N-TRACKER
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ILLINI FS PROMOTES ROBOTIC SAMPLING

Illini FS is leading the way to adoption of new technologies, such as Robotic Sampling.  We are moving into our third cropping season featuring Rogo Ag as our preferred method of sample collection.  With over 20,000 acres behind us, we are quite confident that control of location and depth are important new additions to our pursuit providing innovative products, services and solutions to our growing customer base.   "What got us to where we are at will not take us to where we need to go."  The future of crop production challenges us to better characterize the soil profile to better utilize inputs needed to optimize harvest yield.  Better utilization means maximizing use of inputs which minimizes losses...  If we use it, we won't lose it. 

Our next focus will be to generate field maps of plant-available N to fine-tune our N input use.  No better way to contribute to a reduction in global warming, Hypoxia in the Gulf and water quality than to optimize N applied to production fields.  It is one of the only ways to provide a sustainable change to N input use, benefiting both the producer and non-producers. 
Rogo Ag Website Link

WHY USE ROBOTIC SAMPLING?
IMPROVED ACCURACY.   A high-speed drill collects the sample, eliminate the problem of compressing the soil core when using a traditional soil probe.  A more consistent sampling depth will provide the producer with test results that best represent the desired sampling depth.

IMPROVED PRECISION.  Finding the same field location to collect soil samples is only part of the sampling equation.  Where the cores are collected is also an important component.  Robotic sampling removes the fatique associated with manual sample collection along with specific location where cores are collected to represent the point.  
It is time for progressive producers to go beyond the acre furrow slice and learn about the upper soil profile that the "new age" root system actually explores.  Samples collected over the past three years suggest a strong correlation between a 7 and 12-inch sampling depth."  Phosphorus does not move beyond the upper 12 inches.  It also suggests that movement of mobile nutrients occurs.  It is time that we focus on nutrient dynamics in the upper soil profile beyond an acre-furrow-slice.  Do nutrients move downward or upward in the soil profile?  The answer is "Yes" to both.  Characterize the upper soil profile. Start learning the behavior of crop nutrients in relationship to crop uptake and harvest yield.  Give Nu-TRACKER Plus a try."

Howard Brown
​Mgr. Ag Information and Nutrient Stewardship
PARTNERSHIP WITH ILLINI FS

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NEWEST ADDITION TO THE 2021 FLEET OF ROBOTIC SAMPLERS
Rogo Ag LLC will be utilizing Kabota utility vehicles the Spring of 2021 for robotic sampling.  There will be a person on-board to put samples in labelled bags, but the unit will take care of locating the sites and collecting the cores.  The new units will allow for light-weight, in-crop sample collection.  There were 9 Kabota units available to serve Illini FS customers.  
Video Link
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UTILIZED IN 2019 AND 2020
Not often do you see a Bobcat running around in a field stopping to collect soil samples and  then moving on to the next sampling point.  I continue to be impressed with how the system works.  It never grows tired or hurries to collect the last samples on a Friday afternoon.  These workhorse samplers will remain a part of the robotic fleet, but will likely be utilized in the fall of the year following harvest.  An extended drill bit allowed these units to collect 0 - 2 ft. samples for the NuTRACKER Plus Program.  Although the depth made the units work hard, the additional sampling depth was not an issue.  
VIDEO LINK
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Dr. Howard Brown                  
Illini FS                                 
1509 East University Ave.   
​Urbana, IL  61802                 
hbrown@illinifs.com               
217-649-3527                      
  • Home
  • NUTRIENTS BY REMOVAL
    • CROP REMOVAL
  • SOIL TESTING REINVENTED
    • SOIL TESTING REINVENTED
  • NuTRACKER Plus
    • ABOUT >
      • ORIGIN
      • HISTORY
      • DATA USE AGREEMENT
      • REPORT REVIEWER
      • HOW TO PARTICIPATE
      • SOIL TESTS >
        • LABS USED
        • TESTS PERFORMED
        • SAMPLING DATES
      • PROGRAM COST
    • REGISTER A SITE >
      • ILLINI FS
      • NEW CENTURY FS
      • SUNRISE FS
      • HERITAGE FS, INC.
  • ON-FARM DISCOVERY
    • 2018 - 2021 REPORTs
  • OUTREACH
    • HIGH SCHOOL OUTREACH
    • NITROGEN NINJA