Looking at soil sampling, what’s out there today? Well, soil sampling is getting much more prevalent and it’s getting cheaper, although soil analysis is still expensive. 

What’s exciting is all the soil moisture sensing technologies coming out today and the better connectivity and accuracy that those systems are starting to offer. There’s even soil sensing technologies that are starting to make predictions on what the nutrient analysis is for the soil, trying to not necessarily replace the lab but provide you more real-time information on what’s going on with your nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other macro- and micro-nutrients. 

There also better soil sampling tools. How many farmers have actually gone to the field and pulled samples with the old tried and true soil probe? Let’s just say when we’re all pulling with just a soil probe, do you really want to grid sample on 2½ acres? Hell no. 

But as soon as I get a cool hydraulic unit, driving around in my 4-wheeler and looking cool, now grid soil sampling isn’t all that bad. What is this doing for us when we’re starting to be able to collect better soil sampling information? 

It’s enabling the acquisition of very critical soil fertility data that we simply can’t get through other remote sensing or optical sensor techniques. It’s still a foundational part of an agronomic program and improving farm management. Hear more from Dr. Ray Asebedo in our Strip-Till Farmer podcast series, sponsored by Topcon Agriculture.