The Co-op AG Team is mixing tradition with technology.
In southeast Alberta, agronomists at South Country Co-op — some of whom have been working with the same growers for more than 20 years — are using new satellite crop monitoring technology to deliver enhanced services and insights.
“More and more, as farms get bigger, growers can’t walk all the fields,” said Rudy Nordin, Agro Division Manager at South Country Co-op, which is using GEOSYS’ Croptical™ application to monitor approximately 145,000 acres of cereals, pulses, oilseeds and forages this season.
“Satellite imagery allows growers and agronomists to see all their fields and how they’re performing.”
Source: Geosys™
Committed to innovation
Croptical uses daily satellite and weather-based data to assess crop health. Using NDVI maps, agronomists can locate potential emergence, disease, or nutritional problems and identify opportunities to push yields. The team at South Country Co-op is evaluating how Croptical contributes to the efficiency of its agronomists when they need to scout significant acres, as well as how it can enhance the grower-customer experience.
“We’re not standing still. We’re improving what we do and trying to find methods that make our services more adaptable to the farmer’s situation,” said Alvin Stephens, CCA, Agronomy Division Manager at South Country Co-op.
Every day, Croptical provides South Country Co-op agronomists with updates on the vegetative growth in their growers’ fields. These images are regularly augmented with high-resolution maps that provide even greater insight into what parts of a field are performing best.
In mid-June, agronomists were using the maps to monitor field density and identify areas where disease may be a concern.
“It puts good information in the hands of our agronomists, so that when they talk to the farmer, they can talk about specific areas in the field,” said Stephens.
Looking to the future
Along with advanced farm technology, a new generation of agronomists are entering the field. As a participant in Co-op’s Excellence in Ag Program, which provides scholarships, paid internships and opportunities for full-time employment to students studying agriculture and agribusiness, South Country Co-op is providing future farm leaders with opportunities to work and learn alongside experienced ag professionals.
- MORE: Excellence in Ag
“Excellence in Ag gives our students a look at what is expected of an agronomist and
what is going to be asked of them once they complete their studies,” said Nordin. “The program is a great tool for us to ensure we will continue to employ quality agronomists.
“Our experienced agronomists can mentor our newer team members, which is a powerful combination. It’s an investment for us to bring new talent into the organization, but it’s definitely one that will pay off for our members and customers.”
Alvin StevensSouth Country Co-op
Rudy Nordin
South Country Co-op