OFFI CI AL PUBLI CATI ON OF CROP QUEST AGRONOMI C SERVI CES, I NC.

C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s 1

1895
1895.5
1896
1896.5
1897
1897.5
1898
1898.5
1899
1899.5
1900
1900.5
1901
1901.5
1902
1902.5
1903
1903.5
1904
1904.5
1905
1905.5
1906
Continued on Page 2
A Crop Quest customer has a sodium problem on part of the farm.
Utilizing the expertise of his Crop Quest Agronomist and Veris

technol-
ogy to accurately map the areas out, this particular producer will be able
to use corrective measures in exactly the right areas and not spend money
where it isnt needed. The customer was amazed at how the Veris maps
generated showed the exact sodium spots and how it correlated when
yield maps were compared to Veris maps.
Another customer is using Crop Quest and the Veris unit to help de-
cide where to plant crops based on soil texture and type.
Another feld that was mapped in Sedgwick County, KS,
showed a tremendous amount of variation in soil pH going
across the feld. Using pH maps developed from data gener-
ated by the Veris system, we can help growers target areas
in most need of lime. We are fnding from our work with
the Veris that many areas within a feld dont need any
lime. Using these pH maps, the grower can target areas
that need it and avoid applying lime where its not
needed, says Rob Meyer, Crop Quest Agronomist.
Lime itself isnt such a big expense, but transporting
lime to the farm and applying it to the land,
especially where it is not needed, can be expensive,
Meyer explains.
In the past farmers have done an excellent job of
averaging what is needed in a particular feld. They
know how much a particular feld needs on average,
but that doesnt take into account areas of the feld that
need more lime to be in good pH balance or areas of
the feld that have adequate soil pH.
The result is the same as with averaging
fertility across a feld. Some areas of the
feld will get the right amount. Some areas will get too much, and some
will not get enough. The most likely end result of such fguring is to get
a crop that doesnt reach its yield potential.
The Veris soil electrical conductivity system has been in operation for
several years now and is beginning to be a valuable resource for Crop
Quest Agronomists as they strive to help farmers add precision manage-
ment and reduce risks in their farming operations.
Simply put, the Veris measures the conductivity of soils as electric
current passes through it. Heavier clay soils generally have higher
resistance and lighter, sandier soils
have less resistance. The result is a
detailed map of the soil texture vari-
ability in the crop rooting zone.
Simple in design, the Veris system
uses six electrically charged disks or
coulters that send and receive electric
impulses to a monitor mounted in
the tractor cab. One set of sensors
receives refected current at a 12-inch
depth and a second set at 36 inches. The discs themselves run three
to four-inches deep. The composite data provides an accurate under-
standing of soil textures up and down the root zone of a plant.
Veris readings can be used to make electrical conductivity (EC) maps.
Combined with GPS technology and Greenseeker

technology, sophisti-
cated maps can be developed to help growers make a number of money-
saving management decisions.
With Veris and some of these other pieces of equipment, we are going
back to what our forefathers did, Meyer contends. Before we had trac-
tors and modern equipment, felds were plowed by hand, usually
PRODUCTIVITY ZONES
MAKE AND SAVE MONEY
FOR CROP QUEST GROWERS
Rob Meyer
Veris Elevation Map
Volume 20 Issue 3 May 2010
C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s w w w . c r o p q u e s t . c o m 2
behind a mule. Following a mule gave a farmer plenty of time and
opportunity to look at each piece of land. He could make decisions as to
what inputs were needed where.
Now, farms are so big, and we move through a feld with equipment so
fast, there is no way for a farmer to know whats going on in every part
of the feld. With Veris, Greenseeker, GPS and other technologies, we can
apply just what is needed in a relatively small area of a feld, he explains.
Veteran Crop Quest Consultant John Hecht says growers in central
Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas were getting into some real low pH situ-
ations and several of them approached Crop Quest about helping them
solve this problem.
They didnt want to just blanket apply lime as a soil amendment.
The Veris equipment can generate pH maps, using the Veris pH Manager.
We have had a tremendous amount of interest from growers, Hecht says.
Using the Veris has been exciting from the perspective of helping our
farmers, but also as a means of learning new things. For example, in
early April we had a farmer ask us to run this equipment in standing
wheat. We were concerned about damaging the wheat, but the grower
said dont you dare stop the information you are generating is much
more important than any damage you can do to the wheat, Hecht recalls.
Using Veris maps, GPS elevations and other mapping technology, Crop
Quest Agronomists can build productivity zones within a feld. These
maps allow the grower to quantify acres within certain areas of his feld,
whether for lime, nitrogen or other nutrients. For example, a grower may
have a 160-acre feld and in that feld, he knows he has 50 acres that could
be higher yielding. I can increase plant population and fertility and really
push yield in that area of the feld, Hecht notes.
On the other hand, the grower may have 30-40 acres within that same
feld that has had low yield potential. On this part of the feld the grower
possibly could have over-fertilized and planted too high of a population.
Now, he can reduce input cost in those low-producing areas of the feld,
Meyer explains.
Using this same information, growers can make better
management decision as to whether to use fungicides,
nematicides and other pest management practices. With
the cost of seed making up such a high percentage of
input costs, growers need precise information on
seeding rate, and after the crop is up, which parts of
the feld are worth giving maximum protection and
which wont beneft yield as much.
Weve used the Veris and Greenseeker all over
our coverage area, from Arkansas to Kansas. We
are learning as we go, but so far we see some real
opportunities for growers to save a lot of money on lime cost and on the
cost of other crop inputs, Meyer says.
We are trained to look for problems in our clients felds. Sometimes
I go into a feld and pull a soil sample, and I inadvertently wonder if my
samples are biased because Im looking for problems. When you pull the
Veris across the feld, you know exactly what you have in the feld and the
data is not always what we expect to fnd, Hecht adds.
The opportunities for growers to fne-tune their farming operations
are here with the technology currently available. High tech fertilizer
application rigs with on-the-go monitoring of crop needs are now feasible
and coming down in price, but this equipment is only as good as the
information fed into it. Knowing what is going on with the soil below the
surface is critical to the success of high tech plant monitoring and variable
rate application.
Right now the Veris system were using offers EC mapping, pH
mapping and elevation mapping, but the results we are seeing using this
equipment in addition to Greenseeker and other technologies are opening
the eyes of farmers and even some of us (senior, experienced consul-
tants), Hecht concludes.
NEMATODES
Productivity Zones ... Continued from Page 1
What Exactly Are They?
Nematodes are worm-like multicellular animals that
are very small, even microscopic, in size. There are over
20,000 species of nematodes in the world, and they can be
found virtually everywhere. They are so small that a handful of soil
may contain several thousand nematodes.
Most nematodes perform a benefcial function to the ecosystem. Some
feed only on bacteria, fungus, insects or other nematodes while aiding in
keeping the system in balance. Other nematode species feed on decom-
posing organic matter to help break it down and recycle the nutrients
resulting in fertility that can be used by growing plants.
There are, however, about a dozen species of nematodes that feed on
living plants and roots. These parasites, when present in large enough
numbers, can cause signifcant damage to a crop. Their direct feeding
can limit root development and limit the moisture and nutrient uptake of
the plants. They have the greatest impact on crop productivity when they
attack the roots of seedlings immediately after seed germination.
The affected plants may appear normal but lack the vigor of the rest of
the feld. They may also be stunted, off colored and exhibit various nutri-
ent and moisture defciencies. Because the
symptoms of nematode feeding may look
like fertility, insect or chemical problems,
it is diffcult to diagnose nematode prob-
lems in the feld.
When a nematode problem is suspected, a
sample of the soil and the plant roots must be sent
to a lab in order to positively confrm the diagnosis. The lab test
will determine which nematode species are present and at what levels.
With this information, your Crop Quest Agronomist can help you deter-
mine what course of action needs to be taken.
It is important to note that once nematodes have penetrated the plant
root, chemical control is diffcult. There are several nematicides on the
market, but management and prevention are the key. There are some
new seed treatment products for nematodes that have become available
recently. Where they are needed, these products are showing some prom-
ising results. To determine if these products might beneft your operation,
visit with your Crop Quest Agronomist.
St. John, Kan.
By: Jim Gleason
Regional Vice President
John Hecht
Registered Trademark of Veris Industries
Registered Trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited
14.13-122.25 (6.24 ac)
122.35-172.53 (20.57 ac)
172.55-200.63 (27.05 ac)
200.64-244.96 (17.94 ac)
245.04-339.93 (2.85 ac)
Dry Yield
11.7-56.8 (1382 pts.)
56.9-94.7 (1015 pts.)
94.8-149.5 (561 pts.)
149.8-225.4 (377 pts.)
225.7-391.1 (153 pts.)
Shallow
Corn Yield Map
Veris EC Map
C r o p Q u e s t P e r s p e c t i v e s 3
Crop Quest has been fortunate over the years to attract
and keep top agricultural students, thanks in large part to an
aggressive recruiting program and innovative student intern-
ship program. The infusion of new talent and new thinking
keeps the company vibrant and growing.
This spring a number of new employees will help the
company expand its borders both geographically and its
areas of expertise in helping farmers. Crop Quest Consul-
tants joining the team this spring include:
CHRIS SHEPPARD
Chris Sheppard, who will be working in the Dodge
City offce, grew up surrounded by close family farmers in
central Illinois. From an early age he knew farming was in
his future, he just wasnt sure how.
He earned a Bachelors degree in agronomy from Texas
Tech University and went on to earn a PhD in plant and
soil science, specializing in soil nutrient management. In
between his agriculture degrees, Chris also earned an MBA
from Texas Tech University.
The combination of degrees and experience ft perfectly
in his new role at Crop Quest. He will be working with
growers, helping them put together farm plans that improve
proftability and about half his time will be spent working
with Crop Quest Agronomist Randy Waldren developing
nutrient resource management plans.
In the Dodge City area, many feedlots and the meat
packing industry face challenges on how to get rid of their
wastewater. Finding solutions to these issues ft perfectly
with Sheppards advanced college work.
I worked extensively during my PhD with the relation-
ship of various soil nutrients, particularly municipal waste
products and crop production. So, this part of my new job is
particularly interesting to me, Shepherd says.
RICK EHRLICH
Rick Ehrlich grew up on a Kansas farm, helping his
father from an early age manage about a thousand acres of
grain crops. Ive always been fascinated by the science of
growing crops. This job with Crop Quest allows me to study
different crops and work with farmers to help them make
better management decisions, he says.
Ehrlich graduated from Kansas State University with a de-
gree in animal science and industry. Combining his on-farm
experience and university training will be a big beneft in
helping grain and alfalfa growers better manage their crops.
JOSH BUCK
Josh Buck, like so many Crop Quest employees, grew up
working on a farm. His dad worked on a large family farm
near Ada, OK, and Josh tagged along from an early age,
helping in every aspect of farming as he grew up.
Throughout high school he worked on a large grain farm
near Medicine Lodge, KS. He attended Hutchinson Junior
College and joined his soils teacher, Steve Sears, on a tour
of Kansas agricultural companies, including Crop Quest. He
then interned for Crop Quest last summer.
Josh said the family atmosphere of the company and the
knowledge of the Crop Quest Agronomists really impressed
him. Josh says he kept in contact with the people he had met
at Crop Quest and is excited to start his full-time career as a
Crop Quest Agronomist.
KEENEN TAYLOR
Keenen Taylor grew up on a farm near Weatherford, OK.
Crop Quest Agronomist Howard Bartel is a neighbor of the
Taylors and took an interest in Keenen. During college, he
worked two internships with Crop Quest.
After high school, Taylor tried his hand at welding, but
he couldnt get past his desire to work in agriculture. He
went on to Oklahoma State University, earning a degree in
crop science.
While grain will make up the majority of the crops with
which Taylor will work in the Oklahoma territory, he will
also consult on some cotton, sesame, sunfowers, and even
a few acres of peanuts.
STEVE KROSKY
Unlike most of the new Crop Quest Agronomists,
Steve Krosky brings over 30 years of production agricul-
tural experience to the job. Included in his farm experience
is nearly 10 years working as a consultant.
Krosky grew up on a family farm in Brighton, CO.
Working from the time he was old enough to do so, Steve
was intrigued when feld representatives from Coors for
malt barley or sugar beetsthe primary crops grown on
their farmwould come to the farm to help his dad.
I always thought that would be an interesting job when
I grew up, he recalls. After graduating from Colorado State
University with a degree in agronomy, he did just that, tak-
ing a job as a consultant for Servi-Tech in 1979. He worked
for nearly 10 years in Colorado and Kansas.
In each of the jobs Ive had since those early years
with Servi-Tech Ive worked with farmers. With Crop Quest,
I will be working with corn, winter wheat, malting barley,
alfalfa and sunfowers grown for confectionary products,
he concludes.
JASON FOWLER
Jason Fowler will graduate from college one week in
May and start working for Crop Quest the next. He grew
up on a 1,000-acre livestock and grain farm in Central
Missouri.
His family owned a livestock marketing facility where
he worked growing up. If I wasnt working on our farm,
I was helping somebody else work on their farm, Jason
notes. He was involved in FFA in high school and extended
his interest in agriculture to community college. He moved
on to the University of Central Missouri, where he will
earn a degree in agriculture business.
Fowler will begin his career with Crop Quest working
in Northwest Kansas. One of my main interests is in the
escalating cost of production for farmers, and I want to
provide them a service that will help them maximize
their crop output and overall farm proftability, Fowler
concludes.
JUSTIN NEUSCH
Though he is fnishing his college degree in May,
Justin Neusch is a fve-year veteran of Crop Quest.
Starting after his senior year in high school, he began
doing internships with the company.
Neusch grew up on a farm near Amarillo, TX. His family
grows corn, cotton, wheat and various other crops. We
had a Crop Quest Agronomist who worked with my dad,
helping him with our farm, and I thought that would be an
interesting thing to do, he recalls.
Five internships and a college degree from West Texas
A&M University later, Neusch joins the Crop Quest team
as a full-time agronomist and will be headquartered in
Spearman, TX, about an hour from his family farm.
NEW EMPLOYEES TO EXPAND
CROP QUEST AGRONOMIC SERVICES
Chris Sheppard
Rick Ehrlich
Josh Buck
Keenen Taylor
Steve Krosky
Jason Fowler
Justin Neusch

Mission Statement
Crop Quest is an employee-owned company dedicated to providing the highest quality agricultural services for each customer. The quest of our network of
professionals is to practice integrity and innovation to ensure our services are economically and environmentally sound.
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
DODGE CITY KS
PERMIT NO. 433
Employee-Owned & Customer Driven
Crop Quest Agronomic Services, Inc.
Main Offce: Phone 620.225.2233
Fax 620.225.3199
Internet: www.cropquest.com
cqoffce@cropquest.com
Crop Quest Board of Directors
President: Ron OHanlon
Director: Jim Gleason
Director: Dwight Koops
Director: Cort Minor
Director: Chris McInteer
Director: Rob Benyshek
Post-Emerge Herbicide Success?
The success of a good post-emerge herbicide application does not,
and should not rely on concocting the best tank mix of chemicals that
your agronomist can come up with. It starts much earlier than that.
A successful herbicide program has rarely been accomplished by
trying to control weeds using only post-emergent ingredients. A solid
weed control program includes a combination of an early season, or
pre-emerge application, followed by a post-emerge application, if
necessary.
The theory behind a two pass program (or multiple pass pro-
gram) is to eliminate as much weed pressure as possible early in the
growing season, and rely on the post-emerge application to target
some of those hard to control weeds or weeds that tend to begin
emerging later in the season.
Trying to catch the entire weed spectrum at one time and at an
optimal stage of growth is nearly impossible. Expecting satisfactory
results consistently is nearly a pipe dream and usually ends up
costing producers more herbicide dollars and reduced yield in the
long run. We need to give ourselves the best opportunity possible to
manage the entire weed spectrum.
A two pass approach allows farmers to accomplish a few very
important goals:
1) Resistance Management: It is important that we vary
and use multiple modes of action (MOA) while controlling
weeds. Overuse of the same MOA or an individual herbi-
cide leads to resistance issues. Using a two pass approach
and then tank mixing different MOAs in a specifc application
will help accomplish this goal.
2) Season long control: A planned two pass program will allow
control of weeds at a proper time in addition to management
of herbicide residuals that can extend control throughout the
growing season.
3) Effcient and economical: There is just too much risk in-
volved when you rely on a total post program. The likelihood
of controlling all the weeds at the same time is very low. It is
common to have to come back with another treatment that
costs as much or more than the frst treatment just to clean
up a few species or escaped weeds.
4) Targeted weed control: The pre-emerge treatment targets
those early germinating weeds and typically has residual ac-
tivity. In order to make a successful post emerge application,
you need to have a manageable weed spectrum and weed
size. The pre-emerge treatment should set this up. Then a
proper tank mix at the proper time can be applied. If done
right, you will be able to combine multiple MOAs, add the
proper residual products to the tank and utilize herbicides
that stay within your budget.
Crop Quest Agronomists are here to help you manage your entire
herbicide program and make sure that when you do need to apply a
post-emergent treatment, you are already in a position to make a
successful application.
Ulysses, Kan.
By: Dwight Koops
Regional Vice President