From The Field

From podcasts to blogs and published articles, we have the resources you need in precision ag.

Podcasts

Check out the most recent episodes from the Premier Crop Systems' Podcast here!

Blogs

From agronomy to who we are and what we do, read more about various topics on our blog!

Data Decisions

Hear from Dan Frieberg with articles originally published in Corn and Soybean Digest.

Podcasts

collecting quality data

042: Gathering Quality Data w/Bethany Bielecki

This week on the Premier Podcast, we are talking with Bethany Bielecki from Greene Crop Consulting. We discuss the situations

cover crops

041: Fall Tillage Practices and Cover Crops

In this episode, we speak with Josh Sponheim, Agronomic Advisor in the North Central Iowa region with Premier Crop. Josh

yield efficiency dashboard

040: The Importance of Yield Efficiency, Group Data, and Benchmarking w/Sarah Windhorst

Sarah Windhorst is the VP of Data Services at Premier Crop. With over a decade of experience in ag data,

fall nitrogen

039: Variable Rate Fertilizer w/Kevin Kruize

Kevin Kruize, Strategic Account Manager for the Northern Region at Premier Crop Systems discusses Variable Rate Fertilizer and the options

variable rate seeding

038: Variable Rate Seeding Pays w/Matt Bowers

Today we will be discussing variable rate seeding pays to get growers better results and return in their operation. We

farm data

037: Farm Analytics Show Where You’re Leaving Money

Today we are talking about farm analytics and how avoiding data can leave money on the table for your operation.

grower

036: Vision for the Future w/Darren Fehr

Today we are talking with Darren about the future of ag data and our plans for the next few years

035: Using Data as a Solution to Help Growers Be More Profitable

MATT BOWERS: Hello listeners, and welcome back to the Premier Podcast, where everything agronomic is economic. This is your host

grid soil sampling

034: Make Fungicide Decisions Using Data: With InSite CDM

Today on the Premier Podcast we are talking about making fungicide decisions using data with one of our Partners, InSite

tractor talks

033: Tractor Talks with Joe Elmquist

Tractor Talks is a mini series here on the Premier Podcast where we join growers in their tractor cabs during

tractor talk jason thomann

032: Tractor Talks with Jason Thomann

Tractor Talks is a mini series here on the Premier Podcast where we join growers in their tractor cabs during

tractor talks podcast

031: Tractor Talks With Mike Berdo: Part 2

Tractor Talks is a mini series here on the Premier Podcast where we join growers in their tractor cabs during

tractor talks podcast

030: Tractor Talks with Mike Berdo: Part 1

Tractor Talks is a mini series here on the Premier Podcast where we join growers in their tractor cabs during

tractor talks episode 1

029: Tractor Talks in the Cab w/ Noah Coppess

Tractor Talks is a mini series here on the Premier Podcast where we join growers in their tractor cabs during

yield efficiency

028: Yield Efficiency in Your Operation

Today we are talking with Dan and Renee about the significance of using yield efficiency in your operation. About Dan:

027: Nitrogen Strategies for your Fields

Today we are joined by Mike Manning (aka @datamanning on Twitter) and Renee Hansen as they discuss nitrogen strategies for

026: Unlock Insights of your Farming Operation

Today, we are talking with T.J. Masker, Senior Product Manager at Tractor Zoom, headquartered in Urbandale, Iowa. They are focused

grower using data

025: Frustrations with Precision Ag

Today on the Premier Podcast we are talking about common frustrations with precision ag. We are joined by Katie McWhirter,

planting

024: Managing Profitability with Ag View Solutions

Hear our interview with Shay Foulk at Ag View Solutions. We talk about all things ag data. Premier Crop is

sprayer

023: Expectations vs Reality in Farm Data

Today we are talking about the expectation vs reality in your farm data. We are joined by Aaron Seifert, Business

grower and advisor

022: Focusing on the Yield Efficiency Score

In this episode of the Premier Crop Podcast, we listen in on a year end grower meeting with one of

carbon sequestration

021: Does Carbon Sequestration Pay?

Today we are talking with Dr. Jerry Hatfield on the topic of carbon sequestration. Also on the show are Dan

Lance examining the crop

020: The ‘Why’ Behind Your Field Map

Today we are talking with Lance Meyer, one of Premier Crop’s ag advisors in the Kansas region about the ‘why’

SciMax grower meeting

019: Year End Grower Meeting

Today on the Premier Podcast, we’re listening in to a year end grower meeting with one our partners, SciMax Solutions.

planting

018: Hybrid and Variety Selection Using Data

Today we are talking with Dan, Renee, and Tony about hybrid and variety selection using growers field data. DAN FRIEBERG: I

damian mason speaking

017: The State of Ag and Business

Today we will be discussing the ag industry with ag author, speaker, comedian, and personality – Damian Mason. Damian speaks

grower and advisor

016: Examples of Agronomics and Economics

In this Premier Podcast episode, we’re talking with Matt Bowers, Premier Crop’s Eastern Strategic Account Manager and Kimberly Beachy, with

yield monitor

015: Utilizing Your Yield Monitor and Yield Data

Today we are talking with Dan and Renee about the significance of using a yield monitor in the field to

farm finance

014: Farm for Profit | Farm Finance

Today we welcome Tanner and David from the Farm 4 Profit Show. This episode is a section of their show

anhydrous ammonia

013: Nutrient Planning

agriculture, farm efficiency, farm mangagement, farm planning, farming, nutrients, precision ag

Today we are talking with Dan and Darren about nutrient planning and its importance during this part of the growing

grower and advisor

012: Does Grid Soil Sampling Pay?

Today we are joined by Mike Manning (aka @datamanning on Twitter) and Renee Hansen as they travel through Nebraska, to

yield efficiency dashboard

011: The Importance of Yield Efficiency

Today we are talking with Dan and Renee about the importance of Yield Efficiency in farming. Topics covered include yield

farming on ipad

010: Why Creating a Farm Plan Matters

Today we are talking with Dan and Darren about the Derecho land hurricanes and storms that wrecked havoc on growers

farmer and advisor

009: On Offense During Farm Planning

Today we are talking with Dan and Darren about going on offense during farm planning of each season. Topics covered

farmer holding tablet

008: You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

Today we are talking with Dan and Darren about how to manage what you measure when it comes to your

big data

007: Leveraging Big Data

Today we are talking with Dan and Darren about big data. Topics covered include how big data can influence the

innovation

006: Innovating During a Crisis

Today we are talking about innovating during a crisis and how efficiency in agriculture is key. Topics covered include

farmer

005: Verifying In-Season Applications and Profits

Today we are talking about verifying in-season applications and profits in your field. We are joined by Pat Mai, Account

farmer

004: Protecting Crop Profits

Today we are talking about the value of protecting crop profits during uncertain times. Listen as Rodney and Eric discuss

combine

003: The Value of Precision Ag During Tight Economic Times

Today we are talking about the value of precision ag and data during tough economic times. We are joined by

farm data

002: Grower’s Experience with Farm Analytics

Today we are talking about a grower’s experience with farm analytics and precision ag. We are joined by Aaron Seifert,

001: Does Variable Rate Seeding Pay?

Today we are joined by Mike Manning (aka @datamanning on Twitter) to discuss variable rate seeding in precision ag. Mike

Blogs

When Two Negatives Make a Positive

When we look back to 2012 it was historically dry, and 2013 started out wet and then turned dry. As some growers in the Midwest face yields below expectations, they’re

Find Profit in Data

There is a popular reminder used in crop production to spur a sense of urgency. It goes something like this: “You only get to plant a field 40 times in

Surrogate Data

“But how do I know if what I am seeing in my data analysis is real?” That’s a question that is not only appropriate but also healthy. For the last

Compare Field Yields

Got data? You may be thinking, “Yes, I have plenty of it”, or maybe, “No, how do I get it?” Even if you have no precision-ag data, chances are you

Build Your Nutrient Data

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a target on your back! Our modern crop production system is on a collision course with the non-farming public who are becoming more removed

Cost Per Bushel

Premier Crop has been challenged by growers and industry skeptics. The recent euphoria over the value of grower’s data has been a welcome change in that more growers are starting

Color Blind Data

I grew up attending a small rural Iowa Methodist church and the theology from the pulpit was all about being “color blind”. Of course, the irony was that we all

Data Builds Confidence

Are you confident? Where does that confidence come from? From your life experiences? From your successes? Even your failures? What about the decisions you make in your crop production business?

Compare Real Benchmarks

Telling customers they are underperforming never seemed like a great business model to me. Benchmarking can have that exact effect – 60% aren’t performing well if you remember teachers grading

Compare Apple to Apples

You are likely asked for next years seed order many times before harvest even begins. In that case, one of the first decisions you probably will make using your yield

Data by the Bushel

A commercial partnership brings combined analysis of financial records and field productivity to Syngenta growers. Mark Stelford understands the need to provide growers and retailers with a solution to what he

Premier Crop’s New ELBs Allow us to Experimentally Establish Causation

Throughout Premier Crop’s nearly 20-year history, we’ve perhaps been the most diligent at communicating that what we do – big data analysis – would be considered “observational data analysis,” which

Learning Blocks

Some people remember phone numbers or slender dates; I remember farm fields. Before the 2005 crop year, the program leaders for Central Advantage from Central Valley Cooperative in southern Minnesota

Why You Should Test Products on Your Own Farm

Why should you test products on your own farm? Your farm is unique and you have the equipment capabilities and data to conduct those trials. With little risk, you can

Remove the Guessing and Make Data Driven Decisions

As farmers face another year with challenging markets and high inputs, we as agronomic advisors continue to work with our clients in order to find where we can remove some

AgProfessional Podcast Featuring Premier Crop’s Molly Haub

Molly Haub, @molly_barnhart, of Premier Crop Systems talks about how growers can use their technology to work for them by putting numbers along side their data so you can get the best ROI.

Can “Unhealthy” Soils Consistently Produce Exceptional Yields?

In the early 1970s, I was fortunate to work for a farming operation that was serious about soil conservation. Serving on State Soil Conservation boards, building terraces, implementing no-till, when

THREE Ways to Determine Field Profitability Using Your Technology {Pt. 1}

This is a three part series focusing on ways to determine your field profitability using your technology. We will post the series over the course of two months. If you

Select the Right Seed for Your Field

There are many ways to trial new products on your farm. Possibly one of the most common is what you might call a split-planter or side-by-side trial which we’ll refer

THREE Ways to Determine Field Profitability Using Your Technology {Pt. 2}

This is a three part series focusing on ways to determine your field profitability using your technology. We will post the series over the course of two months. If you

Making The Data Deliver

Dan Frieberg, President of Premier Crop Systems, talks about data and breakeven cost per bushel on the Farm to Fork Podcast. Listen Now Host: A yield map will tell farmers what

THREE Ways to Determine Field Profitability Using Your Technology {Pt. 3}

This is a three part series focusing on ways to determine your field profitability using your technology. We will post the series over the course of two months. If you

Are you applying the right rates?

In 2005, Premier Crop trademarked a unique idea that has become a common practice with our customers. A trademark called Learning Blocks™. If you’ve conceded to the idea that your

Produce (a lot) More with Less

I spend some of my best work days with growers – encouraging them to use their data to drive better agronomic decisions. Of course, I’m frequently also inviting them to

Intuition Doesn’t Match Data

I’m a big believer in the practice of split-applying nitrogen – specifically sidedress – applying a portion of the nitrogen after planting. Being able to apply part of the nitrogen

Paving the Way to Easy Data Transfer

I have had the privilege of being in the “Precision Ag business” for over 20 years now. A lot has changed since I started, but some fundamental issues still plague

How to Lower Your Breakeven Cost Per Bushel

Dan Frieberg talks with Delaney Howell and Mike Pearson with Global Ag Network sharing his insights on how to lower a grower’s breakeven cost per bushel. Dan talks about

Precision Ag: Understand What is Profit Limiting

Dan Frieberg talks about the Silver Bullet of precision ag and how there is no “Silver bullet”. The point is the “Silver Bullet” for growers changes within every part of

The Precision Ag “Easy” Button

Virtually every precision ag survey done with growers and industry over the last 20 years would rank “getting different systems to work together” as the greatest frustration and obstacle to

Crop Research: Evidence-based Decisions

I’m always looking for parallels – examples from other industries on how they use data to drive better decisions. While on the road, I listened to several Freakonomics podcasts. One that related well

Time to Scrutinize ROI

Increasing return on investment for every input is clearly on the mind of every grower. They are in an economic squeeze, but that doesn’t mean they won’t invest more in

Trust… But Verify

Every week I see ads using the latest marketing buzzwords to describe how a company is going to use your/their big data to revolutionize how you farm. Estimated rainfall using

More Data Helps Data Driven Decisions

At this time of the year, it’s easy to feel like yields are largely a function of weather – temperature and rainfall. Over the years in hundreds of grower meetings,

Best Average Rate Costs Profits

Long before GPS was part of our acronym vocabulary, my early agriculture career started in eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. On one of those scorching hot July days, as you

Every Acre Is Unique

Foundations of agronomy and geography are the starting place for data-driven decisions. I believe data driven decisions will power change in every aspect of crop production. Your data can be

Understand why Hybrid and Variety Yields Vary

Yield results are in and every plot or trial has an overall winner! Winning a plot isn’t easy. Sometimes, luck is involved. Years ago, one of our customers measured the

Does Variable Rate Anything Pay?

Difficult economic times tend to bring out skepticism or at least a review of current practices. Recently I was asked “Do variable rate applications of any crop input really pay?”

Moving Beyond Correlation

Throughout Premier Crop’s nearly 20 year history, we’ve perhaps been the most diligent at communicating that what we do – big data analysis – would be considered “observational data analysis”

Measuring Yield Efficiency Using a Visualization Platform

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Data Visualization platform, part of our three-tier technology strategy. This new platform allows growers to gain key insights that give

One Rate Doesn’t Fit All

When I began my career in crop production, we would routinely pull 20 soil sample cores, mix the cores in a bucket, pour one pound into a sample bag, send

Give Your Data Purpose with a Yield Efficiency Score

As you are gearing up for harvest, there is a nervous excitement. You are about to get your final grade for 2019. How did you do? Did you make money?

Analyzing Your Yield Map

Hunters and soil scientists may seem like an odd pairing but they have at least one thing in common – they know and appreciate that nature has an aversion to

You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure

Private colleges market their low faculty-student ratios to compete with the draw of big universities and the message is it’s a place where we know your name. Insurance companies compete

Back to the Basics

I have never liked the warning “you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” It always seems to futile and irreversible. But one example that I encounter

Discover Agronomic Synergies

Is it possible that 3 and 2 can equal more than 5? That’s the concept of synergy – when the “whole equals more than the sum of the parts”. Within

Data May Reduce Rent

When I’m visiting with growers and advisers, I frequently say that maps are a great way to view data, but the real power lies within the data file that the

Premier Crop Announces New President and CEO

Premier Crop Systems is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has appointed Darren Fehr as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors

Don’t Farm Averages

Sometimes “averages” can be your worst enemy. Everyone has heard far-fetched examples that illustrate the problem with “average.” Picture standing with one foot in ice-cold water and the other foot

Using Data to Measure Hybrid and Variety Performance

The age-old agronomy equation is, “Yield Equals Genetics (G) by Environment (E) by Management (M).” There is a lot of focus on using data to measure hybrid and variety performance,

Thankful for Harvest Bounty

I’m writing this before one of our great American traditions with agricultural roots – Thanksgiving – originally a time to be thankful for the bounty of the harvest. The 2017

Data Decisions

Data Driven

Fourteen Years’ Data Guide Darle Elkin’s Decisions Darle Elkin used to man Air Force nuclear weapon guidance systems, so it’s probably not surprising that his tractor cab looks like Houston

Building the Blocks

A successful crop means checking your work to track trends. Blocks have always been linked to learning. As children, we used blocks to build, testing our theories about the world

Who Owns The Knowledge?

Agronomically, most of us are “land grant” educated. Land grant universities were established with the Morrill Act in 1860’s and served to make higher education affordable to the masses, including

Soil Type ≠ Silver Bullet

We’re fortunate in the U.S. to have digitized soils. What historically used to be contained in a book of maps is available in electronic form. Literally, every precision ag platform

Best Average Rate Costs Profits!

Long before GPS was part of our acronym vocabulary, my early agriculture career started in eastern Iowa and northern Illinois. On one of those scorching hot July days, as you

And The Winner Is…

Yield results are in and every plot or trial has an overall winner! Winning a plot isn’t easy. Sometimes, luck is involved. Years ago, one of our customers measured the

Real Agronomic Complexity

Several years ago, I had customers tell me we could grow our company a lot faster if we had something like their planter monitor that flashed the dollars being lost

Build your Nutrient Data

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a target on your back! Our modern crop production system is on a collision course with the non-farming public who are become more removed

Data may Reduce Rent

When I’m visiting with growers and advisers, I frequently say that maps are a great way to view data, but the real power lies within the data file that the

Lender as Agronomist

I don’t like it when people generalize about the characteristics of a demographic group — like when people say, “Bald men are better-looking.” There are always exceptions that make those

Time to Scrutinize ROI

Increasing return on investment for every input is clearly on the mind of every grower. They are in an economic squeeze, but that doesn’t mean they won’t invest more in

Discover Agronomic Synergies

Is it possible that 3 and 2 can equal more than 5? That’s the concept of synergy — when the “whole equals more than the sum of the parts”. Within

Don’t Farm Averages

Sometimes “average” can be your worst enemy. Everyone has heard far-fetched examples that illustrate the problem with “average.” Picture standing with one foot in ice-cold water and the other foot

Learning Blocks

Some people remember phone numbers or calendar dates; I remember farm fields. Before the 2005 crop year, the program leaders for Central Advantage from Central Valley Cooperative in southern Minnesota

Moving beyond Correlation

Throughout Premier Crop’s nearly 20-year history, we’ve perhaps been the most diligent at communicating that what we do — big data analysis — would be considered “observational data analysis” by

The Precision Ag “Easy” Button

Virtually every precision ag survey done with growers and industry over the last 20 years would rank “getting different systems to work together” as the greatest frustration and obstacle to

Straight Lines = Man Made

Hunters and soil scientists may seem like an odd pairing but they have at least one thing in common — they know and appreciate that nature has an aversion to

Compare Real Benchmarks

Telling your customers they are under-performing never seemed like a great business model to me. Benchmarking can have that exact effect — 60% aren’t performing well if you remember teachers

One Rate Doesn’t Fit All

1 pound into a sample bag, send it off to the lab, get the results back, and then pretend that what was on that sheet of paper accurately represented the

Does Variable Rate ANYTHING Pay?

Difficult economic times tend to bring out skepticism or at least a review of current practices. Recently, I was asked “Do variable rate applications of any crop input really pay?”

Trust … but Verify

Every week I see ads using the latest marketing buzz- words to describe how a company is going to use your/ their big data to revolutionize how you farm. Estimated

Beyond Pretty Maps

For more than a decade, GPS technology has allowed you to capture variability within a field — from yield to soils, fertility, pH, varieties, variable-rate applications and agronomic treatments. Meaning

Is Mother Nature all That Matters?

At this time of the year, it’s easy to feel like yields are largely a function of weather — temperature and rainfall. Over the years in hundreds of grower meetings,

Evidence-Based Decisions

I’m always looking for parallels — examples from other industries on how they use data to drive better decisions. On the recent road trip, I caught up with several Freakonomics

Data Builds Confidence

Are you confident? Where does that confidence come from? From your life experiences? From your successes? Even your failures? What about the decisions you make in your crop production business?

…But Does it Pay?

Entering our 17th crop year, Premier Crop has been challenged by growers and industry skeptics. The recent euphoria over the value of growers’ data has been a welcome change in

Produce (a Lot) More with Less

Is your own story that powerful? Are you producing more crops with less inputs per bushel produced? I spend some of my best work days with growers — encouraging them

Intuition Doesn’t Match Data

I’m a big believer in the practice of split-applying nitrogen — specifically sidedress-applying a portion of the nitrogen after planting. Being able to apply part of the nitrogen closer to

Can’t Save your Way into Prosperity

Sometimes life events leave a market for generations. The Great depression created generations of frugal farm family survivors. Feeding a family was a challenge — holding on to a farm

Dig Deep into Data

One of the services Premier Crop provides growers with is community or group data analysis from a regional basis. Growers can confidentially and anonymously share their field data with other

Share Your Farm Data?

It’s hard to avoid hearing about the promise of “big data.” Thanks to Edward Snowden’s proposition, we need your non- partnership to use your data to revelations, it is also

Success in VR Seeding

I try very hard not to fall in the trap of “geek” talk. It’s a special challenge, as we have a company full of geeks! Even though we hire a

Mind the Gap

If you’ve ever traveled to London and been a passenger on their subway system, the “tube,” you’ve heard the phrase “mind the gap.” It’s kind of funny because that’s not