Frequently Asked Questions

A: Fertility – we strive for 5-10 days from order to collection and soil results received from lab and delivered to client.

Carbon – we can be in the field collecting within a week of jobs being ordered. Depending on the size of the project, length of time to collect varies. Soil Results can be delivered back to client within 60-90 days of collection.

A: Results can be sent to you via a CSV or PDF via email.

In some regions, results can be accessed through an online portal

A: OM, pH, Buffer pH, CEC, P, K, Mg, Ca, K%, Mg%, CA%

A: In the U.S: Upper Midwest (MN, SD, IA, WI, IN, MO, IL) we also have coverage in (KS, AR, MS, TN, OH, MI) 

In Canada: The maritimes (P.E.I, NS, NB), Ontario, western Quebec, southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. 

Please also refer to Our Network map to view where our business locations are and our coverage map.

A: We sample fertility at 6” and have the capability to go down to 24″ with options to sample to 3′ (1-meter)

A: Grid, Zone, Bulk, Carbon, Nitrate, Soybean Cyst Nematode, SoilOptix, Veris Cart, Tissue sampling

A: Soil sampling can tell you a lot about what is happening in the field. It can tell you what the nutrient levels are in various zones/polygons throughout the farm. It can answer questions on yield impact and how much fertilizer do you actually need to put down and where. Depending on the level of sampling being completed you can see what your macronutrients, micronutrients and even water holding capacity, just to name a few. 

A: Grid sampling on the larger scale can start to capture some variability and produce an overall nutrient level of a field by section but it is hard to narrow down specific nutrient levels by soil characteristic. Grid sampling can average test results across dissimilar soil types, mixing soils that should be kept separate and is also susceptible to mixing uneven fertilizer applications or a variety of other environmental factors. For instance, one grid could have a mix of sand and clay soil. The test results would average the nutrient amounts across that block and lead to a misapplication of fertilizer based on the soil type.

Polygon soil sampling is done to obtain a better understanding of the variability of the field. It also uses the information gathered to determine the specific nutrient levels per polygon area and which ones need adjustments. It is important to ensure that each sampling area is uniform and separate from areas that are obviously different.

A: For fertility we use a number of softwares. We can work with the client if they have a preferred platform.

In Canada we work in Sirrus (Proagrica) and Agrian.

In the US we work in Sirrus, EFC and CropTrak.

A: Depending on the amount of travel required to the fields or in between fields, we can sample 300-400 acres per day for 2.5 ac grid and up to 1000-1200 acres per day for bulk sample, this varies depending on size of field. 

A: Yes we do driven boundary mapping and perimeter mapping. Perimeter mapping is used for dyke systems, berms, harvested crop (tobacco, sod, etc). We are exploring utilizing drone RTK for boundary mapping.

Soil Testing

A: Soil Test Reports are sent in CSV, Excel and PDF format.

A: No, not for fertility sampling. All you need to get started is a rough boundary of the field (we can provide) to be sampled for bulk and grid sampling.

For zone sampling historical yield, elevation, or NDVI imagery can be used to create zones for testing.

A: You can talk to your Account Manager if you have any questions about your soil test report.

A: Nutrient recommendations need to be requested when ordering soil sampling. If not, they can be added on after the field is sampled. The lab will need previous crop, Intended crop and yield goal.

Agronomic Insights

A: Polygon (zone) are areas drawn on a field based on soil type, topography, yield variability, drainage, fertilizer applications or grower knowledge of the field. The information about the variability across the fields is used to create field management maps. The best zones come from multiple layers of data that when layered on top of each other reveal to us the true variability across the field.

A: Variable Rate Prescriptions are field specific maps created to allow for different rates of product to be applied to different management zones of the field. The prescriptions are computer generated maps that are uploaded to the tractor monitor. These prescriptions will work as long as there is a rate controller on your tractor. There are variable rate prescriptions that allow for planting of a specific rate per management zone and then there are variable rate prescriptions that add in a validation layer that allows you to test different rates in those management zones. The validation component of the prescription is no extra work to the grower and allows for a return on investment analysis as well as varietal or treatment comparisons for each of your management zones.

Variable rate prescriptions can be used for seeding, applying nitrogen, fungicide or any in-season treatment, just to name a few.

A: When creating variable rate prescriptions there are many different data layers that can be used to understand the production areas of the field and what are the fields’ different management zones. There are many different data layers that need to be considered, such as: yield data, elevation, geospatial drone imagery, historical satellite imagery, bareground imagery, soil test data, fertility program or seed company research history. When creating a prescription the knowledge and understanding of how the field performs is most important. Depending on the prescription that is being created the best data layers are collected from your tractor monitor, data management software, ag retail or soil lab. These layers are uploaded into a computer program that allows for management zones to be created, such as Climate Fieldview, Granular Ag, Proagrica Summit and AgLeader SMS. There are many different software programs out there that can create management zones. There are fewer programs that allow for the zones to be edited and customizable check blocks added to the zones. A Deveron precision ag specialist will be able to create these prescriptions in the computer software using the applied rates that they will discuss with you ahead of time. It is important to ensure that the prescription that is created is able to be exported in the file format that will work with your equipment. Most programs are able to export in multiple formats. Be sure to brush up on your equipment needs and what file format is compatible with it when deciding to utilize variable rate prescriptions on your farm.

A: Variable rate prescriptions allow you to manage your farm according to the variability across that farm. At this point we’ve all probably heard the saying ‘manage each acre’. Variable rate application is a direct way to do this. The value of managing your field in a variable way comes from allowing you to address the needs of your field at each location instead of managing to the average. This results in optimizing inputs (4R philosophy), as well as optimizing associated input costs, which in turn means making each dollar go farther in your operation.

Imagery Services

A: RGB: variety of DJI sensors including Phantom 4 Pro/RTK, Zenmuse P1, and Mavic 3 enterprise

Multispectral: Micasense RedEdge-MX

A: RGB: high-resolution (<1.5cm/pixel) visual colour maps, digital elevation models (DEM), plant stand count,  *RTK available

Multispectral: Reflectance maps, vegetation indices (e.g. NDVI), flowering index

A: Client upload utility 

Client’s internal-use storage of choice (e.g. SharePoint, Amazon S3)

A: Unprocessed imagery:

  • RGB: .JPEG
  • Multispectral: .TIF (singleband images)

Processed data:

  • RGB: geoTIFF
  • Multispectral: geoTIFF

A: No, Deveron also provides satellite imagery for ongoing monitoring, or dates going forward and backward in time.

A: Yes. In most cases this is done using high resolution RGB imagery. Please contact us for more details or to go over your particular request.

A: There are many ways to utilize drone imagery on your farm. Some popular examples include:

    • In season crop health evaluation – used to inform nitrogen or fungicide scripts
    • Measurement of an area affected by chemical drift, or pest invasion
    • Scouting
    • Product Applications (Fungicide and Nitrogen)
    • Yield Estimation
    • Stand Counts (Frost Damage assessments, Winterkill in Wheat, Planter Issues) 
    • Emergence Issues
    • Detecting Equipment issues and or Application issues
    • Bare Soil Mapping (land use assessments)
    • Boundary Mapping
    • Water Management (ex. Levee Assessment)