Episode 011: Soil Based Solutions

In the quantifying and responding to soil spatial variability series, we've discussed with Mike Manning the topics of data-driven variability management and the importance of soil sampling. Tyler Lund joined the podcast in Episode 008 to discuss on-the-go soil mapping technologies, particularly from Veris Technologies' perspective. In Episode 010, Dr. Trenton Franz shared his perspective on soil-mapping technologies, and most importantly outlined the process by which measurements from soil-mapping instruments are turned into maps. For this episode of the FarmBits podcast, we are turning to the concept of management zones. The purpose of management zones is to synthesize information about the soil in an easily digestible and actionable data layer that can inform management decision making. There are many valid approaches for producing management zones, and many platforms that offer management zone generation tools. Some platforms are offered commercially while others are offered publicly. In this episode, we will get a commercial perspective on the management zone approach to characterizing soil variability through a conversation with Cory Willness, President and Founder of Croptimistic Technology. Croptimistic Technology was incorporated in 2014 and is the provider of SWAT Maps, a soil variability mapping process that grew out of CropPro consulting, a venture that Cory started in 2003. SWAT stands for soil, water, and topography and those three components are what SWAT maps focus on. In this episode, Cory shares what goes into making SWAT maps, why farmers connect with SWAT maps so well, and the complementary details to the computational processes that make SWAT maps effective. One thing that Cory makes clear in this episode is that he believes decisions regarding soil applied products must be made using information about the soil. This information is exactly what SWAT maps are designed to convey, and the reason why this episode is titled "Soil-Based Solutions." Croptimistic Website: https://www.swatmaps.com/croptimistic CropPro Consulting: https://www.croppro.ca/ Cory's Contact Info: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-willness-78b76246/ Twitter: @CropProCory FarmBits Team Contact Info: E-Mail: farmbits@unl.edu Twitter: @NEDigitalAg Samantha's Twitter: @SamanthaTeten Jackson's Twitter: @jstansell87 Opinions expressed by the hosts and guests on this podcast are solely their own, and do not reflect the views of Nebraska Extension or the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.