These days, combines are capable of much more than harvesting grain. They can read fields like a book. Some of the most important information a combine can collect is yield data. Once analyzed yield data shows everything from the most productive portions of a field to the least and every zone in between. You have all this information at your fingertips, but what can you do with it?
That’s where Crop Quest comes in. As a company of crop consultants and precision ag specialists, its understood that your goal is to maximize yield potential within each zone; yield data is crucial to meeting this goal. Crop Quest can interpret and put the data to use for you by uploading the information into our field software – SST Summit. Then, by fine tuning the raw data, Crop Quest can get a more accurate view of yields across the field. The result will be a picture similar to this. Once the clutter is removed and the raw data is calibrated it leaves a more precise representation of actual yield.
Yield data is an arrow pointing out trouble spots or low yielding areas. Over several years, trends may be seen. After it’s determined what is limiting production in areas, management decisions can be make accordingly. These include adjusting fertilizer, water, seed applications and more. The data can also be used to create management zones for further testing, such as soil sampling, tissue sampling or gathering other sensor data.
Elevation data, Soil Texture Mapping, Crop Health Images and soil type maps are examples of data layers that enhance management zones when added to yield data. This leads to a more productive field in the end. Decisions made with the help of yield data will increase future production efficiency. Don’t let your data sit stagnant any longer. Put it to work for you! For more information, contact your local Crop Quest Agronomist.
