Welcome to 2023
January 13, 2023
EP 65: Fertilizer Market, Volatility, & Transportation Issues
January 17, 2023
At Premier, we believe in researching and utilizing as much science and technology available to make the biggest impact for our farmers. Through programs and services like TRAX, we are able to do just that. We recently sat down with Joe, a TRAX Crop Specialist on our team to learn more about TRAX and how his job makes a difference.
Q: Can you share a little bit about your role as the Agronomy Lead for the TRAX team at Premier?
A: Absolutely. Essentially, the crops we grow remove nutrients from the soil. Over time, the soil’s nutrient levels will drastically decrease, and can even disappear completely. As the Agronomy Lead and a member of the TRAX team at Premier, it is my job to find out…
- how much is missing,
- where it is missing the most/least,
- what fertilizer best replaces the void, and
- when the best time to put it back is.
I will then make recommendations that cover all aforementioned criteria.
Q: Can you share what a typical day looks like for you?
A: This will greatly depend on the time of year. During fertilizer spreading season (September to April), it’s a frenzy of gathering yield and soil data from yield monitors and deploying/dispatching our sampling teams all over the 25 counties that we serve. In addition, I am writing variable rate fertilizer technology (VRT) recommendations as they are requested by our growers and account managers. They cover typical products such as AgLime, Potash, DAP (Diammonium Phosphate), and custom blended products.
Other parts of the year are spent dispatching and collecting tissue samples during the growing season, preparing reports for the upcoming season and going over farm plans with the growers. I also assist with fungicide application dispatching.
Q: How long does it typically take to gather enough information to start analyzing the data for a project?
A: Well, “enough” is a tricky word here. I can comfortably write a recommendation using only yield data. However, that is just one layer. The more layers of data I can obtain, the more thorough a recommendation will be. I usually like to have at least soil elemental data, several years of yield data, as well as the other factors like soil type, slope, etc.
Q: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A: I would have to say finding a solution that is tailored to the individual farmer and seeing it become a success for them and their operation.
Q: If someone is considering TRAX but isn’t sure yet, what would you say to them?
A: I would say it is worth every penny. TRAX is not a one-size fit all plan for all farms and fields. In fact, it’s far from that. Data and information are not the same thing. TRAX customizes each nutrient plan right down to the individual field using piles of data that are actively applied to each field.
Q: If someone is interested in learning more about TRAX, how can they get in contact with a Crop Specialist?
The best way to learn more about TRAX is to contact an Account Manager by calling 800-742-9385, emailing crops@premierag.com, or by filling out the short interest form on this page. You can also visit our website to learn more about TRAX and our process.
From there, we will be available to meet in person at a farm or in one of our office locations, depending on what is easiest for the grower. We are looking forward to working with you soon!
