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GK Technology Inc Team Members, Jodi Boe and Sarah Lovas talk about precision agriculture, agriculture mapping, agronomy and drainage.
80 Episodes
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Sarah and Jodi discuss NAIP aerial imagery and why this high-resolution imagery is invaluable for precision agriculture work in the United States. They share workflows for validating zones, aligning layers, and spotting year-over-year patterns while noting timing pitfalls, thanks to NAIP imagery as a background source. In this episode, we discuss... • what NAIP is and who collects it • benefits of high resolution often associated with newer NAIP imagery • four-band imagery (RGB with NIR) enab...
We talk with Matt Krueger about his field-level view of autonomous tillage with a 9R series John Deere tractor, from kit installation to dust-driven safety stops, and how better boundaries and AutoPath boost both uptime and data quality. Matt's story centers on labor flexibility, real costs, and where autonomy should expand next. In this special hour-long episode we talk: • autonomy kit details, JDLink Boost connectivity, dual receivers • autonomy-grade boundaries and safe offsets near obstac...
We dig into why low (acidic) soil pH unlocks aluminum toxicity, how that halts root growth, and which crops suffer first. Then we lay out a practical plan to find acidic patches with smarter sampling, NDVI, and grid-the-zone strategies, and point to lime and buffer pH for the fix. In this episode, we discuss... • soil pH as chemical control and pH level of 7 is neutral • aluminum toxicity risk to crops increases below 6.5 pH • wheat relatively tolerant, legumes struggle with nodulation&...
Welcome back to the second part of our conversation with Preston Sundeen to explore how a two-year ag program prepares students for precision agriculture careers by building real-world skills across hardware, software, GIS, and agronomy. Sundeen's focus is practical confidence: clean data, sound troubleshooting, critical thinking, and learning to ask better questions. We also talk about... • defining precision ag as practical, cross-disciplinary work • balancing agronomy, GIS, ha...
We unpack why soybean leaves turn yellow in patches, thanks to soybean IDC (iron deficiency chlorosis) and how to predict IDC risk for management. We share the exact soil tests that matter, how to read the lab results, and where precision mapping saves money and yield thanks to IDC management. We also discuss... • defining iron chlorosis • why iron-rich soils still cause deficiency • limits of testing for DTPA iron alone • three key predictors: pH, EC (salts), and CCE (calcium carbonate equiv...
We sit down with Preston Sundean to trace a path from farm kid to precision ag educator and entrepreneur. We dig into teaching ADMS, turning data into fast prescriptions, and why critical thinking matters more than button sequences. In this episode we discuss... • Preston's North Dakota farm roots and agribusiness training • Career moves from ag retail to precision ag education • COVID pivot into entrepreneurship and insurance • Running a classroom like a workplace • The ADMS learning curve a...
We break down what “salty soil” really means and why salinity and sodicity demand different fixes. We share how to properly diagnose a soil as saline, sodic, or saline/sodic through soil sampling and testing, to avoid turning a manageable patch into concrete. We also discuss.... • defining normal, saline, sodic, saline-sodic with soil test EC and sodium results • why salinity causes drought-like stress without wrecking structure • how sodicity drives clay dispersion and pore collapse • when...
We map residual herbicide rates with field truth, not guesses, turning five-zone soil maps into targeted prescriptions that cut injury and hit weed spawn sites. We weigh OM, pH, texture, and landscape to protect sensitive crops now and keep rotations flexible next year. In this episode we discuss... • base maps from precision soil sampling and scouting knowledge • modded zones for unique poor areas and weed hotspots • organic matter, carbonate, and color as soil clues, not absolutes • extreme...
We unpack why liquid fertilizer math trips people up and discuss how to figure out how to determine pounds of fertilizer in a liquid fertilizer. We talk real examples and show how small liquid fertilizer densities can drastically affect starter outcomes, especially in cold soils. In this Tiny Bytes, we talk • the dry vs liquid mindset shift • how density changes gallons into pounds • where to find pounds per gallon on fertilizer labels • comparing phosphorus from 10-34-0 an...
We sit down (again) with Kyle Okke of Agile Agronomy and explore how to make variable-rate residual herbicides actually work, from nozzle physics to dual-tank setups, and why agronomy must lead every tech decision. We also talk PWM (pulse width modulation), drift control, and mapping weed hot spots for smarter applications. Additionally... • Limits of conventional pressure-based rate changes • Why droplet size, pattern, and drift control matter • PWM and duty cycle basics • Turn compensatio...
We unpack why “precision composite soil sampling” isn’t a contradiction and show how GPS-marked points turn an old method into a reliable trend tool. We cover workflows, gear, timing, and when shifting results should push you toward zones. In this episode we discuss • Pre‑GPS composite sampling and its limits • Marking exact GPS points for repeatability • Keeping post‑harvest or spring timing consistent • Tracking year‑over‑year P, K and pH trends • When composites signal a move to zone...
We explore using precision agriculture to variable-rate apply residual herbicides using soil-driven maps to reduce crop injury on sensitive zones while maintaining strong weed control. Kyle Okke joins us to explain why OM, pH, and texture can set the rate and how sprayer mechanics affect success. In this episode, we discuss • Specialty crops that rely on pre-emerge residuals • Resistant weeds driving need for fall residual applications • Soil variability across landscape positions • Reading l...
Catch the first part of this episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/17664422 In part two of introducing Surface Shaping, Kelly walks us through how to turn a watershed map into a buildable surface shaping plan that automatically controls a scraper. Kelly also shares the ADMS tools, soil insights, controller details, and timing tips that make smarter water movement practical and profitable. • farmer input on outlets, trouble spots, directionality will be important • ADMS Su...
Matt Kruger joins us to share the fascinating story of creating the world's largest corn maze spanning 121 acres with over 20 miles of pathways using precision agriculture technology. We explore how advanced planting techniques, boundary files, and ADMS technology transformed a traditional corn maze operation into a record-breaking agricultural attraction. • Valley Corn Maize east of East Grand Forks, MN opens August 23rd through October 19th, celebrating its 10th year of operation • The mai...
GK Technology introduces Surface Shaping and SD Surface (in conjunction with Rust Sales) which offers land managers an innovative approach to field design. Surface Shaping allows for advanced drainage design, giving farmers the ability to design intentional water flow and directionality, above and beyond normal ditching and "land leveling." Kelly Sharpe explains how this new technology preserves valuable topsoil while eliminating problematic water-holding areas through advanced design and pre...
Soil is more than just what we see on the surface, on average consisting of 45% mineral components, 5% organic matter, 25% water, and 25% air, with bulk density measuring how much dry soil weighs per volume. • Bulk density indicates the space available in soil for air and water • Sandy soils counterintuitively have higher bulk density than clay soils • Clay soils typically contain more organic matter which contributes to greater pore spaces • Bulk density increases as you go deeper int...
Sarah and Jodi continue their conversation about common precision agriculture issues encountered during spring planting, focusing on field boundaries, controller settings, and troubleshooting variable rate applications. • Field boundaries matter critically for prescription applications – without proper mapping, sections of equipment may shut off unexpectedly • Prairie Pothole regions require special boundary considerations since water levels change frequently • Use buffer tools to expand tig...
NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetative Index) helps farmers detect how green and/or productive different areas of their fields are by measuring the ratio of near-infrared to red light reflected from plant canopies. This technology creates reliable productivity zone maps when analyzed consistently over multiple growing seasons, enabling targeted input management across variable field conditions. In this Tiny Byte Sarah and Jodi cover: • NDVI measures plant canopy density by comparing near-infr...
Sarah and Jodi reflect on the fast-paced spring planting season of 2025, sharing their experiences supporting customers with ADMS software and troubleshooting common prescription issues while managing rapidly changing field conditions. Situations and questions they cover: • When to dissolve prescriptions during the export process to optimize controller compatibility • Understanding the difference between hard breaks and interpolation in prescription maps • Why you should never dissolv...
Using the correct UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) zone is crucial when working with GIS data mapped to a UTM zone. We explain how projections work to translate locations from Earth's spherical surface to flat maps, and why UTM zones are critical for accurate agricultural mapping. • UTM divides Earth into 60 zones, each six degrees of longitude wide • UTM choice errors cause maps to appear in completely wrong locations, like oceans • Creating maps in the wrong UTM zone leads to unusable p...
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