Doug Weist
(406) 594-2767
SOIL DATA
Farm Tech offers traditional bulk soil sampling to precise, zone-targeted sampling. Below we’ve shown some examples. FarmTech can use historic yield data or satellite imagery to identify the variability and to generate productivity zones for sampling. More information can be found here on zones and prescriptions.
Farm Tech is one of the few precision ag companies to offer VerisTM soil scanning to identify the physical soil differences within a field. This data set is independent of management and is the right place to start if you don’t yet have good yield data.
This is a traditional bulk soil sample. Each point is GPS mapped so it can be located in following years. All soils are mixed up in to one bag and sent to Midwest labs for analysis.
Bulk recommendations are created for each field and a summary report can be generated to give entire client or farm totals for easy budget planning.
This is an example of zone sampling, where we use data (yield, satellite imagery, veris, ground based remote sensing, elevation, etc) and break the field up in to different zones. Each zone is sampled separately, and soils are sent to Midwest labs for analysis. More information on zones and prescriptions is available here.
Above is a veris probe being pulled by a Toyota Tundra. The Tundra is fully equipped with Topcon AGI3, X30 console, and AES-25 for steering. Mapping is done using RTK to provide highly accurate position and elevation.
The probe sends an electric current through the soil, resistance is measured, and the value is recorded on the controller in the cab. Two depths (1 foot and 3 feet) and elevation are recorded in one second intervals. Below are two maps created from Veris scan data.
Zone map created using the 3 ft scan data set.
Zone map created using an elevation data set