Plant tissue testing offers farmers and consultants valuable insight into crop nutrient status and helps diagnose field issues when properly conducted. We explain the science behind tissue testing and share practical tips for getting actionable results.

• Tissue testing can help to evaluate nutrient status to understand crop health at various growth stages
• Troubleshoot field issues by comparing samples from healthy and problematic areas
• It is important to sample the correct plant part according to the crop's growth stage
• Mobile nutrients show deficiency in lower leaves while immobile nutrients affect upper leaves first
• Remember to remove soil contamination from samples, especially when checking iron levels
• Tissue tests can help to identify the problem while soil tests help determine corrective actions
• Have a specific goal in mind before collecting tissue samples
• Take both tissue and soil samples when diagnosing nutrient deficiencies

We continue our conversation this week with precision ag geek Shawn Kasprick of Simplot. Shawn shares how precision agriculture capabilities have evolved from floppy disks to satellite imagery, letting farmers see their operations all the way through from farm to field application.

Some topics we cover in this episode:

• Adapting precision agriculture for orchards with specialized equipment that applies fertilizer between rows
• Creating variable rate soil-applied herbicide maps based on soil property levels
• Using satellite imagery to identify wild oat patches before soybean emergence for targeted herbicide applications for subsequent wheat crops
• Developing variable rate fungicide applications for white mold management using crop density data
• Combining multiple data sources with AI to potentially identify specific pests in the future
• The importance of ground-truthing remote-sensed data to verify what's actually happening
• Ensuring technology enhances decision-making rather than just collecting data

Ask your agronomist or consultant about creative ways you could use precision agriculture on your farm. The technology is there—you just need to connect it with good agronomy.

Farmer Sarah and Yodi talk drainage coefficients and how they affect water removal from fields. Drainage coefficients (typically 3/8" to 1/2") in field drainage systems describe how quickly water can be removed from a field, with a 1/2" coefficient removing 1/2" of water from the soil in one day.

• Drainage coefficient measures how fast water can be removed from a field in a given time period
• Soil type dramatically affects water movement - 50 inches of water can move through sand in a day while clay drains less than half an inch
• Multiple factors affect drainage systems' drainage coefficient: tile spacing, depth, diameter, restrictive layers, water table depth, and soil hydraulic conductivity
• Higher value crops like potatoes often use larger drainage coefficients (1/2" instead of 3/8") for faster water removal
• More expensive drainage systems remove water faster, but farmers should consider both current needs and future conditions

Visit GK Technology for more resources on drainage planning - we have a map and an app for that!

https://gktechinc.com/

Shawn Kasprick shares his journey from farm kid to precision agriculture pioneer with Simplot Grower Solutions, detailing how early developments in the field shaped the technology farmers use today.

In the episode, Sarah and Jodi sit down with Shawn and discuss

• Shawn's background growing up on a farm in Walsh County North Dakota
• Shawn's educational background, which includes dual bachelor's degrees in Crop and Weed Sciences and Soil Science from NDSU and a master's in Agronomy from Iowa State University
• Starting a precision ag program with Simplot when handed a laptop and told "good luck"
• The evolution of grid sampling to zone management in North Dakota
• Pioneering deep soil sampling for sugar beet production
• Programming to overcome data integration challenges and the importance of understanding what data you're looking at
• The emphasis that good precision ag always starts with solid agronomic principle
• Why multiple data layers create better maps for management decisions

Join us in the next full episode of Ag Geek Speak as we continue our conversation with Shawn where we explore the practical field applications of precision agriculture and his thoughts on future innovations.

GK Technology, Inc.
https://gktechinc.com/

Simplot Grower Solutions
https://simplotgrowersolutions.com/

Field boundaries serve as the digital cookie cutters of precision agriculture, defining where field operations begin and end for optimal resource management. Understanding their purpose and creation methods allows consultants and growers to implement more precise applications and better predict input needs.

• Boundaries determine where equipment turns on and off during field operations
• Accurate boundaries help predict input requirements and prevent waste
• Vector files (typically shape files) define the digital representation of field boundaries
• Water management requires different boundary considerations than nutrient management
• Creating boundaries can be done through driven collection with RTK-enabled vehicles
• Drawing boundaries in GIS software requires well georeferenced backgrounds like NAIP imagery
• Common Land Units (CLUs) provide a starting point but often lack precision
• Moving vertices allows for refinement of boundary polygons
• Accurate boundaries serve as the foundation for all precision agriculture mapping

Connect with GK Technology for all your precision agriculture needs - we have a map and an app for that!

https://gktechinc.com/

Kurt Turner and Lane Bothwell from Ag Genesis share their innovative "gridding the zone" approach that combines traditional zone mapping with targeted grid sampling to address pH variability in eastern South Dakota fields. They've discovered that their most productive field zones often hide significant pH problems that can be economically addressed through this hybrid sampling method.

• Field topography in Eastern South Dakota creates extreme yield variability (corn yields ranging 100-240 bushels per acre)
• Traditional zone sampling works well for most nutrient management in their variable landscape
• Low pH problems tend cluster in high-productivity zones, not poor-performing areas as might be expected (this is not always the case, check your soil test results!)
• Selective grid sampling within problematic zones can reduce sampling points by 60-70% compared to whole-field gridding
• Lime application becomes more economical when precisely targeted to actual problem areas
• Cost savings benefit both the service provider (fewer samples to collect) and the farmer (less lime needed)
• Limited lime sources in the Dakotas make efficient application especially important
• pH improvements are visible within 2-4 years of targeted lime application

If you're interested in learning more about Ag Genesis, check out our previous episode where we dive deeper into their business model and precision ag philosophy.

Awareness of nutrient mobility in plants drastically improves in-field diagnosis of crop issues. In this episode, we dive deep into plant nutrient mobility and how nutrient mobility impacts visual symptoms in the field.

• Discussion on the concept of nutrient mobility 
• Insights into mobile vs. immobile nutrient deficiencies 
• Importance of tissue testing for accurate diagnoses 

Relatively immobile nutrients (symptoms will appear on newest leaf tissue): S, Zn, Fe, Cu, B, Ca, Mn, Mo, Ni

Relatively mobile nutrients (symptoms will appear on oldest leaf tissue): N, P, K, Mg

Don't forget to subscribe and share your thoughts on social media! 

Cover art diagram courtesy of the 4R Plant Nutrition Manual, IPNI 2012 (https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/identifying_nutrient_deficiency_symptoms_in_field_crops)

https://gktechinc.com/

Engaging with the evolving world of precision agriculture, this discussion sheds light on the unique relationship between technology and crop consulting. Our guests, Kurt Turner and Lane Bothwell of Ag Genesis Inc, bring their expertise to the table, sharing insights into the operational dynamics of the perfect duo: a precision ag and computer geek and soil sampling enthusiast. 

We discuss
- Introduction of Ag Genesis and its creation
- Key role of ADMS software in the crop consulting business
- Importance of soil sampling and mapping 
- Effects of tile drainage on crop yields 
- The synergy between office mapping and fieldwork 
- Future innovations in precision agriculture and an introduction to the next part of this episode's topic, gridding the zone.

Jodi and Sarah explore the crucial distinction between mobile and non-mobile nutrients in soil. Understanding how these nutrients behave not only aids in effective soil sampling but also enhances soil fertility management, providing fertilizer users with the knowledge they need to maximize returns on their fertilizer dollars. 

They cover
• Mobile vs. non-mobile nutrients
• Nutrient behavior based on soil charge 
• Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and nutrient adhesion 
• Sampling strategies for mobile vs. non-mobile nutrients 

Ag with Emma, a leading voice in agriculture, shares her journey from novice to practical mastery in field mapping with ADMS. Through engaging anecdotes and expert guidance from mentors like Kyle Okke, Emma's passion for mapping shines through. She emphasizes the unique blend of science and artistry involved in creating accurate agricultural maps, while also highlighting the importance of personalized learning approaches in mastering these complex systems.

Our conversation dives deep into the meticulous process of soil fertility analysis and sampling, revealing surprising insights into how historical elements like tree rows can impact soil nutrient levels. Emma walks us through the exhaustive steps of mapping fields for future soil sampling and fertility planning, with a focus on understanding the intriguing variance in phosphorus levels. We also discuss the mystery behind "snirt"—the nutrient-rich mix of snow and dirt—and the importance of avoiding skewed soil samples to ensure accurate data.

The final part of our episode navigates the challenges and growth opportunities in agronomy. From humorous tales of file naming to the serious business of defining boundaries and organizing data, Emma's insights illuminate the high-stakes, rewarding nature of agronomic data management. We wrap up with a discussion on the unpredictability of farming and the continuous journey of learning and improvement, as Emma reflects on the joy of hands-on fieldwork and the crucial role of providing accurate, data-driven advice to farmers.

Connect with Ag with Emma here: https://linktr.ee/agwithemma