While at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, our own Maci Carter caught up with Natalie McCracken at EarthOptics to discuss 360 Pro, which they partnered with Pattern Ag to develop.
360 Pro is a comprehensive soil profiling tool that provides detailed information on soil biology, compaction up to 18 inches deep, and high-resolution nutrient levels.
“Now people can do more precision nutrient placement and tillage which saves time and money,” McCracken explained.
EarthOptics is a soil sensor technology that uses ground-penetrating radar to create detailed, high-resolution soil maps of a farmer’s fields. Previously, producers could only see this information in 2.5-acre grids. Additionally, EarthOptics technicians will take soil samples to give producers the most accurate results on the market.
The technology is not sold as equipment but as a service provided to farmers and producers. “We aren’t interested in selling somebody another piece of equipment,” McCracken commented. “We get it, you have tons on your farm already. We want to make sure that our technology is the most up-to-date available. So, we don’t want you to buy something, and three years later, there is another version of it.”
EarthOptics offers two options: loaning the GroundOwl technology to large farmers who can load it onto their side-by-side and allow the technology to upload to the EarthOptics platform. Secondly, they provide a white-glove service where they handle everything and provide results.
“This is the first time that we are able to bring a complete profile of the soil to farmers and their advisers,” McCracken said. “Now, you can look at soil nutrients, compaction, biology – which includes things like corn rootworm, soybean cyst nematode, foliar diseases. This allows you to do the optimal job of finding your seed selection, crop protection, and fertility planning.”
EarthOptics is already working on its next ground owl which will feature a carbon cover so that it can be left on the implement with all sensors in place. GroundOwl 2.0 should be launching in a month or so. More information can be found at earthoptics.com, and more about the biology side can be found at pattern.ag.
