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Summer samplers
Co-op interns focus on tissue-testing tasks
| Story and photos by Allison Morgan and Mark E. Johnson |
7/2/2012 |
The technology of tissue-sampling crops is based on a complex system of laboratory science and advanced agronomic information. But the results are only as good as the sample taken in the field.
That’s why a specialized team of Co-op interns are focused on tissue-sampling corn, soybeans, and cotton in West and Middle Tennessee this summer. As part of WinField’s NutriSolutions® program, these interns are working with Tennessee Farmers Cooperative and member Co-op agronomy specialists to help build interest in the program and ensure that plant samples are carefully and accurately collected, prepared, and submitted for analyses.
“We’ve been offering tissue-sampling services for a couple of years, and we’ve recognized the tremendous value it can bring to growers who want to correct in-season nutrient deficiencies,” says Alan Sparkman, TFC agronomy marketing manager. “However, pulling samples can be a labor-intensive, time-sensitive process, so we determined that one way to expand the program was to have interns dedicated to this task. These interns are all agriculture majors, so they get valuable, hands-on field experience as well.”
Before they began their assignments, the group of 10 interns received classroom instruction by WinField and TFC experts, gained hands-on training in the field, and toured A&L Laboratories in Memphis, where the tissue samples are analyzed. David Cook, a senior agriculture business major at the University of Tennessee at Martin who is interning with Gibson Farmers Cooperative, says the information prepared him well for sampling corn, cotton, and soybean fields for Co-op customers.
“We learned that it’s critical to get the samples at just the right time and that it takes more than just a one-time-a-season sample to get the most out of it,” says David. “We try to make sure growers know that when we’re explaining the program.”
Though most tissue-sampling is taking place in crop-heavy West Tennessee, Courtney Collyer, a senior plant and soil sciences major at Middle Tennessee State University, says the growers she’s working with through her internship at Rutherford Farmers Cooperative are “excited to have tissue-sampling as a service.”
“It’s gratifying to be able to do something that benefits the farmers in this area while I’m working toward a career,” says Courtney. “It’s a lot of fun, too.”
While the interns say the sampling process isn’t difficult, it does require concentration and attention to detail. They must get a good representation of the plants in each field, with a goal of pulling from 30 to 50 samples — enough to make a “softball-size” pile of leaves. Using a NutriSolutions smartphone “app,” they then capture the GPS coordinates of a field, scan the barcode on the sample bag, and enter data ranging from weather conditions to the crop’s growth stage. With the tap of a button, all this information is sent to the lab to await the arrival of the sample.
The analysis provided by the NutriSolutions Tool is usually returned to the Co-op the next day, which means a grower could be making critical corrections to plant nutrients within 48 hours. The report provides the crop’s nutritional profile and specific recommendations that may include Max-In foliar nutrient applications.
“By the time you see deficiencies, it’s usually too late to do anything about it,” says Alan. “This allows us to be proactive and get ahead of those problems before they impact yield. It’s the next step in serving our farmers.”
For more information on tissue-sampling or the NutriSolutions Tool, talk with your Co-op agronomy specialists.
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