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AGRONOMY
PRECISION AG
Forward thinking increases efficiency and
profit, and United Ag has the tools you need
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By Dr. Zach Eder
ob Dylan once sang, “The times,
they are a-changin’!” That was
back in 1964 in the midst of the
Green Revolution led by Norman Borlaug,
who was on his way to a Nobel Peace Prize
for his work in agriculture. Since then, we
have seen farms and equipment grow in
size, technology make great strides, hybrids
improve yields, agriculture production
reduce waste and populations continue to
stretch food production around the world.
The availability of Global Positioning
System and the development of precision
agriculture is the next step in the ongoing process of maximizing every input and
penny going into each crop.
I am Dr. Zach Eder, and I am serving as
your Precision Ag Manager to bring new
precision technologies from various agricultural disciplines to your operations. My wife
Sarah, a new physics teacher at El Campo
High School, and I recently relocated from
College Station to be a part of this great opportunity in El Campo. Prior to coming to
El Campo, I earned a Bachelor of Science in
genetics and entomology from Texas A&M
University, a Master of Science in plant, soil
and environmental sciences with a focus
on sorghum integrated pest management at
West Texas A&M University and a doctorate in agronomy studying cotton defoliation and lint quality with the Texas Agrilife
Extension Service at Texas A&M University.
At United Ag, we are working tirelessly
to ensure great opportunities do not pass
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Participating in the scouting program allows
for a wealth of knowledge about your farm
to be collected on a day-to-day basis,
and maximizes the benefit of technology
currently in use.
us by, and your precision ag program will
allow you to identify your most productive ground, maximize input potential and
manage risk across a field. As Precision Ag
Manager, I am working to blend our various
tools of GPS mapping for dispatch, regional
pest modeling, variable rate application
and yield monitoring to fit your operation.
Together, we can work to develop a unique
plan that fits your specific operation.
Following harvest, a grid-sampling program can identify key regions in a field for
applications of fertilizer and lime. We are
currently utilizing a 2.5-acre grid sampling
technique, which is the industry standard
for identifying individual field needs and
deficiencies. A minimal investment in
thorough soil sampling can aid in addressing many issues we have seen, such as
potassium deficiency in cotton causing early
senescence and pH concerns. Additionally,
for those with variable rate capabilities,
United Ag has compatible applicators to
apply prescriptions in the field. Benefits can
still be gained through low-tech methods,
such as flagging key areas of a field for lime
applications.
Your agronomy team provides handson experience in your fields as part of the
scouting program. Blending this experience
with GPS mapping and scouting expertise,
we can pinpoint problems and rapidly address issues in these fields. Participating in
the scouting program allows for a wealth of
knowledge about your farm to be collected
on a day-to-day basis, and maximizes the
benefit of technology currently in use.
Together, we can leverage this information
to maintain farm records, improve decision
making, and reduce risk.
Yield data is some of the most valuable
data that can be collected. United Ag is a
certified AgLeader dealer, and can assist you
with orders, installations, yearly calibrations and any issues throughout the season
on these products. However, we are here to
aid with all data collected for any type of
precision ag tools, regardless of brand. The
precision ag team experience in statistical
variation, agronomy and soil sciences will
allow [