Delivery of soil science to farmers using advanced simulation tools: A 10 year case study
Wildfong, D., K. Greer, D. Hicks, and E. Hammermeister. 2011. Western Nutrient Management Conference 09:173- 175
Abstract
INTRODUCTION :
Technologies that aid in farm management and input application can increase profitability
only if they readily show an advantage that the farmer can measure (Walton 2010). Western Ag
Labs Ltd. (WAL) is a soil science laboratory which provides an educational soil service to
producers of Western Canada using the PRS® Technology. The service provides their customers
access to advanced simulation tools that serves as a decision support system for Crop Nutrition
Planning (CNP). The PRS® technology consists of: a) Plant Root Simulator (PRS®)-probe to
gain soil data; b) PRS® Nutrient Forecaster-computer software that designs the Crop Nutrition
Plan; and c) A team of WAL Field Service Representatives (FSR) who act as CNP educators
transferring knowledge directly to producers. A 10 year study was conducted among users of the
service to quantify the following:
1. Customers' satisfaction with the knowledge transfer.
2. Rate of the PRS® Technology adoption.
3. Change in average annual dollars spent on inputs (effect on the producers' bottom line).
4. Average percentage change in yield production.
5. Customers' perceived return on investment among whole farm adopters and indicator
field adopters.
6. Impact on the farmers' knowledge and empowerment levels.
