Ag Geek Speak

Latest Episodes:

1. Talking Cybersecurity with Tech Support Farm's Chris Sherman Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

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

In this epsiode, we discuss with Chris

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

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

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

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

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

https://gktechinc.com/

0.5 Tiny Bytes - Value of NAIP Imagery In Ag Mapping Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

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

In this episode, we discuss...

• what NAIP is and who collects it
• benefits of high resolution often associated with newer NAIP imagery
• four-band imagery (RGB with NIR) enabling NDVI
• leaf-on timing and when imagery misleads
• state-by-state differences in resolution and frequency
• FSA and CLU uses that ensure strong georeferencing
• practical steps to draw boundaries and validate zones
• aligning offset satellite layers to NAIP
• leveraging multi-year NAIP to confirm stable patterns
• free access and where to get the data
Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that

https://gktechinc.com/

20. Using Autonomous Tractors on the Farm with Matt Krueger Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

We talk with Matt Krueger about his field-level view of autonomous tillage with a 9R series John Deere tractor, from kit installation to dust-driven safety stops, and how better boundaries and AutoPath boost both uptime and data quality. Matt's story centers on labor flexibility, real costs, and where autonomy should expand next.

In this special hour-long episode we talk:
• autonomy kit details, JDLink Boost connectivity, dual receivers
• autonomy-grade boundaries and safe offsets near obstacles
• dust sensitivity, camera logic, alerts and overrides
• AutoPath benefits for cleaner headlands and data integrity
• remote control of depth, pressure and implement settings
• ROI framed as uptime and labor flexibility, not replacement
• likely next targets for autonomy: sprayers and air seeders
• subscription pricing models and reliability trade-offs
• NDVI plus as applied maps to trace application misses
• skills and fallbacks when GPS degrades or sensors fail
With GK Technology, we have a map, and an app, for that!

https://gktechinc.com/

19.5 Map The Acidity, Save The Harvest Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

We dig into why low (acidic) soil pH unlocks aluminum toxicity, how that halts root growth, and which crops suffer first. Then we lay out a practical plan to find acidic patches with smarter sampling, NDVI, and grid-the-zone strategies, and point to lime and buffer pH for the fix.

In this episode, we discuss...
• soil pH as chemical control and pH level of 7 is neutral
• aluminum toxicity risk to crops increases below 6.5 pH
• wheat relatively tolerant, legumes struggle with nodulation
• stunted roots and thin stands on slopes and sandier spots
• acidic areas are patchy and do not always follow productivity maps
• importance of using intensive grids and how 0–3 inch sampling in no-till helps detect acidicity issues
• soil testing: pair pH with buffer pH to set lime rates
• target NDVI-low areas and grid inside zones
• variable-rate lime as the remediation path

Gridding the Zone with Ag Genesis Part 1: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/16692855

Gridding the Zone with Ag Gensis Part 2:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/16692855

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

https://gktechinc.com/

19. Preston Sundeen Pt. 2 - Teaching Precision Ag That Works Today Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

Welcome back to the second part of our conversation with Preston Sundeen to explore how a two-year ag program prepares students for precision agriculture careers by building real-world skills across hardware, software, GIS, and agronomy. Sundeen's focus is practical confidence: clean data, sound troubleshooting, critical thinking, and learning to ask better questions.

We also talk about...

• defining precision ag as practical, cross-disciplinary work
• balancing agronomy, GIS, hardware and software fundamentals
• building file discipline, projections and boundary workflows
• sourcing NAIP, PLSS, and satellite imagery effectively
• controller setup, CAN bus basics and diagnostics
• using simulators to teach certain types of controllers
• as-applied data, JD Operation Center, SMS, and FieldView exposure
• teaching troubleshooting: manuals, credible videos and tests
• digital literacy and AI as time-saving tools
• measuring success by momentum, confidence and community impact
We had an excellent conversation with Preston and we know you'll enjoy it too.

Part 1 of our conversation: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340/episodes/18257891

https://gktechinc.com/

18.5 Is There a Way to Predict IDC Risk? Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

We unpack why soybean leaves turn yellow in patches, thanks to soybean IDC (iron deficiency chlorosis) and how to predict IDC risk for management. We share the exact soil tests that matter, how to read the lab results, and where precision mapping saves money and yield thanks to IDC management.

We also discuss...

• defining iron chlorosis
• why iron-rich soils still cause deficiency
• limits of testing for DTPA iron alone
• three key predictors: pH, EC (salts), and CCE (calcium carbonate equivalent)
• why percent CCE beats a simple fizz rating
• thresholds where CCE raises severe IDC risk
• how residual nitrate can worsen chlorosis
• grid versus zone sampling for better maps
• using maps to place tolerant varieties and inputs
• practical steps to keep beans green
Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that!

https://gktechinc.com/

18. Yes, He Mapped The Lawns Too Preston Sundeen Pt. 1 Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

We sit down with Preston Sundean to trace a path from farm kid to precision ag educator and entrepreneur. We dig into teaching ADMS, turning data into fast prescriptions, and why critical thinking matters more than button sequences.

In this episode we discuss...
• Preston's North Dakota farm roots and agribusiness training
• Career moves from ag retail to precision ag education
• COVID pivot into entrepreneurship and insurance
• Running a classroom like a workplace
• The ADMS learning curve and teaching methods
• Turning soil tests into fertilizer prescriptions fast
• Wireless data transfer and mobile office workflows
• Creative ADMS uses for claims and small jobs
• Lawn care mapping, NAIP imagery, and bidding
• GPS limits, lightbars, foam markers, and as‑applied maps
• The case for critical thinking across tools

Stick around next week for part two of our conversation with Preston Sundeen.

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

https://gktechinc.com/

17.5 Cracking The Code Of Salty Soils Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

We break down what “salty soil” really means and why salinity and sodicity demand different fixes. We share how to properly diagnose a soil as saline, sodic, or saline/sodic through soil sampling and testing, to avoid turning a manageable patch into concrete.

We also discuss....
• defining normal, saline, sodic, saline-sodic with soil test EC and sodium results
• why salinity causes drought-like stress without wrecking structure
• how sodicity drives clay dispersion and pore collapse
• when salts keep clays flocculated in saline-sodic soils
• risks of leaching or tiling without a sodicity management plan
• sampling depths: 0–6, 6–12, 12–18 inches for diagnosis
• using pH as a supporting clue for sodicity
• prioritizing amendment before drainage to prevent sodic blowups

More information on management of salty soils here: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/managing-saline-soils-north-dakota
Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that.

https://gktechinc.com/

17. Variable Rating Herbicides with Kyle Okke Pt. 3 Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

We map residual herbicide rates with field truth, not guesses, turning five-zone soil maps into targeted prescriptions that cut injury and hit weed spawn sites. We weigh OM, pH, texture, and landscape to protect sensitive crops now and keep rotations flexible next year.

In this episode we discuss...

• base maps from precision soil sampling and scouting knowledge
• modded zones for unique poor areas and weed hotspots
• organic matter, carbonate, and color as soil clues, not absolutes
• extreme pH swings shaping efficacy, injury, and carryover
• decision framework from damage mitigation to suppression
• variable rates to protect sensitive crops and rotations
• SmartFirmer OM layers and controller-friendly rate steps
• lidar, soil series, and as‑applied maps to refine zones
• practical limits of sensors and when algorithms help
• closing insights and where we push rates or back off
Missed the first two parts of this episode? Check out our previous episodes! https://www.buzzsprout.com/2297340

https://gktechinc.com/

16.5 Calculating Nutrients in Liquid Fertilizer (Bulk Density!) Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

We unpack why liquid fertilizer math trips people up and discuss how to figure out how to determine pounds of fertilizer in a liquid fertilizer. We talk real examples and show how small liquid fertilizer densities can drastically affect starter outcomes, especially in cold soils.

In this Tiny Bytes, we talk
• the dry vs liquid mindset shift
• how density changes gallons into pounds
• where to find pounds per gallon on fertilizer labels
• comparing phosphorus from 10-34-0 and 6-24-6
• implications for starter fertilizer in cold springs
• simple rules to avoid under or over application
Tune in next time for a Tiny Byte of knowledge from GK Technology, where we have a map and an app for that

https://gktechinc.com/

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