that fields tested in drought-stricken areas have plenty of nutrients waiting to move back into the soil, according to DuPont Pioneer agronomy experts. With little rain on most fields in 2012, K, absorbed by corn plants during the growing season, has not … Read More

Field Connect Helps Producers Monitor Soil Moisture

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Data Collection, John Deere, Soil Sampling

With water management becoming an increasingly important factor in crop production, John Deere introduces John Deere Field Connect to provide site specific water management data to facilitate the decision making process surrounding irrigation practices. With site specific information, producers are able to more efficiently utilize irrigation inputs resulting in fuel savings and additional yield potential. The Field Connect system continuously … Read More

New Nitrogen Study Released

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Nutrient Management, Soil Sampling

Plants’ ability to absorb increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air may have been overestimated, a new University of Minnesota study shows. The study, published this week in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows that even though plants absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and actually can benefit from higher levels of it, they may not get enough of … Read More

Act Now to Manage Nutrients for 2013

Melissa SandfortAgribusiness, Fertilizer, Soil Sampling

As winter approaches, it’s the best time to determine if crops hit by the 2012 drought left any residual nitrogen (N) or other nutrients in your soil profile. Residual soil nitrates can be higher after a drought where N was applied. This happens because of decreased downward soil water movement and reduced N uptake by drought-stressed plants. The effect of … Read More

App Provides Soil Survey Info at a Touch

Cindy ZimmermanSatellite, Soil Sampling

A free app for iPhone, iPad and Adroid users provides a mobile way to access soil survey information. It’s called SoilWeb and it combines online soil survey information with the GPS capabilities of smartphones. The SoilWeb app is a portable version of the UC Davis California Soil Resource Lab’s Web-based interface to digital soil survey data from USDA’s Natural Resources … Read More

PrecisionEarth Now Available For Your iPad

Chuck ZimmermanApps, Soil Sampling

During InfoAg I visited with PrecisionEarth which was just being introduced. Well it’s now available for your iPad (or other iOS device)! Watch an overview in the video below. PrecisionEarth makes Soil Sampling Simple, Faster, with less mistakes, and with less paper. Build up the Grower, Farmer, Field information as well as collect new boundaries, grids, and samples all inside … Read More