5 Questions for Aaron Niebrugge, Illinois yield winner
Data-collection technology helps farmers understand and respond to the needs of their fields. Soil-moisture sensors can help you decide when, where and how much to irrigate. Yield monitors can point to weak spots in the field. Aerial imagery can let you know which areas need pesticide application. Those data sets not only help you make decisions for this year’s yield but can also help you select the right seeds for your operation in coming seasons.
Aaron Niebrugge, who farms with his dad, Mark, in Sigel Illinois, won Asgrow’s 2015 yield contest for Illinois. Here, he shares how he will use data to help choose next year’s seeds.
Q: How can farmers use data as a tool for selection?
A: Without farm-specific data, your seed dealer can make recommendations based on your area, but your fields are going to be different than your neighbors’. Data helps you make better decisions specific to your farm. Take a look at treated and untreated seeds. You can load both into your planter and create a planting map using your monitor. Then, you can overlay your yield data when you harvest to determine if the treated seeds produced a positive yield response in your field, helping you decide if you want to invest in treated seeds in the future.
Q: What data-collection equipment do you use to help you choose your seed?
A: We use planting monitors, soil maps and yield monitors. We overlay several different layers with that data, such as planting populations. There are a number of different ways to go as far as what specific types of data collection you should have, and that all depends on the needs of your farm.
Q: Do farmers need to invest in additional data-collection technology to help choose seed?
A: As long as you have the basic data collection, you have a solid start. That said, we’re headed in a direction where you’ll have more of an advantage with your data-collection technology. The more information you have, the better informed your decisions will be.
Q: What pieces of data are most useful in choosing next year’s seed?
A: Your planting and yield data are probably most important, along with your soil-map data. From there, you can overall other data sets, such as precipitation, fertility and disease and weed pressure. Looking at all of those layers will help you choose the right seeds for your fields.
Q: Will my data replace the recommendations I get from my seed dealer?
A: I think your data and your seed dealer should work together. You can look at your data and get a general ideal of what you want, and then talk it over with your seed dealer. We’ll send our planting maps, yield data and soil fertility maps to our dealer, and they’ll make customized recommendations based on our data, which works out really well for us.
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