SWAT Agronomy

Croptimistic Technology Inc.
  • 5,0 (4)
  • TECHNOLOGIES

This is the show for people who leverage the latest in technology to solve agronomic problems. If you’re interested in on-farm application of precision ag technology, you’ve come to the right place. Get ready as we unpack the insights and experiences of the agronomic minds leading our industry forward.

  1. SWAT 022: Catching Up On Precision Ag With Chris Hawkins

    4 MARS

    SWAT 022: Catching Up On Precision Ag With Chris Hawkins

    In this episode of the SWAT Agronomy podcast we feature Chris Hawkins. Chris is the sales director at Croptimistic Technology based in Saskatchewan. In that role he serves both farmers directly as well as the partners that Croptimistic works with. He’s also responsible for the partner services side of the business, so one of his key objectives is to help their partners grow their businesses.  Chris tells host Tim Hammerich talk about his path from the family farm to farm machinery to now ag tech. They also talk more about his experiences working with SWAT MAPS customers, why they don’t have a big sales team, and the path forward for precision agriculture. “ When we can build a zone map for our farmers that is built on those stable properties, and they can count on that map being accurate year after year after year.  Then they realized that they can manage those zones better  than they could ever do in the past.” - Chris Hawkins Follow Chris on X: @SWATMAPSHawk Key Moments:  00:00 Introduction to SWAT Agronomy  00:48 Guest Introduction: Chris Hawkins 02:10 Chris Hawkins' Career Journey 03:43 Understanding Precision Agriculture 08:44 Challenges and Solutions in Agronomy 13:52 Partner Services and Growth 21:48 Future of Agriculture Technology 24:21 Conclusion and Farewell Learn more at SWATMAPS.com.

    25 min

  2. 2024-10-01

    SWAT 021: Farmer-Led Science With Brett McArtor

    Brett McArtor joins the show to talk about how he using SWAT MAPS in his role as senior research associate at Corteva Agriscience.  Since graduating from Iowa State, Brett has remained focused on working directly with farmers to perform trials and research projects on their operations. His work has always involved farmer-led science to determine how new products fit into management systems and how they affect the bottom line.  “What does variability within a field mean? I mean, every field has variability, but to what degree is that variability? And is it yield limiting? Is it something that we need to make a decision on? And that's where that boots on the ground part comes in, where we're, we use that SWAT data to go back out, identify what's actually going on in that field.” - Brett McArtor Brett dives into why and how a company like Corteva Agriscience is using precision ag technology, and why SWAT MAPS in particular.  00:00 How Brett thinks about field variability 00:32 Assessing the degree and relevance of variables in a field 00:36 Impact on yield and decision making 00:40 Field analysis with SWAT data Learn more at SWATMAPS.com

    13 min

  3. 2024-09-19

    SWAT 020: Population Trials with Paul Sullivan of P.T. Sullivan Agro

    Paul Sullivan (Twitter/X) joins the show to talk about the challenges he and his farmers are dealing with in his area of Eastern Ontario. We discuss some really interesting population trials that he’s doing, fertility issues coming off years of high fertilizer prices, and what difference SWAT MAPS has made for him and his farmer customers.  “When we look at yield, yield is a component of kernel number times kernel weight, and that gives us basically yield per acre. So with the definition of the SWAT MAPS we feel those  yield components, we can kind of connect the genetics with the water supplying capacity in addition to the management of the farm.” - Paul Sullivan Paul is a certified crop consultant and agronomist in Eastern Ontario. He has operated his agronomy services firm, PT Sullivan Agro, since 1997, and started using SWAT MAPS in recent years. His area of the province, which is just outside of Ottawa, is mostly corn, soybeans and wheat. Paul’s work focuses on developing crop plans around nutrient management, pH, pesticides, and some genetic recommendations as well.  Before starting the business, Paul spent eight years as a soil and crop advisor with the ministry of agriculture and food covering three counties with the provincial extension group there. So he has a long history of working directly with farmers to solve agronomic problems.  00:00 Welcome to SWAT Agronomy Podcast 00:26 Introduction to Today's Episode 00:55 Meet Paul Sullivan 02:23 Paul's Agronomy Journey 02:49 Early Challenges and Solutions 04:48 Soil and Fertility Issues 06:18 Managing Crop Residue 08:28 Adopting SWAT MAPS 14:47 Population Trials and Hybrid Management 21:03 Impact of SWAT Maps on Business 23:20 Conclusion and Farewell Learn more at SWATMAPS.com

    24 min

  4. 2024-08-12

    SWAT 019: Developing and Scaling Precision Agriculture Tools with Derek Rude

    In this episode of the SWAT Agronomy podcast, Derek Rude, VP of Research and Development at Croptimistic Technology, discusses the evolution of precision ag technologies like SWAT MAPS and SWAT CAM. The conversation touches upon the development of precision agriculture tools, advancements in soil mapping, challenges in scaling SWAT MAPS, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning models, and the introduction of SWAT CAM for crop and weed imaging. Derek highlights the importance of data integration, higher resolution soil sampling, and future improvements using AI and autonomous technologies to enhance efficiency and agronomic decision-making. “The real value is tying that data back to the SWAT zones. Because we know all of these critical properties: the soil properties, the water properties of these SWAT zones. So now we can really better explain what the SWAT CAM data is telling us, because we have that foundation, that SWAT foundation. So we can go take some pictures of some fields and show some variability. That's cool. But until we tie it back to the SWAT foundation, it doesn't have that big value that it does now.” - Derek Rude 00:00 Welcome to the SWAT Agronomy podcast 00:33 Introduction to Today's Episode 01:49 Meet Derek Rude: Background and Experience 02:37 Challenges and Innovations in SWAT Technology 03:24 The Evolution of SWAT BOX 04:21 SWAT BOX Features and Advancements 07:24 Integrating AI and Machine Learning 10:48 SWAT CAM: Crop and Weed Imaging 12:07 Future Directions and Challenges 18:12 Adoption and Feedback on SWAT CAM 22:19 Autonomous Soil Sampling and Ground Truthing 28:56 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Learn more at SWATMAPS.com

    31 min

  5. 2024-05-13

    SWAT 018: Prairie Legend Les Henry

    We have a really special episode for you as we sit down with Les Henry. Retired in 1996, Les is a professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, a private consultant, and farmer. He is a renowned soils expert and in 2010 he released a lighthearted book about his passion for soils titled “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”. He has taught and mentored many farmers, agronomists and ag professionals over the years, and his impact on the industry cannot be overstated.  In today’s episode, Les reflects on his career milestones including conducting soil surveys, helping farmers solve problems like soil salinity, teaching and research he has done both in Canada and abroad, his 48 years of writing, his views on farmer-led research and extension and much much more.  “At the end of the meeting,  a farmer got up and said,  'you told us what we already knew in language we couldn't understand and took all day to do it.  And he was right!  So on the way home, I said to my department head, we have to do something different here.  That was something I'll remember forever.” - Les Henry 1:56 Henry’s background and how he started his career 3:06 Working on soil surveys and getting started in teaching 4:12 The importance of listening to farmers 6:30 Henry’s work on salinity 12:24 The five years Les spent on soil surveys 13:44 Work in soil fertility 15:44 What’s different from what he used to teach about soils? 19:36: Writing “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water” 23:15 The top takeaway from Les’ writing 25:18 Research needs to start with a real problem 26:00 Recent writing on cover crops 28:00 Variable rate and SWAT MAPS 34:03 Government interference 35:36 What Les is most proud of 37:50 Doing things “My Way” Purchase a copy of “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”  Learn more at SWATMAPS.com.

    39 min

  6. 2024-02-26

    SWAT 017: Adapting Technology And Agronomy To Local Conditions With Tyler Kessler

    Tyler Kessler joins us to discuss his independent agronomy consulting business in Southern Saskatchewan. The company provides a range of agronomic and precision agriculture services for farmers who want to optimize yield, improve soil health, and reduce environmental impacts. They are also a service provider of SWAT MAPS. Before incorporating Kessler Ag Ventures in 2015, Tyler worked in ag retail for eight years and spent a couple of years with an ag chemical manufacturer. He says in those days he wasn’t seeing a lot in precision ag that convinced him it was really adding a lot of value to farmers. That was of course until he discovered SWAT MAPS. Tyler shares his pursuit in helping farmers with agronomy and technology, using SWAT MAPS, on-farm trials, and a whole lot more.  “We're doing a lot of research and development on our own, so seeding rate, fertility responses, herbicide. We're breaking new ground and our network of consultants and the network that Croptimistic has continues to share their information and knowledge….We've got a great map now. We've gotta match the agronomy on the best map there is.” - Tyler Kessler 2:17 - Meet Tyler Kessler who discusses his independent agronomy consulting business and how he got involved with SWAT MAPS 3:50 - Discover how clients encouraged Tyler to investigate and eventually incorporate SWAT MAPS into his offerings  4:59 - Understand the vetting process Tyler did to insure SWAT MAPS would be a good fit for both his business and clients 5:59 - Hear how Tyler not only has added SWAT MAPS to his business but also uses it on his own operation 6:37 - Explore the geographic variability Tyler finds on each field for each client and the insight SWAT MAPS provides him to accommodate for that 8:04 - Understand the barriers of ag tech adoption for some producers and how Tyler works around and with them 8:56 - Explore the protocol Tyler uses for incorporating SWAT MAPS into his services with a grower 10:03 - Discover how Tyler continues to expand his agronomy consultant business and client list in his region 11:10 - Learn how Tyler’s job has changed with ever emerging technology over the last ten years 12:47 - Explore what other ag tech Tyler has incorporated into his client offerings and what he sees being developed to help his growers 13:47 - Learn about various ag tech products that were not a good fit for Tyler’s business and clients and how he identified them 15:09 - Understand the new technologies Tyler is exploring and the network he has developed with Croptimistic to get his producers the best combination of products and technology 16:42 - Discover the relationship that has to be forged between producers and agronomist to optimize success on the farm 17:55 - Explore the variables Tyler has found that make a big impact for producers and the methods he’s using to maximize production 19:46 - Understand the ROI Tyler has experienced for his business after adding SWAT MAPS to his services 20:52 - Learn about what issues are top of mind for Tyler’s producers in 2024 21:53 - Discover what direction Tyler anticipates new technology is headed in and how he plans to use them going forward Learn more at SWATMAPS.com.

    24 min

  7. 2023-10-26

    SWAT 016: Targeted Herbicide Applications With Trav Hair of Crop Opti Services

    Trav Hair is based in Horsham, Victoria and has worked in ag for 20 years. He’s part of the agronomy team at Crop Opti Services and works closely with research and development companies at their trial site bringing new products to market. As well as looking after his own agronomy clients, Trav also works with machinery companies to help growers utilize their machinery purchases to enable them to achieve better results through the technology these machines provide. Trav shares the value they’re finding in both SWAT MAPS and the SWAT CAM, and the big strides they are making with variable rate herbicide applications.  “Any person that's stepping into precision ag, if you're doing it to save money, I think you're doing it for the wrong reason. I think stepping into precision ag is a really good platform to get a better return on investment and actually make more money at the end of the day.” - Trav Hair 2:49 - Meet Trav Hair and discover where he is from and his journey into his current role at Crop Opti Services 5:43 - Explore how Australia’s agriculture practices have stayed at the forefront of precision ag practices in development and use 7:39 - Discover the origins of mapping in the area and the pitfalls in execution and understanding prior to the use of SWAT MAPS 9:24 - Learn about the practicality of installing and using SWAT MAPS technology and the many data sets produced by them 10:37 - Explore the process from acquiring data from the SWAT MAPS to making practice changes on each individual field and operation 12:17 - Understand the economics involved in employing spot spraying technology and the amount of financial benefit some producers are achieving 15:52 - Discover the barrier to adoption for different options for “See and Spray” technology including machines, technology and chemical variety 18:45 - Learn about the catalysts that best encourage producers into exploring this technology and discovering its benefits 22:10 - Explore how variable rate fertilizers may be the best way to initiate variable rate technology onto an operation that hasn’t previously used it before. Variable rate herbicides and seeding rates are likely to follow. 26:03 - Discover the advantages SWAT CAM have provided Crop Opti Services and the producers they support 29:45 - Learn about where Trav feels precision ag will go in the future and how it has and will influence the industry going forward As always you can learn more at SWATMAPS.com

    36 min

  8. 2023-08-29

    SWAT 015: Corn Population Economics with Trent Mastny and Justin Mastny of JTM Ag

    Nebraska farmers, brothers, and co-owners of JTM Ag, Trent and Justin Mastny join us to talk about their search for a system that would serve their farm better. They also discuss how JTM Ag now helps other farmers in the area take their variable rate technology to the next level through SWAT MAPS. They now combine the precision of SWAT Maps with soil and tissue sampling through Agronomy 365 and BW Fusion and have had some remarkable results. They go on to share about research they’ve been doing on population economics, experiments they’re conducting on their own farm, and their early impressions of the SWAT CAM technology.  “So what we're trying to do is we're not necessarily trying to save people's seed, we're just trying to put those dollars in areas of the field where it's gonna return their money better. So in our wetter areas, our zones seven, eight, nines and tens, we are trying to push those populations. And then as Justin said, in those lighter areas, 25, 26,000 to still get that average of 29 to 30,000. That's really what we're after… We're just trying to relocate those dollars to make you more money in those areas.” - Trent and Justin Mastny  2:12 - Meet Trent and Justin Mastney and their search for a system to better serve their farm and find out how they landed on SWAT maps. 2:26 - Discover what led to the formation of JTM Ag and what precision ag options including SWAT maps they are able to offer their clients 4:14 - Explore their personal farming operation and how they have incorporated new technologies and practices into its management 5:19 - Learn about the impact of pursuing efficiency with dry fertilizer on their operation and the benefits they have observed 6:21 - Discover how the benefits and results of SWAT maps quickly overcame their initial skepticism in using the SWAT suite of tools and how they help other producers come to the same conclusions with trials of the technology 11:14 - Explore the financial ramifications in the use of precision technology and the revenue it can generate for the producer 14:14 - Learn the many different conditions and land variability the SWAT map can account for and allow the producer to adjust his practices to best support 15:28 - Discover how JTM Ag introduces SWAT maps to an operation and the fees associated with it 16:36 - Explore what Trent and Justin feel are still challenges they are facing on their operation and how they are mitigating those issues 19:28 - Explore the ongoing research, trials and experiments Trent and Justin are conducting on their land to evaluate future technologies 22:30 - Discover what SWAT Cams are and how they can be used to benefit operations 25:53 - Hear the advice Trent and Jim share with other producers exploring practices in precision agriculture Follow Trent Mastny @TrentMastny and Justin Mastny @JMastny27. As always you can learn more at SWATMaps.com

    31 min
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À propos

This is the show for people who leverage the latest in technology to solve agronomic problems. If you’re interested in on-farm application of precision ag technology, you’ve come to the right place. Get ready as we unpack the insights and experiences of the agronomic minds leading our industry forward.

Informations

  • Créateur
    Croptimistic Technology Inc.
  • Années d’activité
    2021 - 2025
  • Épisodes
    23
  • Classement
    Tout public
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Croptimistic Technology Inc.
  • Site Web de l’émission
    SWAT Agronomy