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“Using the grid sampling has really helped us,” says Kurtz. “We hadanother field that was always lagging behind; and with the data wegathered, we were finally able to even it out last year.“Remember digging in thedirt as a kid to see whatyou could find? Today,that same challenge is aidedby cutting-edge, computersoftware technology designedto make a grower’s effortsmore effective and profitable.Valuable data gleaned fromsoil samples has alreadyhelped growers make criticaldecisions in their farmingoperations. However, thechallenge is to match variationsin plant responses with soilcharacteristics. Fortunately,such testing now allowsgrowers to detect variations incrop yields that occur acrossa field and to use variableapplication rates and micromanagementtechniques inan attempt to achieve a moreefficient use of fertilizer.Oregon, Missouri, farmer BradKurtz and his father began gridsampling and soil testing their1,500-acre corn and soybeanrotation (with a little wheat) in2004 and gained valuable dataabout a section of land thathad long been a trouble spotfor the two.“We started with just one field,which covers part bottom andpart hill ground. It has alwaysgiven us problems,” says Kurtz.“We got a lot of bang for ourbuck after testing that area.We found out that the two partsneeded different fertilizer. Sincethen, we’ve added fields and areon a four-year testing cycle.”Kurtz collects the soil himselfand sends it off to a lab. Theinformation is then sent toRecord Harvest, a consultingservice that provides precisionsoil analysis. As part of theirservice, Record Harvest feedsthe data into Ag Leader’s SMS Basic and Advanced Softwareand provides Kurtz with acomplete set of computerizedcrop nutrient recommendationstailored to his specific cropand field. This allows Kurtz tomake key decisions on plantingpopulation, fertilizer application,tillage and more. Kurtzadditionally receives colorcodedfertility and nutrientrecommendation maps, aswell as variable-rate maps thatcan be delivered directly to hisfertilizer dealer. The data isalso saved for future trackingand comparisons.“Using the grid sampling hasreally helped us,” says Kurtz.“We had another field that wasalways lagging behind, and withthe data we gathered, we werefinally able to even it out lastyear. I have to attribute the bigimprovement to our soil testingand grid sampling. We know,too, not to overpopulate certainareas of that field, which savesus money on both seed andfertilizer.”Kurtz says that the invaluabledata they collect and analyzethrough SMS is like “findinganother piece of the puzzle”in his farming operation.Sometimes, in addition toanswering questions, the SMSanalysis raises questions,which is actually a good thing,Kurtz says.Soil sampling is a vitalcomponent in precision farmingin that it helps producersunderstand that nutrientconcentrations in the soil mayaccount for yield variation(From left) David Banks,Bert Bailey and B.J. BaileySummer2012 | Insights Magazine | 11