Farm4Profit Podcast

Could You Farm More Precisely? w/ Josh Kayser CSA

Episode Summary

Tanner claims this episode may be the most valuable to your farming operation. Join he and David in a conversation with Australian born David Hedt about his unique inventions Outback Wraps and Motherbins. The guys then move on to a learning session with Granular's Josh Kayser about precision agronomy. How can combining soil sampling, variable rate technology, and precision software boost your profitability? Tune in!

Episode Notes

• Intro
• Review: Just wanted to shoot you guys a message and thank you all for the podcast. I really enjoy it because it’s so relatable! @LeemsMcGeems. Kris Lehman
  • Remind them to leave reviews on the platform they listen on, message us on social media or send ideas to farm4profitllc@gmail.com
• What’s Working in AG – Walkabout mother bins and Outback Wraps
• www.outbackwraps.com
  • David Hedt (pronounced head), is an Australian born entrepreneur who has a passion for helping farmers increase their efficiency and profit for their operation. Dave grew up on a farm outside of Dimboola, Victoria in Australia. He became a diesel mechanic and worked with Volvo and Mack Trucks. Coming to the US the first time in 2000 he migrated here permanently in 2012. Building a stripmall in Faulkton, SD and then starting Walkabout Mother bins in 2015.
  • (Item #1)Walkabout Mother Bin is the missing link between grain carts and trucks
    • Helps you keep up with the combine with less labor and trucks
    • Large portable grain storage
  • (Item #2) Outback Wrap – designed to make farmers lives easier and reduce the frustrations of hydraulic hose handling and identification
    • Simple to use, no tools required, can be changed
    • Replaces old methods: zip ties, tape, ear tags
    • Color schemes that work with any color of machine
  • Use Code FARM4PROFIT to get 20% off
• Main Topic – Using precision agronomy to positively affect your bottom line (VRT and Soil Sampling)
• Intro: Josh Kayser, a Granular Agronomy CSA in South Dakota is joining today. Josh works with growers and Pioneer seed reps on variable rate seed, N and fertility. He also grows corn and soybeans near Emery, SD with his two brothers and his father. Kayser is also the Mayor of Emery, serves on the board for the Emery Volunteer Fire District and was a former ASA DuPont Young Leader. When not farming, Josh enjoys time with his wife and their four children. BUSY GUY! 
• Josh, tell us a little more about how you got to where you are
  • share background and how you became CSA

We want to explore more options to help us achieve higher levels of profitability. 

• Do you see the use of our current and developing variable rate technology being a way to do that?
  • Key talking points: 
    • VR equates to more profitability by:
      • better optimizing input investments (not over-applying where you don’t have the yield potential, and pushing yield on most productive ground)
      • better accounting for variability within fields
      • being able to adjust your plans to account for farming variables like weather
• What goes into the process of getting started or set up to do VRT?
  • Key talking points: 
    • overview technology needs
    • overview who to partner with to get the support/service you need
      • start with soil sampling
      • set yield goals
      • create custom scripts
      • in-season monitoring/adjusting
• Is it necessary to do soil sampling to get a good baseline or can you do without?
  • Follow-up Questions: 
    • Why do we soil sample anyway?
      • N P K or more? Level up?
    • How often should we be sampling?
    • What time of year should we sample?
    • What’s the best technique of sampling?
    • What determines the size of the sample or area for sample?
• Have we really reached the point in our advancements with technology where VRT actually works?
  • Key talking points: 
    • Flat rate isn’t only uneconomical, it’s not environmentally friendly
    • As we look at how farming has changed in recent decades, we’ve transitioned to thinking about our entire farm to really focusing on the fields within the farm. Now, we’re moving towards better managing zones within fields, and in the future we’ll be managing every plant with things like drone application. Technology is allowing us to better manage in-field variables so that we can set yield targets and then put plans in place to achieve them, but it takes a different kind of management than how we farmed in the past. 
• What makes Granular Agronomy different from other precision offerings on the market? 
  • Key Talking Points 
    • We start by creating what we call decision zones within your field. These zones are comprised of three things: 
      • Environmental response units, which take into account your soil type, field elevation, and how the field lays 
      • MYYA (Multi-year yield analysis) We utilize multiple years of yield data to determine historical areas of low, medium and high production. This layer intersects the ERUs to provide even greater clarity on yield capability.
      • Irrigation – If a field has irrigation, zones are created to denote irrigated and non-irrigated. Different yield targets can be set accordingly, and irrigated zones utilize user-entered irrigation events, including fertigation 
    • We use these decision zones when we come up with N, seeding and fertility recommendations. 
    • In addition to these zones, Granular Agronomy works with Corteva and IBM/The Weather Company to look at the past 20 years of weather history. With that, we can run scenarios so that we’re prepared to adjust plans for drought or extremely wet years. 
    • I don't just create the rec and walk away. I’m there to partner with growers throughout the season to make sure we’re adjusting to in-season variables. Granular Agronomy has more than 200 CSAs throughout the country to make sure we’re providing the boots-on-the-ground service farmers need 
    • Also included with Granular Agronomy is directed scouting from Granular Insights, which is the best satellite imagery on the market. During the growing season, it ranks which fields are changing in terms of plant health the most, so you know where to prioritize scouting efforts. 
• How do Granular Agronomy and Pioneer seed work together? 
• Do you have any good examples of how someone made the transition from not using VRT and now is a believer?
  • Key Talking Points 
    • Share one or two first-hand examples
    • GA has been used on millions of acres in the U.S. On average, the farmers who have used it have:
• Boosted Profits: $27/Acre return
• Reduced Inputs: 9 pounds less nitrogen per acre
• Increased Yield 6 bu/A increase
• What would you say to those who don’t think it works?
• Any stories of mistakes to avoid?
• Open comments, last thoughts? 
• Go to Granular.ag or your local Pioneer agent to learn more and find your CSA
• Summary
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• Challenge
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• Closing
  • Reminder about the partnership to get 10% off up to $1,000.