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Spring Planting and Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Testing

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:00:11 GMT

Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Testing remains one of the most effective tools available to reduce guesswork and fine-tune nitrogen decisions during the growing season.

As spring planting progresses, nitrogen management quickly becomes one of the most critical—and challenging—decisions for corn production. Growers want to move fast, get corn sidedressed, and stay ahead of the weather. Consultants, meanwhile, are tasked with recommending nitrogen rates that maximize yield, protect profitability, and reduce unnecessary losses.

Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Testing (PSNT) remains one of the most effective tools available to reduce guesswork and fine-tune nitrogen decisions during the growing season.

What Is PSNT and Why It Matters

Extensive research has led to the development of the late-spring nitrogen soil test—commonly referred to as PSNT. This test was designed specifically to help consultants assess how much plant-available nitrogen is already present in the soil just before sidedress applications.

Rather than relying solely on planned rates or assumptions about nitrogen carryover, PSNT provides a snapshot of inorganic soil nitrogen that can be used to adjust sidedress rates with confidence.

For PSNT to be effective, sampling timing is critical.

Sample when corn is 6–12 inches tall (15–30 cm)
Later within that window is better

This timing aligns with university calibration data and allows more soil nitrogen from organic matter, manure, and cover crops to mineralize into plant-available forms. Sampling too early, when soils are still cool, often underestimates nitrogen contributions from these organic pools.

As soil temperatures rise, microbial activity increases dramatically, releasing nitrate (NO₃⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺). Waiting long enough to capture this activity is essential for accurate recommendations.

While some universities have published calibrations for deeper samples (3–4 feet), the majority of research shows that a 12-inch (30 cm) soil sample is ideal for PSNT.

All Brookside Labs’ calibration data for PSNT assumes a 12-inch depth. Sampling deeper or shallower than this can lead to results that do not align with established interpretation guidelines.

Brookside Labs also reports NH₄-N , which can be especially important in systems using manure, sludge, or other organic nitrogen sources. Amplify Consultants can generally assume that most NH₄-N will convert to NO₃-N during the growing season.

Some states include NH₄-N in their interpretation guidelines. For example:

Iowa considers:
20–25 ppm NO₃-N alone, or
~31 ppm combined NO₃-N + NH₄-N as ideal

Understanding Background Nitrogen Levels

One important consideration with PSNT is recognizing natural background soil nitrogen, the inorganic nitrogen that would be present from normal vegetation and organic matter mineralization, even without fertilizer additions.

Background levels vary significantly by region. For example:

Virginia soils might naturally contain ~3 ppm NO₃-N and 1.5 ppm NH₄-N
Minnesota soils may be closer to ~6 ppm NO₃-N and 5 ppm NH₄-N

PSNT extracts both naturally occurring inorganic nitrogen and nitrogen that has been added through fertilizers, manure, or mineralized organic matter. Understanding local background levels helps consultants better interpret test results and avoid over-application.

The Challenge: Cool Soils and Organic Nitrogen

One of the biggest limitations of PSNT is sampling too early. As corn planting dates move earlier each year, there is increasing pressure to sidedress nitrogen immediately after planting, when the soil is still cool. Cool soils slow microbial activity, delaying the release of nitrogen from:

Organic matter
Cover crop residues
Manure applications

In these conditions, PSNT alone may underestimate the total nitrogen that will become available later in the season. To address this challenge, Brookside Labs developed the nitrogen mineralization test. This analysis measures soil microbial activity under ideal conditions to estimate how much nitrogen will be released during the growing season. When paired with PSNT, consultants gain a more complete nitrogen picture:

PSNT: Measures current inorganic N (NO₃-N + NH₄-N)
Nitrogen mineralization: Estimates future nitrogen release from organic sources

This approach accounts for both what is available now and what will become available later. Pairing the PSNT and nitrogen mineralization tests has been used successfully across the Midwest, particularly in systems that utilize:

Cover crops
Manure or organic amendments

Many consultants report nitrogen rate reductions ranging from a few pounds to as much as 100 lb/ac, while maintaining strong yields.

It’s important to note that the nitrogen mineralization test provides the greatest value in biologically active systems. In fields where commercial fertilizer is the primary nitrogen source and organic inputs are minimal, the additional benefit may be limited.

A Smarter Nitrogen Strategy for Spring

As spring planting accelerates, PSNT remains a powerful tool for making informed sidedress decisions. When soils are warm enough and sampling is timed correctly, it helps reduce uncertainty and optimize nitrogen efficiency.

For systems with significant organic nitrogen contributions, pairing PSNT with the nitrogen mineralization test provides an even clearer picture, allowing consultants to recommend rates that reflect both current soil conditions and future nitrogen release.

In a season where every input decision matters, the right soil tests can make all the difference.

Heather Rindler , CCA

Research Agronomist

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Using Drone Imagery and Precision Planting to Simplify Replant Decisions

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:00:07 GMT

When the crop just doesn't establish like it should

In many regions, replanting has shifted from an occasional inconvenience to something growers expect to face at least once each season. Whether it’s crusted soils, pounding rains, cool temperatures, or insect pressure, there always seems to be one field—or one corner of a field—that just doesn’t establish the way it should.

But while the need to replant may be common, the decision-making process is still a headache. Questions stack up quickly:

Where exactly do I need to replant?
How many acres are truly affected?
How thick should I plant in each zone?
When can I get this done without hurting the rest of the operation?

And one of the biggest frustrations is timing. Sometimes you know you need to replant and can get in the next day to get it done. Sometimes you know you need to replant, but it's at least a week until the planter can get back to the field. That gap creates a window of uncertainty—plenty of time to recognize a problem, but not enough time to stand in the field day after day making mental maps of plant populations and trouble spots. This is where drone imagery and precision planting technology can bridge the gap.

Turning a Stressful Guessing Game Into a Targeted Plan

A replant pass is most profitable when the decision-making is accurate. Too many seeds in the wrong part of the field can cut yields and waste money. Too few, leave yield on the table, especially in patches that suffered heavy stand loss. The challenge has always been identifying what each part of the field truly needs and then delivering that rate with precision.

If a grower could walk into the field with a replant prescription already loaded in the monitor—clean, mapped, and ready to execute—the replant process would shift from reactive to proactive. That’s now possible.

During the spring of last year, Brookside Labs partnered with Matt Vehorn at Precision Agri-Services to test exactly this concept in a real on-farm situation. A grower had a field that needed partial replant, and we used that opportunity as a trial run to explore how drone-based mapping could support replant prescriptions.

How It Worked: Wingtra Flyover + Polygon Mapping

Brookside Labs flew a Wingtra fixed-wing drone, a platform designed for capturing high-resolution imagery quickly across large acreage. The goal was to identify the specific areas that required replant.

In this trial, the drone captured imagery after the field had already been replanted—that’s just how the timing worked out. But the workflow illustrated what could easily happen before a replant pass:

Farmer notifies his/her Amplify Consultant or Brookside Labs that a field will likely need replant.
Drone flyover is scheduled during that 7–10 day window when replant is suspected but the planter isn’t yet available.
The imagery is processed and polygons are drawn around the exact areas needing attention—no guessing, no hand-drawn notes, no relying on memory.
Those mapped zones are shared back with the Amplify consultant for a replant prescription to be generated, or Brookside Labs can write the prescription in-house.
The grower returns to the field with a ready-to-load replant RX, eliminating the stress, indecision, and wasted time.

The trial helped confirm that this workflow is not only feasible, but incredibly practical—especially as partial replants continue to become more common.

Why This Matters Going Forward

Farms across the Midwest are already adopting aerial imagery for scouting, but replant planning is one of the areas where imagery delivers immediate, tangible ROI:

Reduced overplanting and underplanting
Better time management during the busiest weeks of spring
Cleaner data records for future analysis
Less stress when you already have a dozen other decisions on your plate

As planters become more advanced and variable-rate capabilities become standard, pairing them with accurate, timely drone maps is the natural next step.

Interested in Bringing This to Your Operation?

If you’d like to learn more about using drone imagery to support replant decisions—or if you’re curious about the workflow we tested with Precision Agri-Services—we’d be glad to talk more.

�� Call us at: 419-977-2766
�� Email: info@blinc.com

Already working with an Amplify consultant? Reach out to them directly —they can help coordinate imagery, prescriptions, and timing.

Heather Rindler , CCA

Research Agronomist

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Choosing an Independent Consultant

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:00:16 GMT

Who You Ask Matters as Much as What you Ask

When margins get tight, input costs need to have a positive ROI and benefit your checkbook, not just the yield conversations at the local coffee shop. There’s always going to be someone trying to sell you something: hybrid that wins, the fungicide that pays, the technology that finally pencils out. But when it comes to making those decisions, there’s one question that matters more than any agronomic variable: Is the person giving me advice trying to help me or sell me?

The Hidden Cost of Free Advice

Just like free apps, advice that comes attached to a sales pitch isn’t really free. Dealers, retailers, and input reps often have good intentions, many are smart, honest, and genuinely want you to succeed. But their paycheck depends on recommending and selling products, not necessarily optimizing your profit. That doesn’t make them bad people; it just means you need to understand where their incentives lie. If the recommendation always ends with “and here’s what you should buy,” that’s not advice that’s marketing.

What is independent advice and how is it different?

An independent agronomist or consultant doesn’t get paid to move product, they get paid to move the needle, your needle. That difference changes everything.

They Work for You, Not a Product Line: An independent advisor’s loyalty is to your bottom line, not a brand. They’re free to recommend what’s truly best even if that means using less of something or switching suppliers entirely.
They Look at the Whole System: A product rep might focus on what their seed or chemical can do. An independent agronomist looks at the full picture; crop rotation, soil health, nutrient balance, economics, and most importantly, logistics, because they’re not tied to one solution.
They Help You Save, Not Just Spend: When someone’s income depends on selling inputs, more is often the answer. Independent advisors get paid to think critically and sometimes the best advice is to do nothing.
They Build Long-Term Strategy: Sales cycles run yearly. Independent planning runs over seasons, systems, and management. An independent consultant helps you develop a plan that works not just this year, but five years from now, especially when conditions change.

Pay for the Perspective, Not Product

Some farmers hesitate to pay for independent advice because it feels like an extra expense. But it’s often the most valuable input on the farm. Think about it like this:

You’ll spend thousands on fertilizer based on a recommendation. But who is giving the recommendation? If it’s the fertilizer rep, how can you be sure that he/she didn’t add in extra tons just to increase tons sold.
But how much do you spend to make sure that recommendation is unbiased and right for your fields?

Paying directly for advice is like paying for insurance, it removes the conflict of interest. You know the recommendations come from agronomic reasoning, not sales goals. You wouldn’t let a car salesman tell you what kind of car you need. You’d leave with the most expensive one, that may or may not fit your needs.

What to Look for in an Independent Consultant

When choosing someone to trust with your farm’s data and direction, look for:

Transparency: clear about fees, no hidden affiliations.
Credentials and experience: agronomy, soil science, and/or farm management background.
Local understanding: they know your region’s soils, weather, and markets.
Data integrity: they keep your information private and work for your benefit.

If they can explain not just what they recommend but why, and it aligns with your own data and experience, that’s a good sign.

The Bottom Line

In agriculture, everyone has something to sell. But only a few have something to teach. Independent advice isn’t about mistrusting your suppliers, it’s about adding another layer of accountability and perspective. Because when every input dollar counts, the smartest money you’ll ever spend might be on someone who doesn’t sell anything at all.

You can buy products anywhere. You can’t buy trust. Invest in the kind of advice that pays you back in clarity, confidence, and control.

Your can find independent consultants here: https://www.blinc.com/find-a-consultant

Luke Baker, PhD

President/CEO

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Clean Fields and Better Yields

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:00:13 GMT

Weeds steal, often silently, until the damage is already done.

Weeds are some of the most persistent, yield-robbing competitors in any cropping system. They steal sunlight, moisture, and nutrients—often silently—until the damage is already done. Herbicides remain an important tool in the modern toolbox, but using them wisely is more important than ever. Between herbicide resistance, shrinking mode-of-action options, and rising input costs, a strategic approach to weed control is essential for both agronomic and economic success.

Below is a practical look at why weed control matters, what modes of action really mean, and how economic thresholds play into decision-making.

Why Controlling Weeds Is Non-Negotiable

Even low weed densities early in the season can cost yield. Young crops are vulnerable, and weeds are aggressive competitors right when corn, beans, or wheat need resources most. Some key reasons weed control matters:

Yield Protection : Most yield losses occur in the first 4–6 weeks after planting. Allowing weeds to compete during this critical weed-free period creates permanent yield loss—even if the field looks clean later.
Harvest Efficiency & Quality: Late-season weeds can slow down combining, stain grain, increase drying costs, and affect test weight or quality—especially in small grains.
Managing the Seedbank: Every weed that goes to seed is doing you harm for years to come. For example:
One pigweed plant can deposit 300,000+ seeds
Waterhemp seeds can survive in soil for up to a decade
Velvetleaf can persist for 20–40 years
Seedbank explosion is how resistance spreads and how fields quickly go from mostly clean to out of control.
Delaying Resistance: Poor control invites resistance. Resistant waterhemp, marestail, giant ragweed, and Palmer amaranth aren’t just agronomic problems—they’re financial problems that reduce your future options.

Understanding Modes of Action (MOAs)

A mode of action (MOA) describes how a herbicide kills a plant—what metabolic pathway it disrupts or what biological system it targets. This matters because repeated use of the same MOA, even with different brand names or active ingredients, accelerates resistance.

Why MOA Rotation Matters

Weeds adapt quickly when exposed repeatedly to the same selection pressure.
Many new herbicides are simply new formulations—not new MOAs.
There have been no brand-new MOAs introduced in decades.

Practical MOA Rules for Farmers

Use 2–3 effective MOAs in both burn-down and post programs.
Don’t repeat the same MOA across years— rotate by season, not just within a season.
Include residuals at every pass for waterhemp and Palmer.

Economic Thresholds: When Is Treatment Worth It?

Economic thresholds help answer the question: At what point does weed pressure cost more in yield than the herbicide costs to control it?

But weeds complicate the threshold concept for two reasons:

Early-Season Competition Is Extremely Costly: Even a few weeds per square foot can rob yield during early growth stages. That’s why thresholds for weeds are far lower than for insects.
Seedbank Contribution Has Long-Term Costs: Even if weeds aren’t reducing yield this year, letting them set seed is a long-term economic loss. Future herbicide costs, resistance challenges, and yield drag get multiplied.

So in practice, the real threshold for most broadleaf weeds—especially resistant pigweed species—is effectively zero tolerance , particularly during:
Pre-plant
Early post-emergence
Post-harvest after a crop comes off

The Dollars and Cents

Clean fields typically:

Yield 5–25% more , depending on crop and weed species.
Require fewer future herbicide trips.
Prevent expensive salvage treatments.
Preserve future flexibility.

Paying $15–35/acre for prevention beats paying $65+/acre for rescue treatments—or losing 10 bushels of soybeans or 20–50 bushels of corn due to competition.

The Bottom Line: Weed Control Is a System, Not a Spray

Herbicides are one tool in a larger integrated weed management system that includes:

Good crop rotation
Robust residue management
Cover crops
Narrower rows where appropriate
Scouting and mapping weeds annually
Starting clean and staying clean

The farms that stay ahead of weed problems—and avoid resistance crises—are the ones treating weed control as a system, not a product purchase. Using herbicides strategically, rotating modes of action, and treating the seedbank as the true enemy will set up your fields for healthier, more profitable seasons for years to come.

Heather Rindler , CCA

Research Agronomist

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Walk Your Fields, Don’t Just Watch Them

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:00:53 GMT

The value in 'Boots on the Ground' data

There’s a lot of data that can be gleaned from a yield monitor, drone imagery, soil and plant tissue samples, but there is extreme value in the ‘boots on the ground’ data that comes from walking fields and scouting for insect, weed, or disease pressure or checking stand counts. Whether you’re a grower yourself or a consultant, scouting provides valuable insights that can lead to yield saving applications, finding trends for future management or a combination of both.

Why to scout?

Early detection: Checking fields early and often allows you to have more control over the season and make a remedy treatment if needed.
Better decisions: Scouting gives you the confidence to know what is actually going on, instead of making just in case passes with the sprayer. It also all you to have more targeted, more cost-effective management strategies.
Increased environmental stewardship: Scouting allows you to only apply what you need, where you need it. Reducing those just in case inputs and increasing stewardship and sustainability.

What to look for?

Scouting doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Look for signs of insects, diseases, weeds, and crop growth.

Insects: Look for signs that they have been feasting on the plant leaves. Chewed leaves, droppings, or damaged silks are all signs of an insect pest presence. Don’t be afraid to dig some roots as well to take a peak at what kind of insect pressure is happening below the surface. Oftentimes, early insect damage is happening below the surface on the baby roots or seed.
Diseases: Looks for lesions, discoloration, spots, wilting, anything that doesn’t look quite right. Diseases often start small and will explode with the right weather conditions. Early detection allows you time to get a remedy application put on, before the disease takes over and robs the yield.
Weeds: Monitoring for weeds is essential. Even though there may have been a pre- and post-emerge herbicide application, some weeds still find their way through to rob the cash crop of space, water, nutrients, and sunlight. A few weeds may not seem like a big deal, but small problems become profit thieves in the fall. A Michigan State University study suggests that waiting to control weeds until the V1 stage in soybeans, could lead to a 0.5 bushel per acre per day loss, which equates to greater than $38 per acre loss at the end of the season. Click below to read the full article.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/protecting-crop-yields-starts-with-early-season-weed-control
Crop growth: It’s also important to examine overall growth, health, and uniformity. This can be done throughout the season, but should definitely be done in the early part of the season to get an idea of how well and uniformly the crop emerged. It has been proved, time and time again, that uniform emergence leads to the most successful crops. Monitoring for growth and health also allows for detection of nutrient deficiencies that could be corrected with a foliar application, if it’s feasible to do so.
Environmental factors: Scouting for environmental stressors is valuable to understand how different hybrids and varieties respond to water stress (whether not enough or too much) or things like hail and wind damage. Knowing how the variety or hybrid responds to certain environmental stressors allows you to take note on which varieties or hybrids to plant, or not plant, in the future.

How do you scout?

Timing: Ideally, every 7-10 days because problems can arise quickly and become detrimental quickly as well. However, as a farmer or crop consultant, you may not have that kind of time on your hands. Therefore, scouting in the early, middle, and end of the growing season is probably more feasible and will give you good data and insight on any remedies to make in-season and how to improve for the seasons to come.
Pattern: Using a ‘W’ or zig-zag pattern will allow you to check on the crop in a randomized fashion that will cross many rows and sampling zones. You could also scout by sample or yield zone to get a glimpse of how different management zones respond to different stressors. Either way, it is important to take note of the pattern you use and use the same pattern each time you scout within that season.
Stop and smell the roses every once in a while: Don’t rush through your scouting. Be sure to stop, dig roots, pull back leaves, check inside whorl, etc. every once in a while to get a deeper look at what the crop is experiencing and you might be able to predict a problem before the symptoms of that yield-thief come to head.
Take notes: Document what you see and where, whether that’s with pen and paper or electronically. Keeping track of the potential problems and the location will help aid in future decisions and allow you to track trends over time. There are pros and cons to scouting both ways. Technology tends to have faster delivery options, but carrying an iPad throughout a field can be cumbersome and if the sun is too bright, it’s too hot, or it starts to rain, the iPad’s efficiency dwindles. Having both available is a good standard, just in case one fails.
Determine if action is needed: It is important to figure in the damage threshold. Is the damage enough that a remedy treatment will save yield and have a positive ROI? Is it the right time? For example, if a corn field is scouted at R5 and is covered in tar spot, a fungicide application is not going to save the yield, it’s already gone, and that application will be a waste of money. Whereas if that same corn field is scout at tasseling and tar spot is just starting, and the past weather and future forecast are looking conducive to tar spot expansion, it’s a good time to call the retailer and get a fungicide application on to protect the yield.

Over time, scouting allows you to learn your fields better. Patterns will start to emerge, such as, low spots usually have a deficiency, which hybrids handle stress better, or fields that consistently have greater disease pressure. Knowing your fields beyond the yield monitor will pay dividends year after year.

Scouting gives you the “why,” but good data helps you confirm the “what.” That’s where Brookside Labs, the Amplify Network, and the AIPro system come in.

Brookside Labs is trusted by hundreds of Amplify consultants and thousands of farmers across millions of acres for high-quality, reliable testing. Amplify consultants bring that same level of precision and accountability into every field—they live by the mindset, “If my services don’t make you money, I’ll fire myself.”

And with AIPro, the Amplify data management system, consultants can seamlessly submit samples to Brookside Labs, turn scouting observations into actionable recommendations, and keep the entire process—from field to lab to plan—organized and efficient.

Field scouting might start with a walk, but it ends with better data, smarter decisions, and more profitable acres.

Samantha Scranton

Amplify Consultant

Grizzly Ridge

Heather Rindler , CCA

Research Agronomist

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Host a Farmer Meeting They’ll Actually Want to Attend

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:00:08 GMT

Deliver value in a way that respects people’s time, keeps them engaged, and makes the experience worth attending

Before any meeting can be successful, one thing must happen: people have to show up . Too often, consultants think a single mailed flyer will magically fill the room. But today’s farmers are busy. They may fully intend to attend when they first see the announcement, but without consistent reminders, the meeting slips their mind.

Many consultants hesitate to ‘bother’ their clients and end up under-communicating—which ultimately means under-marketing. That’s where the Law of 7 Touches comes in.

A coordinated, calendar-driven communication plan ensures the audience hears about the meeting enough times to remember it, plan for it, and actually show up. Here’s what the seven-touch system looks like:

14 days before: Hand-deliver a flyer.
7 days before: Mail a personal invitation stating you want them in the audience.
3 days out: Post to Facebook.
2 days out: DM the flyer to specific guests.
1 day out: Call and remind them.
Morning of : Send a quick text reminder.

You’ll notice that’s only six touches. The first touch happens before all of this. Before anything else, call or stop by to let them know you’re planning a meeting. Ask for their input—food ideas, preferred locations, relevant topics, and what’s most pressing in the current economic climate. Let centers of influence know you value their perspective. Tell prospects you want to gear the meeting toward their needs.

Those pre-meeting conversations not only make the event stronger—they make the next six touches feel natural, welcome, and personal.

Remember: It’s a Numbers Game

If the goal is 30 attendees, invite 60 and prepare food for 45.
If the goal is 50 attendees, invite 100 and prepare for 75.

It typically takes seven touches to get half of them to show up—until the meeting becomes established and people attend for the experience as much as the content. That’s when you’ve built a brand .

Choose the Right Time of Day

Evening meetings often attract the widest range of attendees, especially part-time farmers or livestock producers who work off-farm jobs. Later sessions allow more people to participate without sacrificing their workday. Evening meetings also create the option for an alcoholic beverage—an appreciated touch in many regions when used thoughtfully. And as always, food matters. A well-fed group is far more attentive.

Keep It Short and Focused

Agricultural professionals attend countless meetings every season. The most effective ones keep things efficient:

Deliver maximum value in minimum time. If a topic can’t be covered clearly in an hour, it likely doesn’t belong.
Limit the total duration. Morning-only, afternoon-only, or evening-only formats work best. Three hours is often the ideal cap.
Avoid information overload. Long agendas drain engagement.

Feed Them

It’s simple: when food is offered, attendance improves.

Whether it’s a morning donut spread, a lunch following a midday meeting, or a full meal during an evening session, providing food shows hospitality and respect for attendees’ time. Alcohol can work in some areas—primarily evening meetings—but should always be used with discretion.

Make It Engaging

Humor and energy go a long way. Lighthearted moments help set the tone and keep the crowd engaged. Interactive elements—such as live polling or phone-based surveys—make sessions more enjoyable and help attendees feel involved. Small giveaways like hats, shirts, or door prizes also create a positive experience at a low cost.

Use Sponsors Wisely

Depending on the content, meeting hosts may be able to secure sponsorships to help cover meals or costs. But it’s important to maintain objectivity and avoid creating the perception of endorsing specific products or companies.

Stay Organized

Professional structure supports meeting success:

Sign-in sheets for tracking and follow-up
CEUs or PARP credits to attract attendees needing education hours
Pens, paper, and take-home packets
Printed agendas to set expectations
A scheduled break for restrooms and calls
Refreshments for morning meetings

Follow-up

A quick thank-you email or postcard reinforces the relationship and shows appreciation for their time.

Make It an Experience

The most memorable meetings go beyond information—they create an experience . Thoughtful hospitality, humor, interactivity, and personal touches all contribute. When a meeting becomes something attendees look forward to , rather than something they feel obligated to attend, retention skyrockets.

The Hookers & Blow Tactic

One unconventional but award-winning strategy—popularized by Brookside Labs’ Chairman of the Board of Directors, Pete Maybach—is the Hookers & Blow tactic. Despite its flashy name, the method is simple and effective. Create an excuse to leave the meeting immediately after the final presentation. No lingering. No long Q&A. No extended goodbyes. Before leaving, point attendees to one or two trusted clients or peers in the room and say: “Talk to Mr. ___ or Mrs. ___ if you want the real stories, the success examples, and the truth about how this works.” Then exit. This does three things:

It builds credibility through peer validation .
It keeps energy high—ending on a strong note instead of a slow fade.
It creates a sense of curiosity and excitement for future events.

Consultants have used urgent problems ranging from golf course turf emergencies to high-profile site visits—some of which evolved into fishing trips or Vegas excursions. Over time, clients even began to anticipate what the next urgent adventure would be.

The real magic is this:
Consultants become seen not just as individuals, but as representatives of a collective group of experts. It’s the Power of Together —where the value of the consultant grows because of the strength of the network behind them.

When meetings provide value, hospitality, humor, structure, and a memorable experience, attendance becomes easy—and repeat attendance becomes automatic. The best meetings aren’t just informational. They become events people don’t want to miss.

Greg Kneubuhler , CCA

G&K Concepts, Inc

Harlan, Indiana

Kevin Otte , CCA

Otte Ag, LLC

Maria Stein, Ohio

Aaron Boldrey

Back 40 Crop Consulting

Cape Girardeau, MO

What to Ask Before Sharing Farm Data

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:00:12 GMT

Soil grows crops.
Data grows decisions.

In the last discussion, the focus was on how ‘ free’ isn’t always free—especially when it comes to farm data. Many platforms offer impressive tools at no cost, but the real price often lies in what users agree to hand over: their information.

Before a farmer signs up for a new platform, uploads maps, or connects a monitor, it’s worth pausing to consider the following five questions. The answers to these questions may be worth far more than any subscription fee.

1. Who Owns the Data Once It’s Uploaded?

This is the most important question—and often the most overlooked. Data ownership isn’t always as straightforward as it seems. Some companies claim the farmer is the owner, yet reserve the right to ‘ use, modify, or share ’ the data in their terms of service. In reality, the company may still have broad control even if the farmer technically ‘ owns’ the data on paper.

What to look for:

Contracts stating that the farmer owns and controls the data.
Clear language that prevents the company from selling or sharing data without permission.
The ability to permanently delete all data upon leaving the platform.

If someone wouldn’t be allowed to borrow equipment indefinitely, the same standard should apply to data.

2. How Will the Data Be Used—and by Whom?

Ownership is only part of the story. Farmers need to understand how their data will actually be used.

Some companies use aggregated data internally to improve tools, which may be reasonable. Others sell trends to agribusinesses, lenders, or suppliers—turning local knowledge, soil information, and management insights into someone else’s advantage.

Key questions include :

Will the data be used for research, marketing, or sales?
Can third parties access it? If so, who are they?
Will the farmer be notified when data is shared externally?

If any answer feels unclear or uncomfortable, it’s wise to move on. Many trustworthy platforms prioritize transparency.

3. Can the Farmer Access and Export Their Data Easily?

A simple rule: if the data cannot be downloaded, it isn’t truly the farmer’s data.

Any platform should allow exporting in standard formats—CSV, shapefiles, PDFs—without extra fees or complicated processes. Being locked into a single ecosystem reduces flexibility and can cause major headaches when switching advisors, equipment, or software.

Tip:
Test the export function before uploading a full dataset. If it’s slow, restricted, or incomplete, consider that a warning sign.

4. What Happens If the Company Is Sold?

Startups merge, grow, or disappear. Larger companies acquire smaller ones. When this happens, the original data agreement may not hold. A once-trusted partner could suddenly be owned by an organization with very different intentions.

Additional questions to ask:

What happens to my data if the company is sold or shuts down?
Can I delete or transfer it before ownership changes hands?
Is there a written data retention and privacy policy?

The goal is to ensure the farmer’s information doesn’t outlive their relationship with the company.

5. What’s the Value Exchange—and Is It Worth It?

Every platform involves a transaction. If money isn’t the currency, data is.

Maybe the tool offers yield analysis that saves $10 per acre—great. But if using that tool reveals sensitive insights that disadvantage the farmer more than that value, the trade-off may not be worthwhile.

Also consider:

What am I gaining in exchange for sharing this data?
Would I still use the platform if I had to pay for it?

If the answer is no, the data exchange likely isn’t a fair one.

The Bottom Line

Farm data is an asset—just like soil, equipment, or livestock. It holds value, deserves protection, and should work for the farmer, not against them. Before clicking ‘ agree’ remember: asking the right questions now can prevent headaches, lost leverage, and lost dollars down the road.

Soil grows crops.
Data grows decisions.
Both deserve to be treated like the valuable resources they are.

If farmers are unsure, they should consult their Chief Information Officer (as mentioned in the previous blog) or a trusted independent advisor. If an advisor hasn’t ever brought up data management, it may be time to ask. Data is becoming as valuable as the ground being farmed.

For more information on an independent agronomist, visit ( https://www.blinc.com/find-a-consultant ) to find your local Amplify Consultant or contact info@blinc.com to learn more.

Luke Baker , PhD

President/CEO

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

The High Price of ‘FREE’

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 15:00:18 GMT

If a platform is FREE, you’re not the customer, you’re the product.

There’s no shortage of ‘free’ in agriculture today. Free weather apps. Free yield-mapping tools. Free farm management platforms. Free soil health dashboards. Free testing.

At first glance, it sounds great, who doesn’t like saving a few bucks? Trust me, I am first in line for ‘free’ But here’s the truth most companies won’t put on their homepage:

If a platform is FREE, you’re not the customer, you’re the product.

The Hidden Economy of ‘FREE’

The digital world runs on data. Every click, upload, and GPS ping tells a story and in agriculture, that story is worth a lot of money. When you sign up for a free tool, you’re often agreeing (sometimes buried in fine print) to let that company collect, analyze, and sell insights from your data. That data, your field boundaries, input records, and yield results, becomes a resource they can use to:

Build predictive models to sell insights to agribusinesses, insurers, or input suppliers.
Identify potential sales opportunities and feed them to a sales team.
Develop products priced and marketed using aggregated farmer data.

So, while you get a free app, the company gets a gold mine of real-world information to create, package, and sell, often right back to you or your peers.

Why It Matters More Than You Think

You might say, I’ve got nothing to hide. My fields aren’t a secret. True, but the power isn’t in your individual data. It’s in aggregated, analyzed, and monetized patterns that can shape how the entire industry operates. Here’s what that actually looks like:

Market Leverage : When companies know average fertilizer use, yield trends, or seed choices across thousands of farms, they gain a strategic advantage in pricing and product launches.
Reduced Bargaining Power for Farmers: The same data that helps you optimize your farm could help suppliers optimize their margins at your expense.
Loss of Data Control : Once your information leaves your hands, it can be copied, analyzed, and resold indefinitely. ’Deleting your account’ rarely deletes your data trail.
Privacy by Assumption : Many apps claim your data is anonymized. But anonymized doesn’t always mean untraceable. With enough context, field-level data can be tied back to individual farms.

What FREE Is Really Costing You

The real cost of free tools isn’t always immediate, it’s long-term value leakage. Every acre of data you give away helps someone else understand your operation, your region, and your decisions. That’s knowledge that could be used to sell inputs, influence markets, or guide competitors. Meanwhile, independent agronomists and local businesses, the ones closest to the farm often don’t get access to that same information. It tilts the playing field toward whoever controls the data pipelines.

How to Protect Your Farm’s Digital Assets

You wouldn’t hand a stranger your grain contracts or financial books. Treat your farm data the same way. Here’s how to protect yourself while still taking advantage of digital tools:

Read the Fine Print (seriously, read it) : Before signing up, look for who owns the data, how it’s shared, and whether it can be sold or used for marketing.
Choose Paid, Transparent Tools: A platform that charges a fair subscription is often one that doesn’t need to sell your information or produce a product to sell back to you or your neighbors to survive.
Ask the Right Questions:

Can I delete my data completely if I leave?
Will my information ever be shared with third parties?
Who benefits from the insights my data helps create?

Keep Local Copies: Always export your data regularly. If a platform changes ownership or shuts down, your information shouldn’t disappear with it.

The Bottom Line

Free isn’t evil, but it’s rarely truly free. When a company offers a valuable tool at no cost, they’re making money somewhere else. And more often than not, that somewhere is leveraging your information. So, the next time an app promises free analytics or insights, ask yourself, “If they’re not charging me money, what are they charging me?”

In farming, we’ve learned that every input has a cost, and every decision has a consequence. The same goes for digital tools. Protect your data like you’d protect your yield because in today’s ag economy, it’s worth just as much. My advice, find a trusted partner to work with on your data. Someone who is independent of any products that can be your Chief Information Officer (CIO); critically thinking on the data to bring value to your operation. For more information on an independent agronomist, visit ( https://www.blinc.com/find-a-consultant ) to find your local Amplify Consultant or contact info@blinc.com to learn more.

Luke Baker, PhD

CEO/President

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Joining the Amplify Network: What to Expect as a New Consultant

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:00:02 GMT

Joining a network of high-caliber, independent crop and turf consultants

At the Amplify Network, our strength lies in collaboration—bringing together consultants who are committed to advancing agriculture through data-driven insight, innovation, and shared success. If you’re considering joining us, here’s what the process looks like from start to finish.

Step 1: Apply

Every Amplify Consultant begins by completing an application. You can find the application and more information here. Once your form is submitted, our New Consultant Committee will review it and reach out to schedule a virtual meeting via Zoom. This conversation is informal—think of it as a two-way dialogue. It’s our chance to learn more about your background, goals, and approach to consulting, and to ensure that Amplify and Brookside Labs are the right fit for both you and your clients.

Step 2: Review & Approval

After your interview, the committee will determine whether to approve your application. If approved, we’ll set up your account and issue a one-time membership invoice of $2,500 USD . Once your membership is active, you’ll gain full access to the Amplify Network and Brookside Labs’ analytical resources.

Step 3: Onboarding & Training

All new consultants complete virtual onboarding and training through our internal communication platform, Amplify Together on Mighty Networks. The training is fully self-paced, allowing you to fit it into your schedule while exploring the tools, systems, and values that define Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network.

Exclusive Benefits

As a member of the Amplify Network, you’ll receive access to special discounts and opportunities designed to help you grow your business and sharpen your expertise—especially during your first few years with us.

A few more highlights:

Mentoring Program: Earn up to six mentoring credits (valued at $250 each) within your first five years as an Amplify Consultant.
Free Annual Conference Registration: Attend your first Amplify Annual Conference at no cost (redeemable within five years).
AIPro Essentials License: Enjoy a free 12-month license to AIPro Essentials, a precision agriculture software suite aligned with our core values of service, innovation, and integrity.

Built on Core Values

For the Amplify Network and Brookside Labs, our work is guided by the princi ples of service-oriented collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Joining the Amplify Network means becoming part of a community that believes your success is our success—and that together, we can elevate the standards of agronomic consulting across the industry.

Ready to take the next step?
�� Apply to become an Amplify Consultant today.

Heather Rindler, CCA

Research Agronomist

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

It All Started in the Barn

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 15:00:24 GMT

How One Farmer’s Discovery Sparked 75 Years of Sustainable Agriculture

Nearly 75 years ago, Brookside Labs was founded on a simple yet transformative idea—sustainability through balance. That guiding principle was born from an observation made by our founder, E.R. Kuck, on his own farm.

Soon after building a new barn, Mr. Kuck noticed his cattle licking the plaster from the walls—a curious behavior that turned out to be a sign of nutrient deficiency. Upon investigation, he traced the issue not to the animals, but to the soil itself. By correcting the soil’s nutrient imbalance, he restored both soil health and his herd’s well-being.

From that moment, Kuck embraced a philosophy of intentional stewardship—adding only the nutrients that were truly needed and no more. This balanced, science-driven approach became the foundation of Brookside Labs and the enduring heart of agricultural sustainability.

Today, that founding philosophy continues to guide every aspect of our work. Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network remains deeply committed to helping farmers, consultants, and organizations make data-driven decisions that enhance productivity, profitability, and environmental responsibility.

Through advanced analytical testing, we empower independent crop consultants to help farmers apply the right amount of fertilizer—no excess, no waste. Our support for state initiatives such as H2Ohio ensures that environmental programs are backed by reliable, science-based data.

Brookside Labs has long been a pioneer in soil health testing, precision agriculture, and technology adoption, equipping producers with the insights needed to manage resources efficiently while protecting the environment for generations to come.

Our commitment to sustainability extends well beyond the farm gate. Inside our facilities, we recycle everything possible—from office paper and cardboard boxes to cans and plastics. Each effort, large or small, reflects the same balance-driven mindset that began with E.R. Kuck’s discovery in his barn.

Collaboration is also at the core of our mission. We proudly partner with universities, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to advance research and promote sustainable management practices across the agricultural industry.

Nearly three-quarters of a century later, Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network continues to honor the principle that started it all—sustainability through balance. From one farmer’s insight to a nationwide network of science, stewardship, and service, our story remains rooted in a single truth: when we care for the soil, we care for everything it sustains.

Turning Harvest Questions into Data-Driven Decisions

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 15:00:18 GMT

How Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network Help Farmers Run Unbiased, Real-World Field Trials that Improve ROI and Confidence in Management Practices

As you were in the combine this fall, harvesting the fruits (or grain) of your labor, you may have wondered, did I make the right choice on fertilizer rates? Did I plant too many seeds per acre? Did I really need to apply that biological or that extra fungicide pass? The list can go on and on.

Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network have extensive experience in helping farmers and crop consultants administer and analyze field-scale research trials. What is unique about the way that Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network administer field trials is that there is a strong emphasis on using the farmers’ current management style and equipment when putting a trial out. We focus on ROI just as much as (if not more than) we do on yield performance. Since Brookside Labs and Amplify Consultants do not sell agricultural products, the field trials are 100% unbiased and there is no sales pitch at the end of the data presentation.

Running trials in this fashion helps farmers and crop consultants make data-driven decisions when it comes time to change up the fertilizer program or shift management practices. By using the farmers’ current practices and equipment, there is a better understanding of how the change will directly impact yields, but more importantly, the bottom line.

Over the years, Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network have helped farmers decide if this management practice is worth the extra work. How did this affect my bottom line? Is what my salesman trying to sell me really going to help my operation like he says it is?

Not only does Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network complete field-scale trials for members within the network, but also for external agencies and farmers as well. The organization has completed trials for government agencies, private funders, and even chemical dealers. All with the same principle: conducting good, unbiased trials that yield reliable data that showcase agronomic and economic performance.

So, how do you put a trial on your own farm? Well the best data comes by following a few guidelines:

The simpler the better.
At least 500 feet in length x 2 combine passes wide (more if harvesting soybeans at an angle) x at least 3 replications of each treatment.
A properly calibrated combine.
Electronic data transfer/sharing
Let Brookside Labs handle the trial analysis.

Brookside Labs currently has trials on different products, seed treatments, fungicides, planting populations, nitrogen rates and more. The organization also has the ability to variable rate trials where we create a planting or nitrogen prescription and put trial blocks embedded in the prescription.

Are you ready to test your management practices? Give Brookside Labs a call today at (419) 977-2766, ask for Heather or email bss@blinc.com.

Heather Rindler , CCA

Research Agronomist

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Digging a Little Deeper, into Your Soil

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:10:34 GMT

Every year, farmers talk about cutting costs, reducing waste, and getting more bang for their buck.

One of the simplest ways to do that doesn’t come from a new product, fancy technology, or the next best planter — it comes from the soil itself.

Soil sampling isn’t shiny, glamorous, or necessarily exciting, but it’s the foundation of every good fertility plan. When inputs are high and margins are tight, it’s one of the few tools that can both save money and boost your ROI, when done correctly and consistently.

Soil Sampling Matters, in Good Economic Times and Bad

Your soil is your farm’s stomach. Every time you grow a crop or spread fertilizer, you’re either feeding it or asking it to burn stored energy. Without soil testing, you don’t know if it’s craving a good steak or running on empty — you’re just hoping there’s enough fuel left to feed the next crop.

Why does sampling matter?

Sampling allows you to know what is already in your soil. It’s hard to manage what you don’t measure. Would you ever put gas in your truck when it’s already full? Probably not, because you’d be wasting fuel and money. Getting your soil tested gives you the real numbers on nutrients, pH, and organic matter; details that should drive every fertility decision.
Avoid over- and under-application. Over-applying fertilizer causes reduced ROI and high input costs. Under-applying reduces yield. Regular sampling puts you in control to maximize profits and yields.
Keep up with change. Weather swings, crop rotations, and manure can all shift nutrient levels. What was true three or four years ago may not be true today.
Protect your soil health. Tracking nutrients over time helps you detect problems, such as acidification, organic matter loss, nutrient mining before they cost you yield or worse, profits.

How can more frequent sampling pay off in the long run?

It is still pretty standard to see soil samples pulled every 4-5 years. This frequency works when markets are stable, inputs are lower, and weather patterns are more predictable. Now, none of that is necessarily the case. Markets change by the hour it seems like, inputs are through the roof, and Mother Nature is always throwing a curve ball. All of which will play a role in determining yield and ROI.

What should the sampling frequency be and why?

We have seen the best return on sampling every other year. This allows for a trend to be developed more quickly, keep on consistent crop rotations, and allows for a more economical approach over every year sampling.

Catch Problems Early: Deficiencies build slowly. By the time you see it in the combine, it’s already cost you. More frequent testing catches issues early and keeps small problems small.
Fine-Tune Fertility Spending: Fresh soil data means fertilizer dollars go exactly where they’re needed. With a longer sampling cycle, it’s harder (and more expensive) to make long term (4-5 year) fertilizer decisions. Think of fertilizer, grain, land, fuel, and labor prices 5 years ago compared today. Would your decisions be the same?
See Year-to-Year Differences: Drought, floods, and residue levels all affect nutrient cycling. Sampling more often shows what actually changed instead of guessing.
Prove ROI and Sustainability: Regular testing gives you a record of improvement, something you can use for government or carbon programs, or simply to prove your management is working.

How to get the most from soil sampling?

Getting the data is one thing. Getting good data is another. Here’s what matters:

Stay consistent. Sample the same area, depths, and timing/season each time. Consistency beats perfection.
Use GPS or zone sampling. Even basic zones by soil type, yield, or elevation can make results more accurate.
Choose one lab. Consistent methods give consistent results — switching labs mid-cycle can skew comparisons.
Keep consistent records. Note fields, zones, and years. Over time, that history becomes one of your most valuable management tools.
Work with an independent consultant. A good consultant doesn’t sell products, they help you make better decisions. Amplify consultants are independent crop advisors who work for your bottom line, not to meet sales goals. They’ll push your thinking, interpret the data, and make sure your fertilizer plan makes sense for your acres. And remember, free apps, testing, or advice rarely come without a cost; it just shows up somewhere else, like your fertilizer bill.

Turning Data into Action

Sampling is step one. The real payoff comes when you put the numbers to work:

Adjusting lime and fertility plans for profitability and productivity, based on facts not feelings, before buying them.
Setting realistic yield goals that match your soil’s ability and your budget.
Track how your soil is changing over time to be able to better predict the outcome in fall, instead of hoping for the best.

If you’ve got a trusted agronomist or Amplify consultant, sit down and go over your results. The conversation quickly shifts from what should I apply? to what’s the smartest way to spend input dollars this year?

Where do Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network Fit In?

Behind every good soil test is a good laboratory, and Brookside Labs has been that trusted partner for decades. Hundreds of Amplify Consultants and thousands of farmers rely on Brookside Labs’ high-quality, consistent results across millions of acres each year.

The Amplify Network is made up of independent, vetted crop consultants who share one mindset: “ If my services aren’t making you money, I’ll fire myself .” They bring the expertise, honesty, and independence that turn lab results into profit-driven decisions.

And tying it all together is AIPro, the data management system that makes it seamless for Amplify Consultants to submit samples to Brookside Labs, create recommendations, and give clients clear visibility into every step. Farmers can see results, track trends, and follow fertility plans all in one place. It’s a complete system built to make soil (and other agronomic) testing and the decisions that follow simpler, smarter, and more profitable.

The Bottom Line

In a world of high input costs and low market prices, margins are tight and guessing is expensive. Soil sampling is the cheapest insurance you can buy, and the more often you do it, the better it pays.

Your soil talks every season. The question is, are you listening often enough?

Luke Baker , PhD

CEO/President

Brookside Labs | Amplify Network

Turning Last Year’s Lessons into Next Year’s Wins

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 15:00:46 GMT

If you’re in agriculture, there’s a good chance this past year tested your patience.

Low commodity prices, high input costs, tight margins—it’s the kind of season that makes every decision feel heavier. And looking ahead, it might be more of the same.

When every dollar counts, it’s tempting to just dive into next season with your head down and sleeves rolled up. Before you jump in and get to work, there’s one step that can pay bigger dividends than any yield bump or price swing: an after-action review.

Reflecting Beats Reacting

All farmers do some kind of mental recap each winter: “ That hybrid didn’t hold up ,” “ We sprayed too late ,” “ Fertilizer costs killed the margin .” But when times are tight, those thoughts deserve more than a mental note.

An after-action review isn’t just for corporate companies, it’s for all businesses, including your farming operation. Large, small and everything in between—it’s a proven approach used by the military, emergency responders, and forward-thinking farmers. The concept is simple: step back, analyze your season objectively, and make next year’s decisions sharper, leaner, and more data-driven. Think of it as yield-mapping your management choices.

Why It’s Worth Your Time

Clarity in the Chaos: Remove emotion from hindsight. See what really drove results, not just what felt like the problem.
Better Decisions, Not Just Different Ones: Understand what worked and why. Double down on what’s effective, cut what isn’t, and control costs smartly.
Team Alignment: If employees, family, or agronomists are involved, this process gets everyone on the same page and stops repeating mistakes.
Confidence in Uncertainty: Markets and weather are unpredictable—but your response doesn’t have to be. An after-action review puts you in control of what you can manage.

A Simple Way to Perform an After-Action Review on the Farm

Gather the Facts: Pull yields, fertilizer rates, spray programs, weather notes, invoices, scouting reports—anything that tells the season’s story. Ask:
What were our original goals?
What did we actually achieve in yield, profit, and efficiency?
Identify What Went Right: Even a tough year has wins. Maybe you hit target moisture on corn, reduced herbicide passes, or had fewer machinery breakdowns. List them—this shows what’s working under pressure.
Identify What Went Wrong: Stick to facts, no blame. Be specific: “ Applied herbicide three days after rain, reducing control ,” instead of “ spray timing was bad .” Look at timing, inputs, and processes.
Understand the Why: Keep asking why until you reach something you can control. Example:
Soybean yields were low.
Why? Poor stand establishment.
Why? Planted in marginal soil.
Why? Rushed to finish before forecasted rain.
Now you’ve found something to fix—not just a bad outcome.
Turn Lessons into Action: End with 3–5 clear, measurable takeaways for next year: Examples:
Delay soybean planting until soil moisture conditions are ideal .
Lock in fertilizer purchases 4–6 weeks earlier.
Trial two new hybrids on poorer ground.

Write these down, add them to your crop plan, and involve your agronomist. Don’t let your insights get lost, by keeping them in your head.

Make It a Habit, Not a Hurdle

The first after-action review is often the toughest. As you do them, they get easier and your review file becomes a running log of insights. Patterns will emerge, and you’ll start spotting trends that explain not just what happened, but why. That’s how farms succeed—even in tough years—not by luck, but by reflection, refinement, and intention.

The Bottom Line

You can’t control global markets. You can’t change the weather. But you can control how your farm learns and operates as a business. An after-action review rarely costs more than your time—and it’s one of the smartest investments heading into another challenging season.

If you’d like a hand walking through the process, or want someone to help guide your review, we can work with you to make it simple and actionable. Take a breath, look back, and move forward smarter. Your future self—and your bottom line—will thank you.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Procedures 2020

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:06:29 GMT

We are reaching out to all of our followers today to address the increasing risk and exposure of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Brookside is implementing steps at the lab in order to help keep our staff, customers, consultants, communities, and families safe and healthy.

Our consultants and clients will receive e-mails today about the precautions that we are putting in place immediately. We serve the agriculture community and our farmers will still be getting out in the fields here within the next month, so Brookside has no intention of closing at this time. However, if we are forced to close due to government intervention we will do so in accordance with the law. Any client of ours within the past year will receive notification if such steps are taken.

If you are coming to the lab to drop off samples, please make sure that you have not been sick or personally been exposed to anyone sick in the last 24 hours. This will help limit the exposure at the lab and potentially the local community. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call the lab at 419-977-2766.

We appreciate your understanding during this difficult time. Be safe!

Biological Soil Amendments with BioDyne USA

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:03:12 GMT

We were recently joined by Dan Coffin, of Biodyne-USA for a discussion on soil biology. Topics include the late planting conditions of 2019 and the implications this may have on our nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer programs. Also covered, the significance of late planting to nitrogen assimilation by diazotrophic bacteria.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1YJoLhFZhM

Industrial Hemp Webinar

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 20:01:36 GMT

Industrial Hemp Webinar Uploaded to Brookside YouTube Channel and Members Portal

Earlier this month, Brookside Laboratories, Inc. hosted Dr. George Place of North Carolina State University to discuss emerging interest in industrial hemp. Dr. Place did a fantastic job presenting a primer on industrial hemp. Topics included uses (fiber, seed, or oils), regulations, processing, biology, lab testing needs, food safety hazard concerns, pests, diseases, and others. This presentation was a great session and an excellent starting point for gathering information on this exciting new cropping opportunity. I strongly encourage everyone to catch up here if you were unable to join us live.

Click this link to go to our YouTube Channel and watch the webinar.

Brookside Commercial

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 19:55:08 GMT

Brookside Laboratories have the opportunity to make a commercial this last year and it has been airing on certain dates on Fox Business Network. Click the link below to view our commercial.

https://youtu.be/KmxZ9XZTcEs

Soil Health Seminar

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 19:52:34 GMT

Free, interactive seminar to demystify soil health and start laying the foundation for optimal soil health on your farm.

Soil Health 101 Seminar: Demystifying Soil Health

https://blog.familyfarmsgroup.com/soilright/seminar

Tom Menke Consultant Interview

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 19:47:02 GMT

We recently started interviewing some of our consultants that have been with us for many years as part of our new Consultant Outreach Program. By doing this we are hoping to be able to share some of their experiences and knowledge with some of our other consultants, who might have questions or just simply need to hear the wise words of someone that has been through all the ups and downs over the years. These Consultants have been wonderful to give us a few minutes of their time and we thank them for that. We look forward to future talks with them and future talks with other consultants as we grow our Outreach Program.

We recently talked to Tom Menke, who has been a consultant for over 40 years. He has done a lot of crop consultants, nutrient work, and has been mostly focused on environmental work. With having knowledge in more then one area of consultant, Tom can offer much value in helping spread his knowledge in your consultant community.

Tom mentions in his short interview that just because as consultants we are good agronomist, that doesn’t mean we are very good business people. Being in this industry for as long as Tom has he has learnt ways to learn and become that good business person. It takes a lot of different aspects to make a business succeed, and Tom has learnt a lot of those over the years. Take some time and listen to Tom’s full interview and you just might learn a thing or two!

Go to our YouTube channel in order to listen to the recent consultants that we had the opportunity to sit down and speak with.

Brookside Balance

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 19:41:23 GMT

David Ricke recently came in and wanted to give his testimonial on how the Brookside program really has worked for him over the years. Some people might be a little hesitant to believe such a program could work, but Dave wanted to prove to everyone that it has worked for him for many, many years and he wouldn’t be a consultant today if it wasn’t for this program.

In Dave’s presentation he used a couple different farms that has been with him for just as long as he has been a consultant. The first exam was a corn belt farmer. He shows in the presentation that different years and how his numbers for base saturation percentage has done wonders. He also used a large livestock producer, this farm was in good shape when Dave started with him, but there is always room for improvement, and that’s exactly what he did. He improved the farms numbers over the years.

Sometimes the best way to learn, is to listen to other consultant’s mistakes and success over the years. In no time at all, you can learn a lot and they can help you make your business succeed just like most of them have. Check out the full video of Ricke’s testimonial that he did for us.

Go to our YouTube channel in order to listen to the recent consultants that we had the opportunity to sit down and speak with.

Joe Nester Consultant Interview

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 19:35:23 GMT

Joe Nester has been with Brookside for over 25 years. Before he joined Brookside, he was very successful in the retail fertilizer business, but realized that he wanted to be doing more in the field and agronomy work, so he decided to was time to start his own consultant’s business. He didn't learn about Brookside right away, he had someone else tell him about Brookside and what all we offer as a company. He looked into our company and realized it would be an excellent fit for him. So that is how Joe became a consultant with Brookside.

Joe has been very successful running his business over the last 25 or so years. He has learnt a lot and had to go through all the battles of starting your own business. Starting your own business can be risky but reaching out to guys like Joe to hear their battles and success stories is a great place to start for someone that is looking to possibly do the same. Brookside has many wonderful consultants, like Joe, willing to offer advice and knowledge to anyone looking at getting started with Brookside.

Check out Joe's consultant interview or any of the other interviews that we have done with our consultants to hear about their journey to Brookside and success that they have had. Joe offers some great advice during his interview.

Go to our YouTube channel in order to listen to the recent consultants that we had the opportunity to sit down and speak with.

David Ricke Consultant Interview

dcaywood@midnetmedia.com (Darren Caywood) — Wed, 20 May 2020 19:30:31 GMT

David Ricke has been with Brookside for over 30 years. He has put in lots of hard hours and time to get where he is today. Dave was like any other consultant that started out working for a large layer farm in Indiana. Dave eventually started to branch out in other areas of the agriculture industry which lead him to becoming a consultant for Brookside in 1981 in our agriculture division.

David has been very successful over the years, but him like anyone else once you get to retirement age, you start to think about different things that he could have done better over the years. This is one question that was asked during his short interview and Dave’s response was “plan my retirement better”. I think this is something that is a worry for all and hearing his prospective of it, might just be the knowledge that some of our younger consultants need to get them going in the right direction for their futures, even long after Brookside

David offers much good advice during our short interview and he is full of knowledge on many different levels. When you have been with a company for 37 years you tend to learn different tricks a long the way. Reaching out to consultants like David when you have questions or concerns, can be helpful for not only you, but for your business as well. Everyone wants to succeed in this world and by listening and taking advice from those who have been down the road you’re on before, is the best way learn and grow.

Go to our YouTube channel in order to listen to the recent consultants that we had the opportunity to sit down and speak with.

amplifytogether2

Spring Planting and Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Testing

Pre-Sidedress Nitrogen Testing remains one of the most effective tools available to reduce guesswork and fine-tune nitrogen decisions during the growing season.

Using Drone Imagery and Precision Planting to Simplify Replant Decisions

When the crop just doesn't establish like it should

Choosing an Independent Consultant

Who You Ask Matters as Much as What you Ask

Clean Fields and Better Yields

Weeds steal, often silently, until the damage is already done.

Walk Your Fields, Don’t Just Watch Them

The value in 'Boots on the Ground' data

Host a Farmer Meeting They’ll Actually Want to Attend

Deliver value in a way that respects people’s time, keeps them engaged, and makes the experience worth attending

What to Ask Before Sharing Farm Data

Soil grows crops. Data grows decisions.

The High Price of ‘FREE’

If a platform is FREE, you’re not the customer, you’re the product.

Joining the Amplify Network: What to Expect as a New Consultant

Joining a network of high-caliber, independent crop and turf consultants

It All Started in the Barn

How One Farmer’s Discovery Sparked 75 Years of Sustainable Agriculture

Turning Harvest Questions into Data-Driven Decisions

How Brookside Labs and the Amplify Network Help Farmers Run Unbiased, Real-World Field Trials that Improve ROI and Confidence in Management Practices

Digging a Little Deeper, into Your Soil

Every year, farmers talk about cutting costs, reducing waste, and getting more bang for their buck.

Turning Last Year’s Lessons into Next Year’s Wins

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Procedures 2020

Biological Soil Amendments with BioDyne USA

Industrial Hemp Webinar

Industrial Hemp Webinar Uploaded to Brookside YouTube Channel and Members Portal

Brookside Commercial

Soil Health Seminar

Tom Menke Consultant Interview

Brookside Balance

Joe Nester Consultant Interview

David Ricke Consultant Interview

Soil grows crops.
Data grows decisions.