An upgraded version of Agren's SoilCalculator has been released. This version allows providers to estimate soil erosion and associated economic cost.
"Report outputs quantify the economics of lost production due to soil erosion under different management alternatives," says Tom Buman, CEO of Agren. "The enhanced reporting also helps growers and their advisers better understand the impact of management on the health of their soil and address specific problem sites."
The results will allow farmers to implement conservation practices in the proper areas at the correct scale to achieve both environmental and economic benefits, says Buman. The SoilCalculator allows service providers to input various crop rotations, tillage systems, and conservation practices. Then erosion predictions are created for up to three scenarios. Color-coded maps, similar to a GIS yield map, pinpoint areas of high erosion.
"SoilCalculator is the first software of its kind to estimate soil erosion and allow growers to see the economic impact of changes in management," says Buman. "Growers can easily evaluate alternatives side by side to maximize profits, conserve soil, preserve yields, and reduce nutrient inputs."
While SoilCalculator is a standalone application for ag service providers, it is the pinnacle of Agren's three-tiered Sustainability Solution to be announced later this month, adds Buman. Agren’s Sustainability Solution allows growers and their ag advisers to incorporate conservation decisions into their precision ag platforms.
