SWAT Agronomy
SWAT Agronomy is a podcast for people using technology to solve agronomic problems. It focuses on on-farm applications of precision agriculture and practical insights from agronomic experts. Episodes discuss tools, data, and experiences that help growers improve decision-making. The show is produced by Croptimistic Technology Inc.
Episodes
SWAT 022: Catching Up On Precision Ag With Chris Hawkins
In this episode of the SWAT Agronomy podcast we feature Chris Hawkins. Chris is the sales director at Croptimistic Technology based in Saskatchewan. In that role he serves both farmers directly as well as the partners that Croptimistic works with. He’s also responsible for the partner services side of the business, so one of his key objectives is to help their partners grow their businesses.
SWAT 021: Farmer-Led Science With Brett McArtor
Brett McArtor joins the show to talk about how he using SWAT MAPS in his role as senior research associate at Corteva Agriscience. Since graduating from Iowa State, Brett has remained focused on working directly with farmers to perform trials and research projects on their operations. His work has always involved farmer-led science to determine how new products fit into management systems an
SWAT 020: Population Trials with Paul Sullivan of P.T. Sullivan Agro
Paul Sullivan (Twitter/X) joins the show to talk about the challenges he and his farmers are dealing with in his area of Eastern Ontario. We discuss some really interesting population trials that he’s doing, fertility issues coming off years of high fertilizer prices, and what difference SWAT MAPS has made for him and his farmer customers. “When we look at yield, yield is a component of kerne
SWAT 019: Developing and Scaling Precision Agriculture Tools with Derek Rude
In this episode of the SWAT Agronomy podcast, Derek Rude, VP of Research and Development at Croptimistic Technology, discusses the evolution of precision ag technologies like SWAT MAPS and SWAT CAM. The conversation touches upon the development of precision agriculture tools, advancements in soil mapping, challenges in scaling SWAT MAPS, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learn
SWAT 018: Prairie Legend Les Henry
We have a really special episode for you as we sit down with Les Henry. Retired in 1996, Les is a professor emeritus at the University of Saskatchewan, a private consultant, and farmer. He is a renowned soils expert and in 2010 he released a lighthearted book about his passion for soils titled “Henry’s Handbook of Soil and Water”. He has taught and mentored many farmers, agronomists and ag profess
SWAT 017: Adapting Technology And Agronomy To Local Conditions With Tyler Kessler
Tyler Kessler joins us to discuss his independent agronomy consulting business in Southern Saskatchewan. The company provides a range of agronomic and precision agriculture services for farmers who want to optimize yield, improve soil health, and reduce environmental impacts. They are also a service provider of SWAT MAPS. Before incorporating Kessler Ag Ventures in 2015, Tyler worked in ag retail
SWAT 016: Targeted Herbicide Applications With Trav Hair of Crop Opti Services
Trav Hair is based in Horsham, Victoria and has worked in ag for 20 years. He’s part of the agronomy team at Crop Opti Services and works closely with research and development companies at their trial site bringing new products to market. As well as looking after his own agronomy clients, Trav also works with machinery companies to help growers utilize their machinery purchases to enable them to a
SWAT 015: Corn Population Economics with Trent Mastny and Justin Mastny of JTM Ag
Nebraska farmers, brothers, and co-owners of JTM Ag, Trent and Justin Mastny join us to talk about their search for a system that would serve their farm better. They also discuss how JTM Ag now helps other farmers in the area take their variable rate technology to the next level through SWAT MAPS. They now combine the precision of SWAT Maps with soil and tissue sampling through Agronomy 365 and BW
SWAT 014: A More Detailed Approach with Anita Renwick of A1 Agronomy
A1 Agronomy owner and operator Anita Renwick joins us to discuss her independent agronomy business in Manitoba. A1 provides soil sampling programs and in-season agronomy services in the southwest corner of the province as well as parts of southeast Saskatchewan. Born and raised on a mixed cattle and grain farm in Southwest Manitoba, Anita studied agronomy at the University of Saskatchewan. She ult
SWAT 013: Agronomy Advantage with Deb Campbell
Agronomist Deb Campbell of Agronomy Advantage joins us to talk about her work in Ontario, Canada. Deb has a great perspective as a Certified Crop Advisor who has worked directly with farmers for many years. As you’ll hear, she not only runs a thriving business, but also has been very involved on the Certified Crop Advisor Board of Directors, the Provincial Soil Action Group, AgScape, and many othe
SWAT 012: Variable Rate Planting in Potatoes with Evan MacDonald
Learn more about SWAT MAPS: https://swatmaps.com/Evan MacDonald's Twitter and LinkedInSenior Precision Agronomist Evan MacDonald joins us to talk about water, potatoes, and some of his research in Prince Edward Island in Eastern Canada. In addition to working full time for Croptimistic Technology, Evan began pursuing his PhD with a project focusing on variable rate seed spacing in potatoes. He now
SWAT 011: Technology for Weed Management with Josh Lade
Josh Lade farms along with two other families north of Saskatoon, SK where they raise wheat, canola, peas, lentils and barley. Josh grew up on Kangaroo Island in Australia, on a sheep and seed potato farm. Upon moving to Canada over 12 years ago, Josh found a keen interest in the technology side of the business. He joins us to talk about precision weed control, his experience with the SWAT CAM, an
SWAT 010: Rob Swieter on Zone Management and ServiTech's Partnership with SWAT MAPS
ServiTech’s Rob Swieter joins the show to talk about their new partnership with SWAT MAPS. This alliance will provide farmers with enhanced tools for informed decision-making on their farms through the practical application of high-resolution soil maps, data, process, machinery, and agronomy knowledge. ServiTech provides independent crop consulting and laboratory services throughout Iowa, where Ro
SWAT 009: Brad Dunnington on Map Making and the Evolution of SWAT MAPS
In this episode we are joined by Brad Dunnington of Croptimistic Technology. Brad was the first employee when he joined the company in 2008 and is now the SWAT MAPS manager based remotely in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Brad processes raw data from a SWAT BOX into SWAT MAPS for an agronomist to ground truth, and then use for soil sampling. This then becomes a prescription file or controller file for a fa
SWAT 008: Jonathan Freeman on Precision Soil Moisture Maps
Jonathan Freeman introduces us to SWAT WATER and the significance of this tool - especially in irrigated agriculture. Before joining Croptimistic, Jonathan worked as an inhouse agronomist for a large sugar company where he also managed their precision ag program. He has nearly two decades of experience in water resource management, and has worked in multiple countries in southern Africa as well as
SWAT 007: Wes Anderson on Equipping Agronomists with Technology
Our conversation today covers Wes Anderson’s extensive agronomy background as the vice president of agronomy at Croptimistic Technology. We will discuss the opportunity he saw with SWAT Maps, what’s happening with SWAT water and some of his thoughts on the role site-specific agronomy in some of the carbon and sustainability metrics that are being discussed in agriculture. Wes was originally h
SWAT 006: Jeff Bennett & Mike Palmier
In this episode we are joined by Mike Palmier and Jeff Bennett. We dive into how these two collaborate and use technology to improve Jeff’s operation agronomically. You’re going to get some great insights into this approach, how they’re balancing agronomy with logistics, and how they’re integrating multiple technologies to capture the synergies between them. Mike is the owner/operator of Max
SWAT 005: Mark Huso on Continuous Learning and Training the Next Generation of Agronomists
Mark Huso of Huso Crop Consulting and Soil Testing joins us in this episode. Mark and I talk about how he’s working with farmer customers during this dry year they’ve had in North Dakota, how he’s training the next generation of agronomists, the technology he finds useful, what he’s still learning about salinity, and some of his thoughts for the future of agronomy. Mark started his own company abo
SWAT 004: Landon Friesen on Finding Practical Technologies for the Farm
Alberta farmer Landon Friesen runs Southman Ag Ventures in Crystal City, Manitoba. He farms canola, wheat, edible beans, sunflowers, and flax with his dad and brother. In this episode, he joins the show to talk about his journey into precision agriculture, how he’s using drones, what he’s looking for in new technology. “(Our grandfathers) didn't farm with technology. I can just imagine how an
SWAT 003: Josh Messer: Don't Accept the Status Quo
Today on the SWAT Agronomy Podcast Tim interviews Josh Messer, a certified crop advisor with AgIntel Agronomy Consulting. Josh grew up on a farm in North Dakota and started his career in ag retail. After taking a national agronomy role, he missed the one-on-one interactions with growers, so he started AgIntel a few years ago. “We don't have to accept the status quo for what it is. Start gathe
SWAT 002: Cory Willness Answers Your Questions (Part Two)
On today’s episode, Tim continues his conversation with Cory Willness, President of CropPro Consulting and Croptimistic Technology. Today we share more questions sourced from social media on topics such as precision agriculture and SWAT MAPS. “If you don't have that real solid connection to the ground, your best technology in the world is not going to perform to its fullest potential.” - Cory
SWAT 001: Cory Willness Answers Your Questions
On today’s episode, Tim sits down with Cory Willness, President of CropPro Consulting and Croptimistic Technology. To make sure the questions were relevant, they were sourced from social media on topics such as precision agriculture, SWAT MAPS, “If people just say this area didn't provide profit, they start abandoning it. And it's not always the right thing to do. That area might've needed mo
Welcome to the SWAT Agronomy Podcast!
Monthly episodes launching February 2021!
