We break down what soil organic matter really is, from living microbes to old, dark humus that can take years to form. We also explain why that small slice of soil drives soil health through better structure, nutrient cycling, and water holding capacity.

We discuss
• defining soil organic matter as the biological legacy of a field
• connecting soil composition to the “critical” 5% organic fraction
• explaining humus as a stable end product of decomposition
• improving soil aggregation and aggregate stability for better structure
• boosting water retention and water holding capacity
• increasing negative charge and cation exchange capacity to hold nutrients
• chelating micronutrients like iron, copper, and zinc for plant availability
• releasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur through organic matter breakdown
• feeding soil microbes by expanding the soil food buffet
• building organic matter with compost, residue, manure, cover crops, and reduced tillage

Tune in next time for a tiny bite of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that.

https://gktechinc.com/

High fertilizer and seed costs make field-by-field efficiency feel urgent, so we walk through how variable rate technology turns “I know my field” into something your equipment can actually run. We also share the simplest places to start, what details matter with controllers and file exports, and how older gear can still deliver real ROI.

In this episode, we talk
• spring 2026 recap through the lens of input costs, weather, and markets
• asking field-level questions that reveal profitable variability
• building the workflow from boundary to variability map to prescription
• choosing between zone maps from imagery and grid sampling maps
• understanding why controller type changes how a shapefile must be written
• reducing frustration by matching prescriptions to controller capabilities
• starting with variable rate seeding for corn and soybeans
• adjusting populations on droughty hilltops and sandier soils
• making air seeders and multi-tank carts part of a precision ag plan
• using research, forums, and testing to make older controllers work

If you're interested in how GK can help you get started implementing VRT on your farm, check out our website for more information.

https://gktechinc.com/

We take a practical trip into satellite imagery and explain how Landsat and Sentinel support real agronomy work like NDVI analysis and variable rate mapping. We break down what makes these datasets reliable, how resolution changes what you can see, and why revisit timing matters when clouds get in the way.

In this episode, we tackle:

• free government-operated imagery through NASA USGS and the European Space Agency
• using multi-band satellite data to calculate NDVI for crop vigor mapping
• why sun-synchronous orbits create consistent lighting and shadows
• resolution explained as ground area per pixel and why 10 m shows more detail than 30 m
• Landsat program timeline and the Landsat 7 data gap problem
• constellations as a backup plan and a way to increase image frequency
• Sentinel revisit cadence vs Landsat revisit cadence and what that means during the season

Tune in next time for a tiny bite of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that.

Related episodes:

• S1 20.5 Tiny Bytes: Choosing Quality Imagery https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/16135793
• S2 1.5 Tiny Bytes: Check Out GK Technology's Imagery Library https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/16524859

GK Technology Info on obtaining satellite imagery: https://gktechinc.com/data-links/

https://gktechinc.com/

Fertilizer prices and spring weather pressure forced a hard look at how we manage time, logistics, and precision across every field. We break down why variable rate fertilizer is becoming the practical choice, especially given the conditions of spring 2026 and how soil testing and better planning help keep expensive inputs from getting underutilized.

In this episode, Sarah and Jodi discuss
• fertilizer prices reshaping decision-making around variable rate technology
• balancing fast spring logistics with precise input placement in short seasons
• using fall planning to line up soil sampling, maps, prescriptions, and controller readiness
• why soil tests unlock better zone decisions, especially in saline and low-yield areas
• adapting sampling depth to region, moisture, and nitrogen movement
• using post-harvest and in-season nitrate tests to measure overapplication in corn
• operational constraints like one-bin applications driving creative fertility timing and placement
• noticing field variability first, then building a realistic plan to improve over time
Need a precision map or the software to make your own? Check our website out!
www.gktechinc.com

https://gktechinc.com/

In this episode, Sarah and Jodi dig into why zone soil sampling pays off when fertilizer prices are high and every pound has to earn its keep. We explain why composite soil sampling can hide field extremes and how better sampling leads to smarter variable rate fertility prescriptions.

We talk:
• high fertilizer prices driving interest in variable rate fertilizer and better prescriptions
• composite soil samples providing an average while hiding extremes like low pH pockets
• pH variability on sandy ridges and why missing it increases yield and input risk
• sampling every zone at least once to build a dependable baseline
• sampling high and low productivity zones to capture the true spread
• low productivity areas often holding excess phosphorus and potassium from years of flat-rate applications
• using soil test data to cut back safely in poor zones and reallocate dollars to higher return acres

Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of Knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that.

https://gktechinc.com/

We walk through what we’re thinking about for spring planning in 2026, from realistic yield goals to the map decisions that actually save money when inputs are high. We keep it practical by tying variable rate strategies to agronomy, controller readiness, and the real limits in each zone.

In this episode, Sarah and Jodi talk
• setting realistic yield goals for averages and zones
• handling fields without recent soil sampling using yield potential and zone logic
• separating salty areas from other low zones to avoid wasting fertilizer
• using variable rate seeding to manage sand, salinity, IDC, drought and disease pressure
• balancing population changes with weeds, canopy and row spacing
• treating soil pH as a high-cost lever and avoiding too-good-to-be-true fixes
• improving phosphorus and zinc efficiency through banding and seed safety planning
• exploring variable rate residual herbicides with pulse width modulation
• powering up controllers early and running test prescriptions to avoid spring surprises

Thanks for listening and come back next time for another episode of Ag Geek Speak! At GK Technology, we have a map, and an app, for that.

VRT Herbicides with Kyle Okke pt. 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/18096941-15-variable-rating-herbicides-with-kyle-okke-pt-1
VRT Herbicides with Kyle Okke pt. 2: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/18144514-16-variable-rating-herbicides-with-kyle-okke-pt-2
VRT Herbicides with Kyle Okke pt. 3: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/18216234-17-variable-rating-herbicides-with-kyle-okke-pt-3

Seed Safety Calculator (SDSU): https://extension.sdstate.edu/starter-fertilizer-calculator-and-final-report

https://gktechinc.com/

We sit down with Chris Sherman of Tech Support Farm to explore how cybercrime targets modern agriculture and what practical steps protect farms and agribusinesses from losses. From avoiding spoofed invoices to equipment lockouts, we share simple defenses any grower, consultant, or retailer can start today.

In this epsiode, we discuss with Chris

• why agriculture is a prime target for cybercrime
• social engineering that targets busy planting and harvest seasons
• real cases of spoofed invoices and wire fraud
• risks in connected equipment and robotics
• password best practicesand password managers
• consumer email vs commercial domains and DMARC
• backups, rapid recovery, and remote support
• reducing tech fatigue with managed services
• how Fence Check evaluates your cyber posture
• Tech Support Farm's free webinar on passwords, phishing, and email security

You can find out more about Tech Support Farm at https://techsupport.farm/

Complete your free Tech Support Farm Fence Check at https://techsupport.farm/fencecheck/ to get a free, actionable report within 48 hours

Find our more about Tech Support Farm's winter webinars https://techsupport.farm/winter-webinars/

At GK Technology, we have a map and an app for that!

https://gktechinc.com/

Sarah and Jodi discuss NAIP aerial imagery and why this high-resolution imagery is invaluable for precision agriculture work in the United States. They share workflows for validating zones, aligning layers, and spotting year-over-year patterns while noting timing pitfalls, thanks to NAIP imagery as a background source.

In this episode, we discuss...

• what NAIP is and who collects it
• benefits of high resolution often associated with newer NAIP imagery
• four-band imagery (RGB with NIR) enabling NDVI
• leaf-on timing and when imagery misleads
• state-by-state differences in resolution and frequency
• FSA and CLU uses that ensure strong georeferencing
• practical steps to draw boundaries and validate zones
• aligning offset satellite layers to NAIP
• leveraging multi-year NAIP to confirm stable patterns
• free access and where to get the data

Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that

https://gktechinc.com/