February 26, 2025 • 29 mins
Engaging with the evolving world of precision agriculture, this discussion sheds light on the unique relationship between technology and crop consulting. Our guests, Kurt Turner and Lane Bothwell of Ag Genesis Inc, bring their expertise to the table, sharing insights into the operational dynamics of the perfect duo: a precision ag and computer geek and soil sampling enthusiast.
We discuss
- Introduction of Ag Genesis and its creation
- Key role of ADMS software in the crop consulting business
- Importance of soil sampling and mapping
- Effects of tile drainage on crop yields
- The synergy between office mapping and fieldwork
- Future innovations in precision agriculture and an introduction to the next part of this episode's topic, gridding the zone.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Sarah (00:00):
And now it's time for a Geek Speak with GK Technology's,
Sarah and Jodi, friends and Ican't wait to get in the fields
again.
No, I can't wait to get in thefields again.
Welcome back to A Geek Speak.
(00:33):
We are super excited for oursecond official season of A Geek
Speak.
The first season went so wellthat we're finding even more
guests to join us and we'regoing to have some more great,
pertinentt agricultureconversations.
To start things off, we aregoing to be visiting with two
(00:53):
gentlemen hailing from SouthDakota with a business called Ag
Genesis Incorporated KurtTurner and Lane Bothwell.
So thank you, gentlemen,gentlemen, for joining us today.
Let's start by getting just alittle bit about.
Well, who are you, Kurt?
Who are you?
Kurt Turner (01:13):
Let's see, started Ag Genesis in the fall of 2007.
Prior to that, did some variouswork in agronomy research.
So yeah, started Ag Genesisfall 2007 and brought Lane on
board in 2015.
And we do crop consulting andwe do variable rate programs
(01:37):
setting up, we writeprescriptions for fertilizer
seed.
I have done some chemical inthe past, but I haven't done
that for a while.
Most of our business is within50 miles of Brookings, but we
have some outliers beyond thatas well.
Sarah (01:53):
So, Kurt, you've been using the software a long time.
When did you actually startusing ADMS software from GK
Technology?
Kurt Turner (02:04):
Well, I started this company in August 2007, and
that's when I started usingADMS software from GK Technology
.
Well, I started this company inAugust 2007, and that's when I
started using ADMS.
Sarah (02:10):
You've been using it a long time.
Kurt Turner (02:15):
Yeah, it's come a long way since then, but it was
very useful back then.
Jodi (02:20):
Had you used any sort of ag precision software before
that time, or was this kind oflike the only thing on the
market?
What was that like?
Kurt Turner (02:29):
Well, I hadn't used any other program before that.
The reason I used it is becausea friend of mine who was doing
this kind of business was usingit, and so I didn't know of any
other one.
So that's how I got hooked upto ADMS.
Sarah (02:50):
And you have a little bit of a background with computer
programming as well, correct?
Kurt Turner (02:56):
Well, I did get a computer science minor in
college back in mid-1980s if youcan call that having to do with
anything today.
Sarah (03:09):
It was a great foundation for a changing world in
computer technology, right?
Kurt Turner (03:15):
Yes, it actually gave me the logic, so I
understand computer logic andthat's that's probably helpful.
You know we were writingprograms in Fortran and PL1 and
BASIC and COBOL.
Yeah, I doubt those are usedanymore, although I have no idea
(03:35):
.
Jodi (03:37):
What was so like back in the 80s and you were getting
your degrees?
What motivated you to get acomputer science minor?
Kurt Turner (03:49):
I I'm not sure.
I don't remember why I did that, but maybe it's because I
wanted to expand my educationbeyond four years and make it
five.
It might have been that simple.
Jodi (04:06):
I did the same thing.
I know how that goes.
Sarah (04:09):
It's hard work, cramming four years into six.
That was my mantra Right Yep.
Jodi (04:16):
Was your main degree, agronomy too.
Kurt Turner (04:18):
Egg business.
I had an egg business major anda commercial economics major, a
minor in computer science and aminor in agronomy.
Jodi (04:32):
So like the perfect combination of skills to run a
precision ag company, or like aprecision ag crop consulting
company.
Kurt Turner (04:40):
Right, yeah, and I did consulting for the first
three and a half years aftercollege graduation, and then I
did some other things but cameback to consulting because it's
a great business.
Sarah (04:55):
What's your favorite part of consulting?
What's your favorite part ofthe business?
Kurt Turner (05:00):
I don't know.
I guess working with farmersit's the closest thing you can
be to to being a farmer withoutbeing one.
I guess is probably my favoritething.
Sarah (05:12):
That is so true.
I think back to the days ofindependent crop consulting and
that was absolutely the bestpart, you know, just getting to
know all those farmingoperations on some and on such a
such an intimate level, andreally getting to know what's
important to those guys.
Kurt Turner (05:29):
Right right.
Sarah (05:33):
So, lane, we haven't been trying to intentionally ignore
you, but hey, tell me a littlebit about yourself.
Lane Bothwell (05:40):
Like Kurt said, I started with him in the fall or
winter of 2015.
I would say Kurt and thisbusiness has taught me more
about the precision have tobecome a really good consultant.
That's been kind of a gamechanger here.
Sarah (06:16):
And so one of the things that I think is interesting
about Ag Genesis is you've gotKurt over there who actually has
a minor in computer science,and then you've got Lane, and
while you're one of my favoritepeople in the industry for
precision agriculture, you'rekind of the anti-computer guy,
if I could call you that.
Is it okay if I call you that?
Lane Bothwell (06:38):
That is fine.
I will never claim that Ishould be better at computers.
I just try to avoid them.
I know how to use them.
Kurt's taught me a lot, youknow.
He's taught me a ton on how tomake maps, make prescriptions,
the science and the art behindit.
He's taught me a lot of that.
Should I be better?
(06:59):
Should I be doing more of them?
Probably, but Kurt, he'sdefinitely said it and I already
said it it is a balance betweenan art and a science and I do
really like to let Kurt handlethe mapping and the prescription
rating.
He probably wishes that I domore of it.
But but yeah, that's, that's atrue statement you made there,
(07:21):
sarah.
But yeah, that's a truestatement you made there, sarah.
Sarah (07:24):
But it's interesting because, at the same time, there
are few people in this worldthat get to be truly passionate
about soil sampling, and I woulddefinitely put you into that
category beyond a shadow of adoubt.
Lane Bothwell (07:53):
As much as some people love to sit behind a
computer and do the mapping andthe prescription writing.
Sarah (07:55):
Maybe there are some people that enjoy soil sampling
just as much so, and I askedKurt this question.
I'll ask it to you.
Maybe you've already answeredit, but what is your favorite
part of this business that youand Kurt do Lane?
From your perspective, what'syour favorite part?
Lane Bothwell (08:11):
Without taking Kurt's answer, mine would be
probably working with Kurt andworking with other consultants
to get better at what we'redoing.
But, like Kurt said to, to be avaluable part in an operation
is a is a good feeling at theend of the day, when people
(08:33):
value your, your input and yourhard work.
That that's kind of the.
That's what makes a guy want todo it the next day.
But again, not only that, butworking with people that make
you better, that want you to bea part of their either their
business or life that that makesthe.
That makes the day a lot better.
Sarah (08:51):
So, and now I'm going to ask another question that's a
little bit more specific toprecision agriculture.
So when you take a look at theprecision agriculture, you know
you guys are out there makingmaps for people, you are making
prescriptions, you're doing thesoil sampling, you're making
those precision agriculturerecommendations and actually
(09:11):
getting them implemented intothe farm.
And that's a huge process.
It's a very you know, there'sso much to it.
So, considering how differentboth Lane and Kurt are here,
what, from your perspectives, isyour favorite part of that
whole process for each one ofyou?
Kurt Turner (09:31):
For me, it's the map making.
That's the best part for me.
I love making maps great whenyou put together a composite map
(09:52):
of a field productivity map andyou go out in the field and you
verify it and it's just as I'dsay, 50% of the time they're
exactly right.
Sometimes you got to make somemodifications, but that's my
favorite part, definitely.
Sarah (10:08):
And Lane for you.
What's your favorite part?
Lane Bothwell (10:11):
Mine would be, I suppose, implementing those maps
and going out and taking thesoil samples from those maps.
Maybe the back half of thatpart, you know, kurt's the
beginning part, maybe the backhalf of that part, you know,
encourage the beginning part,making the map and getting it
(10:34):
true and verified.
And then I guess I like theback part of getting the soil
samples taken consistently andtaken well, and then of course,
getting the results back, makingsure that those make sense and
then, of course, using them toeither make prescriptions or
make decisions on fertilizer.
Jodi (10:49):
So one thing I really enjoy about you guys is that,
like you, both love your part ofyour job as precision ag
implementor.
So, like Kurt, with making themaps and Lane being out in the
field, kind of ground truthingand verifying things For both of
you and I'll start with Lanewhat are some of the things that
(11:10):
you do to help give feedback toKurt back at the computer?
And then Kurt, what are somethings that you, you know, kind
of guide Lane forward, kind ofbeing your eyes and in your
boots in the ground to directhim, to help you make better
maps?
Like, what are some things youguys do to implement that
process and work as a team tomake those the best that they
(11:32):
can be?
Lane Bothwell (11:34):
Starting here.
Well, first of all, adms makesit very easy to do that, as far
as a lot of times it's making amap, do that as far as a lot of
times it's making a map, gettingit set up and then using that
preliminary map in the field, asI'm soil sampling and ground
truthing the map that Kurt made.
Again, like Kurt said, first ofall, they're very accurate,
(11:56):
right out of the box, right.
But if there are very minorchanges that need to be made,
adms program makes it simple toeither make those changes when
you're in the field or, as I'm,just write down notes, keep
track of maybe a few zones thatmaybe need to be modified one
way or another and as, of course, changes get made to that field
(12:20):
, whether it's drainage or stufflike that, it's hey, this zone
now maybe is going to be changedin the future, because this
happened, because I noticed itwhile I was soil sampling.
So I do my best, as I'm in thefield, to give Kurt the
information he needs to make themaps that he makes the best
that they can be.
Jodi (12:40):
So, Lane, you're out there looking for, like, what's
changed in terms of drainage, ormaybe there's been tile that's
been put in place both since thelast time you soiled sample,
like you're looking for thosechanges that could affect you
know how the map looks goingforward or how the cropping.
Lane Bothwell (12:55):
Yeah, yeah, I am, you know, and not that fields
change a ton in our area when itcomes to.
Fields change a ton in our areawhen it comes to productivity
zones, but certainly drainage byfar is probably one of the
biggest factors that's going tochange a zone from a perpetual
wet, drowned out area topossibly, eventually, one of the
(13:18):
better parts of the field, or Imean it could be as small as um
boundary changes maybe, uh aswell, or so it's all those kind
of things that I attempt to payattention to.
Or, you know, when you noticedifferent from the map that's in
front of me while I'm soilsampling it.
Those are, those are someinformation that I can pass on,
(13:40):
because I do like to just stayin the field while it's soil
sampling season and, like I said, I like, I think we have a
pretty good system of here's theinformation you're in the
office and he can make thechanges and I can just keep soil
sampling.
Sarah (13:59):
Does that?
Kurt Turner (14:00):
tend to work pretty good for you, kurt, or how does
how does it kind of work foryou?
Yeah, that definitely works,and sometimes when I put
together a map, either I'll goout and verify it or he'll
verify it when he samples, andsometimes maybe there's an area
of the field I'm not very sureabout.
So when he's out thereverifying I can explain to him
(14:21):
what my feeling is, if it shouldbe better or worse, or and, and
he can come back with a better,I guess a better idea.
And sometimes when you have redzones and it's it's related to
elevation because it's high area, you're not.
If you're not in the field, youdon't know exactly, uh, if it's,
(14:44):
uh, a clay knob or a gravelknob.
He can verify that, becausethat has whether it's clay knob
or gravel knob really has animpact on what, where that yield
goal should be set.
If it's a clay knob, it'sbetter than than uh, than a
gravel knob, and the gravel knobshould be probably set lower.
So sometimes he can verify thatkind of thing so we can get the
(15:07):
yield goals correctly.
Sarah (15:10):
So I just think this conversation is fascinating.
One of the things that I thinka lot of our customers and
different people working in thearena of precision agriculture,
especially in the world ofindependent crop consulting and
in the consulting world is howto set up a business so that it
(15:31):
can be successful and reallyhave those good business models
that work.
And I think it's really uniquethat in this instance you kind
of each have your areas that youreally enjoy the most and
you're able to allow each one ofyou to bring out your strengths
Right.
And that really is one of thestrengths of Agenesis.
(15:53):
You know, Lane is actually apretty good friend of Jody and
mine, which is very fun, and Ican tell you, Kurt, that we've
been out at different socialevents and he's bragged about
the fact that he's got a Kurtback at the office making the
mask, and so it is really fun tosee how you both interact very
(16:23):
well to have that success for
Kurt Turner (16:24):
your business model .
Well, very particular about mymaps too.
Can I tell you a story of thefirst map I ever made by myself?
Yeah, please.
So it was the fall of 07.
Now, if you guys know who KimRetzlaff is, he's the one that
taught me how to verify fieldsand use ADMS.
But anyway, it was a halfsection.
(16:46):
They wanted mapped and so Iwent out there.
Now, back then, in the fall of2007, you didn't have composites
, you couldn't put several mapstogether.
You, you picked out one imagethat fit the field the best, so
it was uh.
So you, you went out in thefield and you had this, this
long list of of uh images forthat field that might be seven,
(17:10):
eight years long and severalmonths in each each year.
So you, you're going throughall these, all these maps and,
uh, that first field, justverify.
And of course I was.
I would verify and soil sampleback then because I was by
myself.
I put on 55 miles in that field.
(17:33):
Just driving around trying toverify that field, just driving
around trying to verify yeah,verifying different maps, and I
didn't really know what I wasdoing.
So and uh, yeah, I put on 55miles.
Sarah (17:50):
Did the map turn out good ?
Kurt Turner (17:52):
I think it did.
Sarah (17:54):
Those 55 miles were worth it.
That's a great story.
I love it.
So one thing that I do want toask, especially when you've got
somebody that's in the officemaking maps.
You know you got Kurt backthere making the maps and you've
got Lane out in the field.
I know that you both were onthe trial basis the very start
(18:19):
of having the opportunity to usethe GK Field Mapper app and,
out of curiosity, how did thatwork out when you've got one
person in the office and oneperson out soil sampling and
hopefully it helped to make someof those ground truthing and
possible map changes maybe alittle bit easier?
Kurt Turner (18:39):
Yeah, well, we uploaded to the field mapper.
We uploaded all of our fieldsthat we were going to sample
last fall variable rate ones,anyway, yeah, it worked out very
well and I'm not going to sithere and say that I uploaded the
correct map for 100 of thefield.
So sometimes lane would get tothe field and, uh, this is not
(19:00):
the map for this field.
So, being here, I could justupload it and bang, you'd have
it within a few minutes and thatwas great.
That worked out very well.
So, but yeah, that has been agame changer, I think, because
we can now use iPads instead ofcomputers in the field and I
(19:24):
can't tell you how many laptopsover the years I went through
because they just get beat upand busted in the field.
Sarah (19:34):
Yeah, I've given recommendations to people.
Don't buy a new computer forsoil sampling, because this is
where computers go to die.
Kurt Turner (19:41):
Right, exactly.
Jodi (19:42):
It's amazing that the tech companies aren't making soil
sampling computers or computersfor soil sampling use.
Sarah (19:51):
But if the hydraulic cylinder and the soil sampling
pickup and the probes combinedare worth more than the pickup
and the laptop, you're doingsomething wrong as a soil
sampler.
You're laughing Lane becauseyou know I'm right.
Lane Bothwell (20:06):
I couldn't agree more.
I couldn't agree more.
The efficiency part of that app.
I'd like to say our end.
But on my end, if I neededanything again, whether, if
something needed to be uploadedvery quickly, any changes need
(20:26):
to be made For me to be in thefield and not have to sit and
maybe wait or anything, it wasfast, or anything.
It was fast.
Again, we've kind of mentionedwithin our business just the
reduction of equipment and techthat we have to deal with as far
as computers and extra thingswas extremely nice for us.
(20:47):
So using the iPads all yearround, not destroying computers,
it's been kind of a gamechanger as far as I'm concerned.
Jodi (20:57):
Were there instances where you were able to make like a
comment lane out in the fieldand you were able to send a map
back to Kurt and Kurt was ableto get you an updated map
through the FieldMapper app.
Lane Bothwell (21:07):
A couple of cases that I can recall is maybe we
made some changes to a map andwe take the same points year
after year.
You know, if the map had kindof changed a little bit, I could
you know when I set my points Iwould take it maybe in a
different area.
That way we can consistentlystart taking it out of that zone
(21:30):
.
Again, field boundaries I canmake it quick, I can drive it
and that just gets sent right tothe cloud and that just uploads
right back to them.
I don't have to maybe write itdown and come back and maybe I
think it kind of went aroundthat slough or maybe those trees
are gone now.
You just drive it and it justpops right back up to the
(21:50):
program.
So those are maybe some prettyminor cases that I can think of.
But that was stuff that we canuse it for.
And we have Another case I canrecall, I guess that you know.
Again, it might be minor, butmaybe a field got split in two
for whatever reason.
Different crops hey, this isthe line, this is corn and beans
(22:11):
.
The crop's going back to corn.
Maybe that split field withdifferent crops can change our
fertilizer recommendations basedon the past crop Manure
application lines.
I mean, it's just so easy touse and, let's be honest, you
always got the iPad in yourpickup, so it's just bring it up
(22:33):
, set the boundary, set the lineand all that information is
just sent right back to thecloud.
Jodi (22:40):
That's such a great example of marking those lines
of where either like a manurewas applied and manure was not
applied, or like just croppinghistory changes.
I know from like the soilfertility side.
You can have very differentresults based on what side of
the line that you're on, and Iknow, like being in the field,
sometimes it's hard to recordthose changes right.
Like you can either like ifyou've got a map with you you
(23:01):
can draw on it, but havingsomething where you can make
that exact boundary and thenlike electrosoil samples on both
sides of that, so like havingseparate soil samples and
separate soil test results forboth sides that's crucial.
And like being confident thatyou know you're collecting in
that specific area.
(23:22):
It sounds really menial, butthat is a that's a huge thing.
It yeah, that's a great example.
Lane Bothwell (23:30):
It can drastically change your, your
fertility application.
Yes, you know, and if it's asignificant amount of acres,
yeah, I mean it can make thedifference.
So having that data isimportant.
Kurt Turner (23:43):
Well and sloughs.
So water rises, the waterrecedes.
I have an opinion that thoseareas shouldn't be farmed anyway
, but they're going to farm themif they possibly can.
Areas shouldn't be farmedanyway, but they're going to
farm them if they possibly can.
They're going to take thatchisel plow as far down in the
slough as they can.
So those lines are changing andit's almost constant.
Every year they change a littlebit.
(24:06):
So, using the iPad to okay, nowthis is receded this way or
this is expanded out that way.
That's easy to do now.
Jodi (24:17):
Oh, that's fantastic.
And over time, we'll make theapp better too, to better suit
your needs, and as more ideasand more folks use it and think
of ways that they're modifyingtheir maps and using it, etc.
I think it'll keep gettingbetter, just like ADMS has since
2007.
And the single layer to many,many layers being used to make
(24:40):
zone maps.
Sarah (24:42):
Right, so you don't have to put on 55 miles in one field
just so you can figure out whichimage you want to use Exactly.
Jodi (24:52):
So Lane I think it was Lane you had mentioned earlier
that there's been a lot ofdrainage in your area and within
your group of growers.
Has that been a lot of surfacedrainage, tile drainage?
What are you seeing right nowin your area?
Lane Bothwell (25:07):
It's mostly tile drainage and even once you think
of a field probably has all thetile it ever needs by the time
you have another little over wetyear, wet spring, there's
always more that can beinstalled.
So that's been prettysignificant in our area, I'd say
(25:28):
, the last 10 years, of areasthat are constantly high in
(25:48):
salts, low productivity, veryhigh in fertility typically, and
then you add good tile drainageand it doesn't take very long
for those areas not to becomesome of the worst yielding areas
but pretty well some of thebest.
So it's a, it's almost acomplete flop.
So being able to manage thoseareas and and, um, separate
(26:09):
those areas out and, uh,continually managing them
separately as poor areas andthen being able to switch them
to become some of the best, um,it's pretty important to be able
to separate those areas, evenafter they've been tiled, from
the rest of the field.
Jodi (26:26):
So, kurt, on the map making side, how do you go about
managing those areas?
So like, with that change,right like so somebody
implements tile, does that mapsee the same for you?
And you just modify those areasthat are, you know, draining
faster in the spring or areimproving, or how do you go
about, you know, modifying yourzones over time when tile
(26:49):
drainage is is implemented on a,on a field.
Kurt Turner (26:52):
Well it's.
It's a matter of dropping outold imagery, that you've got
older imagery you're using tomake that composite map and
adding in the newer imagery.
And I find over time thesetiled areas don't instantly
become better.
It takes two, three years.
So you can modify that map toget okay, it's a step up better
(27:17):
now this year and now the next.
Maybe the next time it comesaround to corn again it's going
to be full-fledged, really good,so you can.
You're going to use more recentimagery now to to make the map
for that field, as opposed toyou're going to drop out the
older, the older imagery whichshows those areas as being wet,
(27:38):
because now they're not.
So yeah, that's kind of how Imanage it.
Sarah (27:44):
Beautiful.
That's great.
That's a lot of content herefor our first episode with these
guys, kurt and Lane from EggGenesis, and we are probably
going to wrap it up for thisepisode and next time we will
visit with Kurt and Lane evenmore about gridding the zone.
(28:06):
Have you ever thought aboutcombining the zones with grids?
Holy Hannah, that's a lot ofprecision egg in there.
It's going to be fun.
From GK Technology, where wehave a map and an app For that.
And now it's time for a Geek Speak with GK Technology's,
Sarah and Jodi, friends and Ican't wait to get in the fields
again.
No, I can't wait to get in thefields again.
Welcome back to A Geek Speak.
(00:33):
We are super excited for oursecond official season of A Geek
Speak.
The first season went so wellthat we're finding even more
guests to join us and we'regoing to have some more great,
pertinentt agricultureconversations.
To start things off, we aregoing to be visiting with two
(00:53):
gentlemen hailing from SouthDakota with a business called Ag
Genesis Incorporated KurtTurner and Lane Bothwell.
So thank you, gentlemen,gentlemen, for joining us today.
Let's start by getting just alittle bit about.
Well, who are you, Kurt?
Who are you?
Kurt Turner (01:13):
Let's see, started Ag Genesis in the fall of 2007.
Prior to that, did some variouswork in agronomy research.
So yeah, started Ag Genesisfall 2007 and brought Lane on
board in 2015.
And we do crop consulting andwe do variable rate programs
(01:37):
setting up, we writeprescriptions for fertilizer
seed.
I have done some chemical inthe past, but I haven't done
that for a while.
Most of our business is within50 miles of Brookings, but we
have some outliers beyond thatas well.
Sarah (01:53):
So, Kurt, you've been using the software a long time.
When did you actually startusing ADMS software from GK
Technology?
Kurt Turner (02:04):
Well, I started this company in August 2007, and
that's when I started usingADMS software from GK Technology
.
Well, I started this company inAugust 2007, and that's when I
started using ADMS.
Sarah (02:10):
You've been using it a long time.
Kurt Turner (02:15):
Yeah, it's come a long way since then, but it was
very useful back then.
Jodi (02:20):
Had you used any sort of ag precision software before
that time, or was this kind oflike the only thing on the
market?
What was that like?
Kurt Turner (02:29):
Well, I hadn't used any other program before that.
The reason I used it is becausea friend of mine who was doing
this kind of business was usingit, and so I didn't know of any
other one.
So that's how I got hooked upto ADMS.
Sarah (02:50):
And you have a little bit of a background with computer
programming as well, correct?
Kurt Turner (02:56):
Well, I did get a computer science minor in
college back in mid-1980s if youcan call that having to do with
anything today.
Sarah (03:09):
It was a great foundation for a changing world in
computer technology, right?
Kurt Turner (03:15):
Yes, it actually gave me the logic, so I
understand computer logic andthat's that's probably helpful.
You know we were writingprograms in Fortran and PL1 and
BASIC and COBOL.
Yeah, I doubt those are usedanymore, although I have no idea
(03:35):
.
Jodi (03:37):
What was so like back in the 80s and you were getting
your degrees?
What motivated you to get acomputer science minor?
Kurt Turner (03:49):
I I'm not sure.
I don't remember why I did that, but maybe it's because I
wanted to expand my educationbeyond four years and make it
five.
It might have been that simple.
Jodi (04:06):
I did the same thing.
I know how that goes.
Sarah (04:09):
It's hard work, cramming four years into six.
That was my mantra Right Yep.
Jodi (04:16):
Was your main degree, agronomy too.
Kurt Turner (04:18):
Egg business.
I had an egg business major anda commercial economics major, a
minor in computer science and aminor in agronomy.
Jodi (04:32):
So like the perfect combination of skills to run a
precision ag company, or like aprecision ag crop consulting
company.
Kurt Turner (04:40):
Right, yeah, and I did consulting for the first
three and a half years aftercollege graduation, and then I
did some other things but cameback to consulting because it's
a great business.
Sarah (04:55):
What's your favorite part of consulting?
What's your favorite part ofthe business?
Kurt Turner (05:00):
I don't know.
I guess working with farmersit's the closest thing you can
be to to being a farmer withoutbeing one.
I guess is probably my favoritething.
Sarah (05:12):
That is so true.
I think back to the days ofindependent crop consulting and
that was absolutely the bestpart, you know, just getting to
know all those farmingoperations on some and on such a
such an intimate level, andreally getting to know what's
important to those guys.
Kurt Turner (05:29):
Right right.
Sarah (05:33):
So, lane, we haven't been trying to intentionally ignore
you, but hey, tell me a littlebit about yourself.
Lane Bothwell (05:40):
Like Kurt said, I started with him in the fall or
winter of 2015.
I would say Kurt and thisbusiness has taught me more
about the precision have tobecome a really good consultant.
That's been kind of a gamechanger here.
Sarah (06:16):
And so one of the things that I think is interesting
about Ag Genesis is you've gotKurt over there who actually has
a minor in computer science,and then you've got Lane, and
while you're one of my favoritepeople in the industry for
precision agriculture, you'rekind of the anti-computer guy,
if I could call you that.
Is it okay if I call you that?
Lane Bothwell (06:38):
That is fine.
I will never claim that Ishould be better at computers.
I just try to avoid them.
I know how to use them.
Kurt's taught me a lot, youknow.
He's taught me a ton on how tomake maps, make prescriptions,
the science and the art behindit.
He's taught me a lot of that.
Should I be better?
(06:59):
Should I be doing more of them?
Probably, but Kurt, he'sdefinitely said it and I already
said it it is a balance betweenan art and a science and I do
really like to let Kurt handlethe mapping and the prescription
rating.
He probably wishes that I domore of it.
But but yeah, that's, that's atrue statement you made there,
(07:21):
sarah.
But yeah, that's a truestatement you made there, sarah.
Sarah (07:24):
But it's interesting because, at the same time, there
are few people in this worldthat get to be truly passionate
about soil sampling, and I woulddefinitely put you into that
category beyond a shadow of adoubt.
Lane Bothwell (07:53):
As much as some people love to sit behind a
computer and do the mapping andthe prescription writing.
Sarah (07:55):
Maybe there are some people that enjoy soil sampling
just as much so, and I askedKurt this question.
I'll ask it to you.
Maybe you've already answeredit, but what is your favorite
part of this business that youand Kurt do Lane?
From your perspective, what'syour favorite part?
Lane Bothwell (08:11):
Without taking Kurt's answer, mine would be
probably working with Kurt andworking with other consultants
to get better at what we'redoing.
But, like Kurt said to, to be avaluable part in an operation
is a is a good feeling at theend of the day, when people
(08:33):
value your, your input and yourhard work.
That that's kind of the.
That's what makes a guy want todo it the next day.
But again, not only that, butworking with people that make
you better, that want you to bea part of their either their
business or life that that makesthe.
That makes the day a lot better.
Sarah (08:51):
So, and now I'm going to ask another question that's a
little bit more specific toprecision agriculture.
So when you take a look at theprecision agriculture, you know
you guys are out there makingmaps for people, you are making
prescriptions, you're doing thesoil sampling, you're making
those precision agriculturerecommendations and actually
(09:11):
getting them implemented intothe farm.
And that's a huge process.
It's a very you know, there'sso much to it.
So, considering how differentboth Lane and Kurt are here,
what, from your perspectives, isyour favorite part of that
whole process for each one ofyou?
Kurt Turner (09:31):
For me, it's the map making.
That's the best part for me.
I love making maps great whenyou put together a composite map
(09:52):
of a field productivity map andyou go out in the field and you
verify it and it's just as I'dsay, 50% of the time they're
exactly right.
Sometimes you got to make somemodifications, but that's my
favorite part, definitely.
Sarah (10:08):
And Lane for you.
What's your favorite part?
Lane Bothwell (10:11):
Mine would be, I suppose, implementing those maps
and going out and taking thesoil samples from those maps.
Maybe the back half of thatpart, you know, kurt's the
beginning part, maybe the backhalf of that part, you know,
encourage the beginning part,making the map and getting it
(10:34):
true and verified.
And then I guess I like theback part of getting the soil
samples taken consistently andtaken well, and then of course,
getting the results back, makingsure that those make sense and
then, of course, using them toeither make prescriptions or
make decisions on fertilizer.
Jodi (10:49):
So one thing I really enjoy about you guys is that,
like you, both love your part ofyour job as precision ag
implementor.
So, like Kurt, with making themaps and Lane being out in the
field, kind of ground truthingand verifying things For both of
you and I'll start with Lanewhat are some of the things that
(11:10):
you do to help give feedback toKurt back at the computer?
And then Kurt, what are somethings that you, you know, kind
of guide Lane forward, kind ofbeing your eyes and in your
boots in the ground to directhim, to help you make better
maps?
Like, what are some things youguys do to implement that
process and work as a team tomake those the best that they
(11:32):
can be?
Lane Bothwell (11:34):
Starting here.
Well, first of all, adms makesit very easy to do that, as far
as a lot of times it's making amap, do that as far as a lot of
times it's making a map, gettingit set up and then using that
preliminary map in the field, asI'm soil sampling and ground
truthing the map that Kurt made.
Again, like Kurt said, first ofall, they're very accurate,
(11:56):
right out of the box, right.
But if there are very minorchanges that need to be made,
adms program makes it simple toeither make those changes when
you're in the field or, as I'm,just write down notes, keep
track of maybe a few zones thatmaybe need to be modified one
way or another and as, of course, changes get made to that field
(12:20):
, whether it's drainage or stufflike that, it's hey, this zone
now maybe is going to be changedin the future, because this
happened, because I noticed itwhile I was soil sampling.
So I do my best, as I'm in thefield, to give Kurt the
information he needs to make themaps that he makes the best
that they can be.
Jodi (12:40):
So, Lane, you're out there looking for, like, what's
changed in terms of drainage, ormaybe there's been tile that's
been put in place both since thelast time you soiled sample,
like you're looking for thosechanges that could affect you
know how the map looks goingforward or how the cropping.
Lane Bothwell (12:55):
Yeah, yeah, I am, you know, and not that fields
change a ton in our area when itcomes to.
Fields change a ton in our areawhen it comes to productivity
zones, but certainly drainage byfar is probably one of the
biggest factors that's going tochange a zone from a perpetual
wet, drowned out area topossibly, eventually, one of the
(13:18):
better parts of the field, or Imean it could be as small as um
boundary changes maybe, uh aswell, or so it's all those kind
of things that I attempt to payattention to.
Or, you know, when you noticedifferent from the map that's in
front of me while I'm soilsampling it.
Those are, those are someinformation that I can pass on,
(13:40):
because I do like to just stayin the field while it's soil
sampling season and, like I said, I like, I think we have a
pretty good system of here's theinformation you're in the
office and he can make thechanges and I can just keep soil
sampling.
Sarah (13:59):
Does that?
Kurt Turner (14:00):
tend to work pretty good for you, kurt, or how does
how does it kind of work foryou?
Yeah, that definitely works,and sometimes when I put
together a map, either I'll goout and verify it or he'll
verify it when he samples, andsometimes maybe there's an area
of the field I'm not very sureabout.
So when he's out thereverifying I can explain to him
(14:21):
what my feeling is, if it shouldbe better or worse, or and, and
he can come back with a better,I guess a better idea.
And sometimes when you have redzones and it's it's related to
elevation because it's high area, you're not.
If you're not in the field, youdon't know exactly, uh, if it's,
(14:44):
uh, a clay knob or a gravelknob.
He can verify that, becausethat has whether it's clay knob
or gravel knob really has animpact on what, where that yield
goal should be set.
If it's a clay knob, it'sbetter than than uh, than a
gravel knob, and the gravel knobshould be probably set lower.
So sometimes he can verify thatkind of thing so we can get the
(15:07):
yield goals correctly.
Sarah (15:10):
So I just think this conversation is fascinating.
One of the things that I thinka lot of our customers and
different people working in thearena of precision agriculture,
especially in the world ofindependent crop consulting and
in the consulting world is howto set up a business so that it
(15:31):
can be successful and reallyhave those good business models
that work.
And I think it's really uniquethat in this instance you kind
of each have your areas that youreally enjoy the most and
you're able to allow each one ofyou to bring out your strengths
Right.
And that really is one of thestrengths of Agenesis.
(15:53):
You know, Lane is actually apretty good friend of Jody and
mine, which is very fun, and Ican tell you, Kurt, that we've
been out at different socialevents and he's bragged about
the fact that he's got a Kurtback at the office making the
mask, and so it is really fun tosee how you both interact very
(16:23):
well to have that success for
Kurt Turner (16:24):
your business model .
Well, very particular about mymaps too.
Can I tell you a story of thefirst map I ever made by myself?
Yeah, please.
So it was the fall of 07.
Now, if you guys know who KimRetzlaff is, he's the one that
taught me how to verify fieldsand use ADMS.
But anyway, it was a halfsection.
(16:46):
They wanted mapped and so Iwent out there.
Now, back then, in the fall of2007, you didn't have composites
, you couldn't put several mapstogether.
You, you picked out one imagethat fit the field the best, so
it was uh.
So you, you went out in thefield and you had this, this
long list of of uh images forthat field that might be seven,
(17:10):
eight years long and severalmonths in each each year.
So you, you're going throughall these, all these maps and,
uh, that first field, justverify.
And of course I was.
I would verify and soil sampleback then because I was by
myself.
I put on 55 miles in that field.
(17:33):
Just driving around trying toverify that field, just driving
around trying to verify yeah,verifying different maps, and I
didn't really know what I wasdoing.
So and uh, yeah, I put on 55miles.
Sarah (17:50):
Did the map turn out good ?
Kurt Turner (17:52):
I think it did.
Sarah (17:54):
Those 55 miles were worth it.
That's a great story.
I love it.
So one thing that I do want toask, especially when you've got
somebody that's in the officemaking maps.
You know you got Kurt backthere making the maps and you've
got Lane out in the field.
I know that you both were onthe trial basis the very start
(18:19):
of having the opportunity to usethe GK Field Mapper app and,
out of curiosity, how did thatwork out when you've got one
person in the office and oneperson out soil sampling and
hopefully it helped to make someof those ground truthing and
possible map changes maybe alittle bit easier?
Kurt Turner (18:39):
Yeah, well, we uploaded to the field mapper.
We uploaded all of our fieldsthat we were going to sample
last fall variable rate ones,anyway, yeah, it worked out very
well and I'm not going to sithere and say that I uploaded the
correct map for 100 of thefield.
So sometimes lane would get tothe field and, uh, this is not
(19:00):
the map for this field.
So, being here, I could justupload it and bang, you'd have
it within a few minutes and thatwas great.
That worked out very well.
So, but yeah, that has been agame changer, I think, because
we can now use iPads instead ofcomputers in the field and I
(19:24):
can't tell you how many laptopsover the years I went through
because they just get beat upand busted in the field.
Sarah (19:34):
Yeah, I've given recommendations to people.
Don't buy a new computer forsoil sampling, because this is
where computers go to die.
Kurt Turner (19:41):
Right, exactly.
Jodi (19:42):
It's amazing that the tech companies aren't making soil
sampling computers or computersfor soil sampling use.
Sarah (19:51):
But if the hydraulic cylinder and the soil sampling
pickup and the probes combinedare worth more than the pickup
and the laptop, you're doingsomething wrong as a soil
sampler.
You're laughing Lane becauseyou know I'm right.
Lane Bothwell (20:06):
I couldn't agree more.
I couldn't agree more.
The efficiency part of that app.
I'd like to say our end.
But on my end, if I neededanything again, whether, if
something needed to be uploadedvery quickly, any changes need
(20:26):
to be made For me to be in thefield and not have to sit and
maybe wait or anything, it wasfast, or anything.
It was fast.
Again, we've kind of mentionedwithin our business just the
reduction of equipment and techthat we have to deal with as far
as computers and extra thingswas extremely nice for us.
(20:47):
So using the iPads all yearround, not destroying computers,
it's been kind of a gamechanger as far as I'm concerned.
Jodi (20:57):
Were there instances where you were able to make like a
comment lane out in the fieldand you were able to send a map
back to Kurt and Kurt was ableto get you an updated map
through the FieldMapper app.
Lane Bothwell (21:07):
A couple of cases that I can recall is maybe we
made some changes to a map andwe take the same points year
after year.
You know, if the map had kindof changed a little bit, I could
you know when I set my points Iwould take it maybe in a
different area.
That way we can consistentlystart taking it out of that zone
(21:30):
.
Again, field boundaries I canmake it quick, I can drive it
and that just gets sent right tothe cloud and that just uploads
right back to them.
I don't have to maybe write itdown and come back and maybe I
think it kind of went aroundthat slough or maybe those trees
are gone now.
You just drive it and it justpops right back up to the
(21:50):
program.
So those are maybe some prettyminor cases that I can think of.
But that was stuff that we canuse it for.
And we have Another case I canrecall, I guess that you know.
Again, it might be minor, butmaybe a field got split in two
for whatever reason.
Different crops hey, this isthe line, this is corn and beans
(22:11):
.
The crop's going back to corn.
Maybe that split field withdifferent crops can change our
fertilizer recommendations basedon the past crop Manure
application lines.
I mean, it's just so easy touse and, let's be honest, you
always got the iPad in yourpickup, so it's just bring it up
(22:33):
, set the boundary, set the lineand all that information is
just sent right back to thecloud.
Jodi (22:40):
That's such a great example of marking those lines
of where either like a manurewas applied and manure was not
applied, or like just croppinghistory changes.
I know from like the soilfertility side.
You can have very differentresults based on what side of
the line that you're on, and Iknow, like being in the field,
sometimes it's hard to recordthose changes right.
Like you can either like ifyou've got a map with you you
(23:01):
can draw on it, but havingsomething where you can make
that exact boundary and thenlike electrosoil samples on both
sides of that, so like havingseparate soil samples and
separate soil test results forboth sides that's crucial.
And like being confident thatyou know you're collecting in
that specific area.
(23:22):
It sounds really menial, butthat is a that's a huge thing.
It yeah, that's a great example.
Lane Bothwell (23:30):
It can drastically change your, your
fertility application.
Yes, you know, and if it's asignificant amount of acres,
yeah, I mean it can make thedifference.
So having that data isimportant.
Kurt Turner (23:43):
Well and sloughs.
So water rises, the waterrecedes.
I have an opinion that thoseareas shouldn't be farmed anyway
, but they're going to farm themif they possibly can.
Areas shouldn't be farmedanyway, but they're going to
farm them if they possibly can.
They're going to take thatchisel plow as far down in the
slough as they can.
So those lines are changing andit's almost constant.
Every year they change a littlebit.
(24:06):
So, using the iPad to okay, nowthis is receded this way or
this is expanded out that way.
That's easy to do now.
Jodi (24:17):
Oh, that's fantastic.
And over time, we'll make theapp better too, to better suit
your needs, and as more ideasand more folks use it and think
of ways that they're modifyingtheir maps and using it, etc.
I think it'll keep gettingbetter, just like ADMS has since
2007.
And the single layer to many,many layers being used to make
(24:40):
zone maps.
Sarah (24:42):
Right, so you don't have to put on 55 miles in one field
just so you can figure out whichimage you want to use Exactly.
Jodi (24:52):
So Lane I think it was Lane you had mentioned earlier
that there's been a lot ofdrainage in your area and within
your group of growers.
Has that been a lot of surfacedrainage, tile drainage?
What are you seeing right nowin your area?
Lane Bothwell (25:07):
It's mostly tile drainage and even once you think
of a field probably has all thetile it ever needs by the time
you have another little over wetyear, wet spring, there's
always more that can beinstalled.
So that's been prettysignificant in our area, I'd say
(25:28):
, the last 10 years, of areasthat are constantly high in
(25:48):
salts, low productivity, veryhigh in fertility typically, and
then you add good tile drainageand it doesn't take very long
for those areas not to becomesome of the worst yielding areas
but pretty well some of thebest.
So it's a, it's almost acomplete flop.
So being able to manage thoseareas and and, um, separate
(26:09):
those areas out and, uh,continually managing them
separately as poor areas andthen being able to switch them
to become some of the best, um,it's pretty important to be able
to separate those areas, evenafter they've been tiled, from
the rest of the field.
Jodi (26:26):
So, kurt, on the map making side, how do you go about
managing those areas?
So like, with that change,right like so somebody
implements tile, does that mapsee the same for you?
And you just modify those areasthat are, you know, draining
faster in the spring or areimproving, or how do you go
about, you know, modifying yourzones over time when tile
(26:49):
drainage is is implemented on a,on a field.
Kurt Turner (26:52):
Well it's.
It's a matter of dropping outold imagery, that you've got
older imagery you're using tomake that composite map and
adding in the newer imagery.
And I find over time thesetiled areas don't instantly
become better.
It takes two, three years.
So you can modify that map toget okay, it's a step up better
(27:17):
now this year and now the next.
Maybe the next time it comesaround to corn again it's going
to be full-fledged, really good,so you can.
You're going to use more recentimagery now to to make the map
for that field, as opposed toyou're going to drop out the
older, the older imagery whichshows those areas as being wet,
(27:38):
because now they're not.
So yeah, that's kind of how Imanage it.
Sarah (27:44):
Beautiful.
That's great.
That's a lot of content herefor our first episode with these
guys, kurt and Lane from EggGenesis, and we are probably
going to wrap it up for thisepisode and next time we will
visit with Kurt and Lane evenmore about gridding the zone.
(28:06):
Have you ever thought aboutcombining the zones with grids?
Holy Hannah, that's a lot ofprecision egg in there.
It's going to be fun.
From GK Technology, where wehave a map and an app For that.
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