Precision ag specialist helps farmers test products on the farm

Precision agriculture has helped change the way farmers produce a crop, focusing on the details to make gains that deliver benefits in both productivity and efficiency. Yet, convincing some farmers to try new technologies is a challenge Tyler Strahl faces.

"When it comes to precision agriculture, there are so many new products," says Strahl, a precision ag specialist with Mustang Seeds, a family-owned seed company based in Madison, South Dakota. "These products take time to test on the farm to see if they can bring value by saving time, increasing yields, or providing a solution for a farmer."

Graduating from South Dakota State University with a degree in precision agriculture and agriculture systems technology in 2021, Strahl chose this path because he enjoys being out in the field, testing the technologies alongside a producer to see what is worth implementing.

At Mustang Seeds, he provides technology and agronomic support, troubleshooting technology many farmers are employing and using the data collected to create and analyze variable-rate fertilizer and seeding prescriptions. As producers continue to be pushed to increase yield from fewer inputs, accurate targeting of the right inputs at the right time will be paramount.

"Some fields have variability that can be seen from the road; other fields may look uniform when driving by. However, when collecting data in yield maps or soil samples, they may show areas that can be managed differently. Applying variable-rate products allows farmers to reduce input costs in the lower- performing parts of a field and increase products in places that can produce higher yields and return on investment," he says.

Varied Customer Base

Strahl works with a wide array of customers from producers who are just getting into technology and precision agronomy to those who have been using technology for years and making management decisions based off their data. With higher fertilizer prices, many farmers in his territory, which focuses on the Dakotas and Minnesota, are willing to make the investment in variable-rate fertilizer.

"They are also interested in field scouting using technologies such as drones to be proactive instead of reactive," Strahl says.

Stacking Tech Tools

As Mustang Seeds looks at ways to better serve its customers, a joint venture with GDM Seeds will provide producers with access to new technologies developed by GDM.

"Optimus is a platform being developed by GDM to give growers access to tools for precision ag," Strahl says. "The platform allows farmers to see an in-depth analysis on variable-rate products after the growing season to help them make better decisions. This tool will work alongside platforms growers are already using like the John Deere Operations Center and Climate FieldView."

Ultimately, Strahl says the best way to see the return on investment for a technology is to try it in a few fields. "Applying variable rate will take a full growing season to get the results back, but it can help you make better management decisions for years to come," he says.