All Maps Tell a Different Story: What is Yours Telling You?

There are many types of maps that can be used to make on-farm management decisions.
While they all have a useful place, it is important to understand what they are telling you, and what they are not. This allows for better management of expensive and logistically challenging inputs.

NDVI MAPS

A Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) map measures the greenness of vegetation from a satellite image. It quantifies vegetation by measuring the difference between near-infrared (which vegetation reflects) and red light (vegetation absorbs). NDVI maps are great in-season maps to determine where the vegetation is, in the current year. The maps will show concentrations in different areas depending on the year – a dry year will tend to show more biomass in lower areas where water is available, and wet years will tend to show higher biomass on hill tops or slopes, where plants are not waterlogged.

It is also important to note the time of the year the map image is taken – if it is from too early in the season, it will be more of a weed map as the crop has not had a chance to emerge.
NDVI maps that are taken after herbicide application can be useful in fungicide and top-dressing applications, especially if the crop is variable. This map is more reliable as a map of the crop itself, rather than weeds.

Satellite NDVI maps are also at the mercy of atmospheric conditions such as cloud cover. If there is too much cloud cover, imagery will be spotty, and an accurate map cannot be made. Figure 1 shows drastically different imagery where the 2020 conditions were extremely wet and 2021 was a drought year. Cloud cover prevented the imagery from being useful earlier in the growing seasons.

Figure 1. NDVI Maps of the same field at two timings in season from two different years.

Yield Maps

A yield map utilizes data from GPS and sensors to track crop yields across a field. It will tell you where the yield was good or poor, relative within a field, in a single year. Areas of higher yield vs lower yield will change, dependent on temporal conditions of the growing season. This is helpful in determining where crop was more productive and for calculating nutrient removal, but it does not tell you why.

Yield data needs to be cleaned and processed to create an accurate map – factors such as calibration, multiple combines, or changing settings mid-field can affect data.

Why was the yield better in a depression this year than in the past? If you have a few years of yield maps it may help to identify continually problematic areas.

The picture below shows the yield maps from the same field under vastly different conditions, resulting in quite different maps.

Figure 2: Raw yield maps. Wheat crop in 2020 with extremely wet conditions (L) Wheat crop in 2021 with extremely dry conditions (R)

SWAT MAP

A SWAT MAP is a soil-based map that takes soil characteristics, water flow, and topography into consideration. EC (Electrical Conductivity) is mapped, elevation data is collected and a SWAT CERTIFIED agronomist ground truths the field to ensure that a map is selected that correctly identifies the characteristics into management zones. Soil samples are taken within these zones, analyzed at the lab, and interpreted by the agronomist to understand similarities and differences within a field that allow us and the grower to manage a field with confidence. Fertilizer, seed, lime, herbicides, or amendments can all be managed well when we understand each zone’s soil characteristics such as nutrient availability, organic matter, or salinity.

A SWAT MAP is a stable map that will stay the same year over year. Zones 1 and 2 are typically the hill-tops, coarse textured soils, or are possibly eroded. Zones 5 and 6 move into the slopes of a field, often a consistently productive area of the field. Zones 9 and 10 are reserved for low-lying or saline depressions. Each zone will be different between fields but are always relative to each other with a field.

Figure 3. SWAT MAP of the field showing 10 stable soil-based management zones.

In this field, Zone 1s (red) are limited by coarse textures with less water holding capacity and low pH. Zone 10s (dark green) are limited by salinity. These are some of the characteristics, along with nutrient reserves, that help us determine the yield potential across a field, regardless of the conditions that the current year may bring.

Understanding spatial and temporal differences in a field is key to planning and making in season crop management decisions. Having multiple layers of data to work with is helpful, if we know the background and what that data is telling us. Every year will have varying temporal constraints, but if we can map the stable spatial properties, we can manage a crop to its highest potential.


Rachelle Farrell
Senior Precision Agronomist, AB

Croptimistic Technology Inc. acquires CropPro Consulting with Series B investment of 9.1M from Forage Capital Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2023

Saskatoon, Sask., Canada – Canadian agriculture technology (AgTech) company Croptimistic Technology Inc. (Croptimistic) has acquired CropPro Consulting (CropPro) and increased working capital with Series B investment from Forage Capital Partners (Forage) of $9.1 million. This investment will be used to fund Croptimistic’s continued research and development efforts. 

“Croptimistic is very excited to announce the acquisition of Crop Pro Consulting. The new combined entity will significantly enhance our ability to serve farmers and expand our reach, solidifying our position as the market leader in soil mapping software and hardware.” said Greg Stewart, Chairman of the Board for Croptimistic and Director with the Bank of Canada. Forage Managing Director, Jim Taylor adds, “the acquisition of Crop Pro’s operations and acres under management adds significant scale to the Croptimistic business. It will dramatically accelerate our growth and further establish Croptimistic’s position as the market leader in delivering the world’s most advanced variable rate fertilizer and seed solutions.” 

The announcement comes as Forage continues its strong investment in support of one of the fastest growing AgTech companies in the world. Since starting operations in 2018, Croptimistic has shown average growth of 100% year over year. It’s well-known flagship product, SWAT MAPS, creates maps encompassing Soil, Water and Topography (SWAT). Croptimistic currently has 67 company partners executing their business model in four countries with their strongest presence in USA and Canada, they are aiming to deliver the best soil mapping hardware and software system in the world. The SWAT ECOSYSTEM powered by their SWAT RECORDS software offers support, training and connects precision agronomy experts and farmers in a seamless process. In addition to their existing autonomous soil mapping hardware system called the SWAT BOX, the company recently released their newest hardware, the SWAT CAM – an affordable, low cost, camera system that mounts to sprayers and creates crop and weed population maps and performs plant stand counts using machine learning models.

“This new funding has enabled us to keep growing and investing in our software SWAT RECORDS and expand our team in our new office based in Kelowna, BC.” said Derek Massey, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Croptimistic. “By investing resources in our software we’ll be able to continue to scale and grow our company to meet the needs of our farmers and service providers.”

Recently acquired CropPro, based in Naicam, Sask., was founded and owned by Cory and Shannon Willness.  It is the largest farm agronomy consulting company in Saskatchewan and is celebrating its 20th year in business in 2023. CropPro employs 25 professional staff and manages over one million acres of crop consulting and SWAT MAPS precision agronomy services. The business will operate as usual under Croptimistic’s existing farmer services division and territories. The owners receive multiple forms of compensation including Croptimistic shares as part of the transaction.

“We are very excited to have CropPro join our team at Croptimistic and continue to offer the finest precision agriculture tools and services to farmers,” says Cory Willness, CEO of Croptimistic Technology Inc. “Both companies are known for their excellent customer service with an emphasis on trust and integrity, we have always looked out for the best interests of our clients and the industry and will continue to do throughout this acquisition.” 

About Croptimistic Technology Inc.: Croptimistic Technology Inc. is an international AgTech company best known for their product SWAT MAPS, a turn-key variable rate solution that prioritizes Soil, Water, and Topography factors of fields for the creation of management zones. Their SWAT RECORDS software powers the entire SWAT ECOSYSTEM of products, all of which are synced with the app for real-time viewing. To learn more about Croptimistic and the SWAT ECOSYSTEM, visit www.swatmaps.com.

About Forage Capital Partners: Forage is Canada’s most experienced team of Ag & Food investors, having managed over $500 million in commitments to the industry over the last 18 years. Forage Capital Ag & Food Business Solutions Fund works to provide its portfolio companies with the stability and flexibility they need to expand and adapt their business models during these challenging times. The fund will invest with creative business owners that are looking to capitalize on new and innovative opportunities that will emerge as the Canadian economy recovers and prospers. 

For more information on Forage Capital Partners, visit www.foragecapitalpartners.com.

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Nicole Kadziolka
Marketing Manager
Croptimistic Technology Inc.
nicole@swatmaps.com

SWAT 012: Variable Rate Planting in Potatoes with Evan MacDonald

Senior Precision Agronomist Evan MacDonald joins us to talk about water, potatoes, and some of his research in Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada. In addition to working full time for Croptimistic Technology, Evan began pursuing his PhD with a project focusing on variable rate seed spacing in potatoes. He now has two years of data from trials showing variable rate seeding can significantly impact potato farmer profitability. His journey has been one of identifying missing pieces of the puzzle when it comes to precision ag and then trying to find and validate those pieces. And that’s what ultimately led him to SWAT MAPS.

“All in all over two years in my trial sites, it was a benefit of about $170 an acre Canadian with a variable rate seeding strategy. So I think the economic return is definitely there. We can manage these areas of our field a little bit differently just by tweaking spacing. It's not like we're putting extra fertilizer down or something. All we're doing is just kind of changing the distribution of the seed across the field.”  - Evan MacDonald

2:06 - Hear about Evan’s background and his journey to Croptimistic Technology including a role in the department of agriculture and drone imaging where his focus was the impact topography and soil erosion had for producers.

4:41 - Evan explains the benefits of drone technology but also the limitations of their use and how they are a tool to be used but not solely relied upon

6:35 - Gain an understanding as to how Evan researched the use of drone imagery to predict crop yield resulting in a correlation found between the topography and water distribution to better yielding areas

7:30 - Discover how Evan first found SWAT MAPS, what appealed to him about their use and how he was able to introduce them to potato crops

9:30 - Evan explains the difference in approach and value between grid sampling and SWAT MAPS and where both can be best utilized

11:05 - Explore the benefits in managing risk, reduced inputs and higher yields Evan has observed with producers that employ SWAT MAPS

13:51 - Learn more about Evan’s research into variable rate seeding and the economic impact that technique can have

17:44 - Evan discusses the soil building crops commonly used in rotation with potatoes and the additional benefits they offer

19:11 - Discover more ways research is exploring the potential of precision agriculture focusing on variable rate irrigation

24:24 - Evan shares the potential for variable rate seeding using drone technology and the benefits of satellite imagery and the improved resolution producers are experiencing there especially when used in conjunction with SWAT MAPS

Why everyone should care about mapping soil organic matter and carbon

Everyone in agriculture knows the importance of soil organic matter (OM). It provides many soil functions, including nutrient cycling, improved water infiltration, and reduces soil bulk density that helps reduce compaction. For these reasons, OM is an important measurement to guide nutrient management decisions.

The challenge, like all things we can measure with a soil test, is variability. Organic matter varies no different than nutrients, pH, and texture across the landscape due to several reasons:

  1. Climate – more plant growth driven by water availability typically results in more vegetation and carbon input. Warmer climates have higher microbial activity, decomposition and cycling of organic matter, making it more difficult to accumulate soil carbon.
  2. Type of vegetation – grasses typically accumulate more carbon in the soil than trees, which is why grey wooded soils (luvisols) tend to have less OM than soils developed under grasses and mixed vegetation (chernozems). 
  3. Soil texture – higher clay content allows more mineral associated organic carbon to accumulate, which tends to be more stable and resistant to loss.

These factors have impacted how much OM has accumulated over thousands of years during soil formation. More recently, farming activities such as tillage, practices that incur erosion, and the addition or removal of organic materials have resulted in further variability across the landscape, and in most cases a net loss of soil carbon reserves.

Confused about the difference between carbon and organic matter? Organic carbon, often referred to as SOC or soil organic carbon, is just that – carbon. Organic matter, however, includes all material originating from living organisms and the nutrients within it, at various stages of decomposition. Typically, the amount of SOC is about 58% of organic matter %. So, if a soil has 6% OM, the SOC would be about 3.5%. Both OM and SOC can be measured in a soil lab. SOC can be used along with a bulk density measurement to calculate the total tonnes/ha of organic carbon in the soil to a given depth.


Figure 1. Typical OM variability within a hummocky, glacial till landscape of western Canada.

Typically, in the process of soil mapping with SWAT MAPS, agronomists will observe higher OM values in lower landscape positions and in soils with higher clay content. Lower landscape positions have more water available for plant growth that has accumulated OM for many centuries. In many fields, erosion has also deposited topsoil in depressions, resulting in both high percent OM and increased depth of the A horizon. I’ve soil sampled many fields in northern Alberta with topsoil depth ranging from 10 cm on the top of a knoll to more than 60 cm in wet depressions.

Not all hills and depressions are made equal though! A sandy knoll will not have the same capacity to store organic carbon as a loamy, productive knoll. Historically anaerobic depressions have developed peat or muck soils that are extremely high in OM (I’ve seen as high as 88% OM in a soil test). It is the responsibility of precision agronomists to delineate all these soils and landscape positions for proper variable rate management.


Figure 2. Soil color variation (OM range from 4.9% to 8.5%) in 15 cm soil tests taken from five SWAT zones on a field at Lakeland College, Vermilion, AB.

Another interesting SWAT related observation is the long-term effect of soil constraints such as salinity. It is not uncommon to see lower OM in saline-sodic areas that have not produced much plant biomass for a very long time, and perhaps lost existing OM at a faster rate since cultivation. There are native plant species that can thrive in severe salinity, but very few annual crops will grow well at all. These areas are better off to be mapped and planted back to perennial, salt tolerant species whenever feasible.

Most importantly, OM is a huge reserve of nutrients that are mineralized throughout the growing season, enabling farms to reduce fertilizer inputs in certain areas, or address nutrient limitations where OM is too low to supply the crop. As a rule, for every 1000 kg of carbon in soil OM, there is 100 kg of N, 15 kg of P, and 15 kg of S that can become available to the crop as it is mineralized by microbes.

SWAT zones allow us to define this organic nutrient pool more accurately. An example from a field in Alberta, Canada where Total Nitrogen (TN) was tested by zone, showed just how much nitrogen there is in the organic nutrient pool. Note that the last column is using an assumed bulk density of the soil that is unlikely accurate due to texture differences by zone.

SWAT ZoneOM % (0-8”)TN % (0-8”)Approximate Total lbs N in 0-8”
14.0 %0.23 %6160
3-44.6 %0.28 %7333
5-66.9 %0.33 %8667
7-89.9 %0.44 %11,813
1027.1 %0.96 %25, 573

Following a similar trend, sulfur deficiency is often observed on eroded, low OM sandy knolls (SWAT zone 1), while only meters away a depression with deep, black soil may not need any sulfur applied at all! Crop lodging in part due to excess nitrates is often observed in lower landscape positions with high OM and mineralization rates. Reducing applied nitrogen in these areas can not only reduce lodging, but improve crop yield, quality, and harvestability! Organic matter mineralization is also an important source of nutrients like phosphate, boron, and zinc. To accurately understand how different soils respond to these nutrients, we need to understand how much OM there is, how deep it is, and relative carbon cycling rates across the landscape.

These are just a few examples of the economic advantages that precision ag technology and high-quality soil mapping with SWAT MAPS can contribute to agriculture. The carbon economy and opportunity to increase stored soil organic carbon will add additional farm revenue in the future. But to understand where we are going and how we get there, it is best to know where we are coming from. A good soil map is that starting point.


Wes Anderson
VP of Agronomy
wes@swatmaps.com

SWAT 011: Technology for Weed Management with Josh Lade

Josh Lade farms along with two other families north of Saskatoon, SK where they raise wheat, canola, peas, lentils and barley. Josh grew up on Kangaroo Island in Australia, on a sheep and seed potato farm. Upon moving to Canada over 12 years ago, Josh found a keen interest in the technology side of the business. He joins us to talk about precision weed control, his experience with the SWAT CAM, and harvest weed seed management. 

“That's going to be a way that I feel that we can really prove to the wider population that we need these chemicals to be sustainable in a way that we don't have to go back and till everything, but we're putting them where we need them. We're not putting them everywhere.”

Josh Lade, Saskatchewan farmer.

On Today’s Episode:

2:05 - Meet Josh Lade and discover his journey from growing up in Australia to farming with variable rate technology in Canada

3:45 - Learn how Josh has integrated newer variable rate technologies on his operation and how alkaline soils motivated him to pursue it

05:38 - Explore the unexpected benefits Josh encountered while evaluating and mapping soils including different levels of sulfur and how that helped balance the additional cost of having the soil maps created

9:44 - Discover the future benefits which affects his seed rates and input expenses that Josh has been able to achieve as he continues collecting and monitoring the data generated by SWAT maps

9:39 - Learn about the SWAT CAM used by Crop Pro and how easy it is to use and the value it provides producers like Josh for kochia management

13:53 - Hear about the value in harvest weed seed control and the use of the seed terminator that helps reduce the influence of weeds in the soil seed bank

17:31 - Explore the already realized financial benefits to these technologies

21:52 - Josh discusses how technology is best introduced and evaluated for use on his operation to determine if it will be a good investment and fit

26:54 - Josh shares some parting words of advice for any producers thinking about exploring precision agriculture and how best to introduce itMake sure you subscribe to this show on your podcast platform of choice.

You’ll find the SWAT Agronomy Podcast on all of them: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc. If you have a question you want answered on a future episode, send it to us on Twitter using the hashtag #SWATAgronomy. 

The SWAT Agronomy Podcast is brought to you by SWAT MAPS, and hosted by Tim Hammerich.

Canola Digest: Take 4R to the Next Level

By the Canola Council of Canada

The canola industry has a goal to see 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices used on 90 per cent of canola acres by 2025. Farmers following 4R use the right source of fertilizer at the right rate, right time and right place to get more from each tonne of fertilizer. This nutrient use efficiency improves economics and reduces nutrient loss to the air and water.

Many farmers follow 4R practices – perhaps unknowingly – because of the inherent benefits associated with proper nutrient management. This case study describes the 4R practices for one Saskatchewan farmer who knowingly follows 4R. At the end, CCC agronomy specialists comment on this farmer’s practices and how all farmers can take 4R to the next level.

By applying fertilizer at the time of seeding, Chantal Bauche doesn’t see an economic reason to use enhanced efficiency fertilizer products. For more on EEFs, read “When do enhanced efficiency fertilizers make sense?” at canoladigest.ca.

NAME: CHANTAL BAUCHE
LOCATION: REDVERS AND RADVILLE, SASKATCHEWAN

Chantal Bauche is an active part of two farms in Saskatchewan – she helps on her family farm at Redvers and with her partner and his family at Radville. Bauche is also a senior precision agronomist with Croptimistic. For 2023, the Redvers farm will take a major step forward in its 4R practices, moving to zone-based soil sampling and variable rate (VR) fertilizer application. Bauche soil tests some fields every year, but she ramped up soil testing this fall to prepare for their first VR fertilizer application next spring.

Bauche will use Croptimistic SWAT maps for each field, which are based on soil properties, water modelling and topography. It divides fields into 10 zones, from eroded knolls with low organic matter (zone 1) to depressions with high organic matter, high nutrient content and high salinity (zone 10). Both of these areas can result in lower yields but for completely different reasons, which is why fertilizer rates for each zone should not be the same. Cropimistic combines zones 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and so on, to create five soil sampling management zones for each field.

This fall, Bauche will capture 0-8” samples from five zones in each field. Each sample will be a composite based on numerous sample sites from each zone that get GPS located and returned to each year afterwards. Cost for analysis of the five samples will be $150 to $250 per field. This doesn’t include the sampling service for farms that don’t collect their own samples.

“The benefit is huge,” Bauche says.

Saline areas often have higher nutrient carryover and moisture, but salinity keeps a lid on yield. These areas don’t need much, if any, fertilizer. Hilltops will need some fertilizer to support yield, and possibly higher rates of sulphur, because these areas have low organic matter and lower nutrient reserves, generally.

Annual soil tests also indicate year-to-year fluctuations in soil nutrient reserves. “After the drought of 2021, soil nutrient reserves were high for many of my Croptimistic clients, and we had a lot of fields where we didn’t recommend any fertilizer in 2022,” Bauche says. The same was not true for her family’s Redvers farm. “We had good yields in 2021,” she says, “and soil samples in the fall of 2021 showed that fertilizer was needed.”

To put VR prescription maps to use, the farm upgraded to a new Väderstad drill with four tanks and sectional VR control. They will use it for the first time in 2023. “Our old drill was our Achilles heel keeping us from adopting variable rate fertilizer application,” Bauche says. With four tanks, the new drill does not require any pre-blending of fertilizer. It has separate tanks for urea, phosphate, potash and seed. “Without pre-blending, it is much easier to tailor variable rates,” Bauche says. With sectional control, the drill can also adjust rates section by section across its width. “When crossing over two zones, the drill will compensate,” she says.

The drill, which applies nitrogen, phosphorus and potash (when required), into the ground at the time of seeding achieves three principles of 4R in one pass – right rate, right place and right time. For these reasons, Bauche doesn’t use enhanced efficiency products. The only fertilizer they apply in the fall is ammonium sulphate.

November can be a great time to soil test if soils are not frozen. Cool soils reduce the microbial activity that can mobilize nutrients, and soil samples collected after this activity slows down will more closely reflect spring nitrate (NO3–) contents. Read “The right time for soil sampling” at canolawatch.org
/fundamentals.

CCC ANALYSIS OF THIS PRACTICE

WHAT DO WE LIKE ABOUT BAUCHE’S 4R NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN?

Jason Casselman, CCC agronomy specialist, Cleardale, Alberta: I like that Chantel Bauche is building a database of information for each of her fields. She can use that database not only for variable-rate fertility but also to map out and highlight areas like the saline patches for tile drainage.

Keith Gabert, CCC agronomy specialist, Innisfail, Alberta: By using zone mapping and management on her own family farm operations, Chantal Bauche builds on her ability to offer these services to her customers.

HOW CAN BAUCHE AND OTHER FARMERS USE THIS CASE STUDY TO TAKE 4R TO THE NEXT LEVEL?

Casselman: Tile drainage on saline areas may fix a problem that continually affects yield. Those zones could become more productive than ever before, and make it possible for Bauche to farm fields with fewer management zones.

I encourage other farmers to dig a little deeper into some of the causes of variability on their land and evaluate long-term solutions to a problem that will improve profitability. For other growers who aren’t ready to trade in the drill to be able to do variable rate, look for other options. For example, farmers can use a sprayer with rate control to top-dress liquid fertilizer in season at variable rates.

Gabert: Growers tend to appreciate simplicity. A new drill with separate tanks for each nutrient sounds like a logistical challenge. To improve 4R, a farm might simply split some nitrogen out of the primary fertilizer blend to allow an additional top up of nitrogen on fields or zones were soil tests indicate it is required. While 10 zones managed as five is a really valuable level of precision, for growers that aren’t using VR yet, they can achieve significant improvement in nitrogen management across the farm by choosing which acres receive additional nitrogen, rather than a single blend.


This article originally appeared in the November 2022 issue of Canola Digest. You can download that issue here or read the article online, here.

Introducing the SWAT SUPER TRUCK

The SWAT SUPER TRUCK package was created to help you get your SWAT MAPS business rolling from day one. This package includes all the modifications your truck needs execute your business.

For more information on the SWAT SUPER TRUCK package or to purchase one for your SWAT MAPS business, please contact sales@swatmaps.com or fill out the form below.

Download the spec sheet

How variable is your soil?

Grid soil sampling has historically been the gold standard to measure nutrient variability in soils. In many regions, 1 hectare or 2.5 acre grids have been a very common strategy, with not a lot of technology needed to do it.  But it is time consuming and expensive. It’s A LOT of sampling.  But perhaps the biggest issue is that it assumes, to some extent, that these made-up squares that are completely unrelated to topography or soil differences will be enough to capture all the true variability that exists in a field. So, is grid sampling good enough? Or can we do better with newer technology?

This is the question we at Croptimistic wanted to answer, so we picked a few fields in different regions and soils in Canada. It’s simple really – you lay out 2.5 acre grids, and then take several soil samples at different points within the grid.  In our case we were curious if SWAT soil based management zones captured significant variability within the 2.5 acre grid.

The results were very much what we expected – there can be a lot of soil and nutrient variability within a 2.5 acre square! There can also be a big difference between soil water status due to landscape position, and therefore crop yield potential.  Below are field and soil test results from the University of Alberta Breton Farm, which is currently established perennial hay.  The whole field is only 6 acres, so in this case the soil test points are within only 1 acre.

There is significant variability in several attributes including organic matter, pH, P, S, and most micronutrients. The trends are ones we commonly see – lower landscape positions (in this case, the zone 9 point) that collect water and eroded soil from knolls are often high in organic matter with deep top-soil (depicted in subsoil OM%) and have higher nutrient levels. The difference that doesn’t show on the soil test was soil moisture. In zone 9, the soil probe easily went in the soil to 12”, with soil moisture likely close to field capacity. In contrast, the zone 1 point took some effort to get the probe in, and the soil was already quite dry.

The site at Breton Farm was unique in that it was grass hay (brome) and was unfertilized. So, any variability in the brome grass was due to soil and water variability, not from historical site-specific management. For this reason, we took a tissue test at the exact same points where soil tests were taken, shortly before the brome entered the reproductive stage – typically a time of high nutrient demand for all crops. The tissue test results are shown below.

*Sufficient levels are a general guideline based on the Manitoba Soil Fertility Guide (2007).

As expected based on visual observation, the grass appears to be quite nutrient deficient and would benefit from applied nitrogen and phosphorus. Several trends in the tissue results followed the soil test well – particularly N, P, Ca, S, and Cl.  Tissue N and S reflect the soil’s ability to mineralize these nutrients from organic matter. Phosphorus availability is likely reflective of the extractable soil P as well as potential fixation from Al in acid soil in zones 1 and 5. Mn levels are also quite high in zones with acidic soil – something we’ve observed in canola as well in this area, to the point where Mn toxicity is causing visual symptoms on canola leaves and likely root pruning. Stunted roots then lead to poorer uptake of all nutrients, particularly relatively immobile P, Cu, and Zn. It’s a vicious cycle, and one that can only be solved with pH amendments such as lime, cement kiln dust (CKD), or wood ash. 

The combination of soil and tissue data clearly demonstrate the nutrient supplying power of different soils within a small area of the field, and that these differences can be efficiently mapped and measured using modern precision ag tools. The benefits are multi-faceted – economic advantages for the farm resulting from applying the right rates in the right areas, and environmental benefits or reduced nutrient applications where they are not needed.  It’s simply 4R Nutrient Stewardship in high resolution.

FieldView and SWAT MAPS deliver one-two punch for knockout results

Top digital farming platforms that work well together can generate powerful synergies that bring tremendous added value to your farm.

This is the case with Croptimistic (creator of SWAT MAPS and SWAT RECORDS) and FieldView.

“The level of integration between FieldView and our software SWAT RECORDS is second to none,” says Trevor Friesen, Product Manager with Croptimistic. “Our teams have worked together to make sure everything syncs seamlessly between the two technology platforms. Growers using this combination will reap the rewards of having some of the best integrated data possible to guide their digital farming strategy and get the best results.”

As many growers are familiar, FieldView is a leading digital farming platform that allows you to collect, stream, and analyze operational data across farms and equipment. Its strengths complement those of the SWAT RECORDS software’s SWAT MAPS, which combine soil, water and topography layers into single high resolution zone maps that support digital farming strategies.

“The benefits of optimal integration means a higher sophistication and quality of information driving your success”, says Friesen, who has been in his role for five years and works daily helping integrate new customers with the system while also providing support to existing users.

“As the portfolio of options to support digital farming continues to expand, it has never been more important for those options to work well together. This is the advantage growers can capture by using SWAT RECORDS and FieldView. I can’t think of a better combination you can choose to have for the best, most complete information driving your farming decisions.”

SWAT MAPS supports strategies such as variable rate fertilizer, seed and herbicide applications as well as precision soil amendment and water management approaches. Data layers are collected using an autonomous mapping system called the SWAT BOX. A central datahub, SWAT RECORDS, is where SWAT MAPS and associated information is stored.

The Croptimistic also imports multi-zone soil sample information into SWAT RECORDS to help create variable rate prescriptions for a wide variety of controllers. The system focuses on soil-based data that is spatial in nature and represents permanent soil structures within the field. When used in combination with FieldView, this information integrates perfectly with the data on yield potential, weather, planting, and crop management inputs that FieldView provides.

“Fieldview offers an easy way to keep digital records, map trials, make better decisions and track crops all season long, along with field health imagery,” observes Friesen. “Mapping with the FieldView Drive provides an easy way to collect data in a cab with a great visual and no need for USB. Our partnership enables a two-way flow of information between the two technology platforms that results in an experience similar to using one system. All you need to do is connect your FieldView and SWAT RECORDS accounts.”

While the SWAT RECORDS software can import planting, spraying and yield data from FieldView, it can also send its proprietary SWAT MAP images to the FieldView platform so farmers can take advantage of both technologies seamlessly, he explains. “As SWAT MAPS are permanent, farmers can always use them to make proactive management decisions about their fields at any time of the year.”

The benefits keep growing year after year as additional features are added, he notes. For example, Croptimistic recently launched SWAT WATER. “After two years of development, SWAT WATER will enable our partners and clients to have a complete surface and subsurface ‘picture’ of soil hydrology. SWAT WATER maps are updated weekly and deliver information to farmers for variable rate irrigation, in-season topdressing, and fungicide related management decisions.”

The advantages of this airtight integration extend beyond just the technologies to also the people using them, he observes. “Being able to sync between the farm and consultants is key to keeping everybody informed. This allows all parties to have access to the data layers that's needed to make informed decisions.”

The instant, real-time, wireless nature of the connectivity fits the next generation of digital farming, he notes. “There’s no lag time. All the data is there updated whenever you want it. To have this level of data transfer between both systems is a huge advantage for efficiency and quality of the user experience.”

The combination of data gives a complete view of some of the most important key details farmers need to know to maximize yield and other key results, he says. “Everything is targeted to the areas that bring the most efficiency and profitability. For example, our relationship with FieldView has become a cornerstone to a new goal for us which is building a leading-edge yield potential program. For our SWAT MAPS customers, we want our relationship to provide them with connections and tools that bring added value to their business. FieldView makes this goal and the process to get there very simple for us.”

The process to connect FieldView and SWAT RECORDS accounts is simple, he says. “For our users, it’s as easy as opening up your SWAT RECORDS account and clicking on the prompts to connect to your FieldView account. It’s a similar experience going the other way around. There’s really no barrier to quickly and simply integrating the systems.”

You can learn more about Climate FieldView at www.climatefieldview.ca

SWAT 010: Rob Swieter on Zone Management and ServiTech's Partnership with SWAT MAPS

ServiTech’s Rob Swieter joins the show to talk about their new partnership with SWAT MAPS. This alliance will provide farmers with enhanced tools for informed decision-making on their farms through the practical application of high-resolution soil maps, data, process, machinery, and agronomy knowledge. ServiTech provides independent crop consulting and laboratory services throughout Iowa, where Rob is located, but also in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. Rob and I discuss how he looks at zone management, what led to becoming a SWAT MAPS partner, how the current conditions are impacting farmer perspectives on variable rate technology.

I wanted something that was the tip of the spear, as I like to say, the industry leading solution. And that's what SWAT MAPS provides. So it's a turnkey solution. They've got everything figured out. It works perfectly. It provides the highest quality zone map possible in my opinion. And it works for what we're trying to do.”

Rob Swieter, Iowa Territory Leader with ServiTech

On Today’s Episode:

1:54 - Meet Rob Swieter and hear about the background he brought to ServiTech when he joined them as territory leader last year

3:07 - Discover why ServiTech is partnering with SWAT MAPS and how zone management can greatly benefit their customers especially with variable seed and fertilizer rates

7:17 - Explore what ServiTech has to offer producers and their history as an independent crop consultant company and laboratory

9:44 - Learn about the unique characteristics of Iowa that producers need to adjust for making ServiTech’s services very valuable

10:50 - Explore the local interest in Iowa into zone mapping and the limitations they may have experienced in grid sampling prior to employing SWAT MAPS

12:24 - Hear about how Rob introduces the use of management zones based on proper data layers to producers who may not be aware of their benefits

13:30 - Learn about the logistics of using a SWAT box and how the ServiTech agronomists use and apply it to different operations

15:04 - Discover how the influence of input prices has increased the interest in zone management and variable rate technology

16:32 - Explore the SWAT Academy and the onboarding process for the ServiTech team

17:42 - Learn who is the ideal ServiTech customer and the broad customer base they serve

Make sure you subscribe to this show on your podcast platform of choice. You’ll find the SWAT Agronomy Podcast on all of them: iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.

If you have a question you want answered on a future episode, send it to us on Twitter using the hashtag #SWATAgronomy.

The SWAT Agronomy Podcast is brought to you by SWAT MAPS, and hosted by Tim Hammerich.