We've all been told things like "yield data is invaluable," "you need it for the future" and "it will transform the way you farm." Yet every year it seems that most of the data collected goes on a memory card or thumb drive somewhere to be dropped into a desk drawer, never to be seen again.

It doesn't have to be like this. There are many things that yield data can be used for, but until you pick up some practices and make an effort to do them, the cycle of filing data away never to be seen again will continue.

Here are a few thoughts on some of the most valuable ways to use the data you collect today and their relative ease of implementation.

DATA DRIVEN: Harvest is a wrap. Now, what to do with all of that yield data? Farmers can use simple tools to look more closely at the information and determine what it means for profitability on their farm.

Instant data gratification
There are easy things that yield data can do. With a little setup, you can reap the rewards of good data right off the monitor.

• Yield reporting. Whether it is the Farm Service Agency office, insurance, landlords or bankers, everyone wants production information. This information is typically available right on your yield monitor screen to use provided you do the following: Make sure to calibrate for each crop annually; do a good job of naming fields correctly in the monitor; and change to the correct field in the monitor before you start to harvest it. (Many new monitors will automatically change to the correct field if you have boundaries created.)

• Measure variety performance. Many monitors have the ability to track each variety's performance as you harvest if you record where they are planted with a GPS-enabled monitor in the spring. Imagine turning your entire farming operation into a test plot.

Thad Becker

• Strip trial analysis. If you have a strip trial flagged in a field, it is very simple to start a new load in your yield monitor to compare yield from your strip versus yield from the adjoining crop.

Simple analysis tools
There are several ways to analyze yield data with a simple precision software package. Here are some common ones:

• Query tools. The query tool available in most software packages lets you draw a custom area in a field and get all the statistics like yield, acres, moisture and so on. Do you have a spot in the field that doesn't drain well? Did you have a test skip where you didn't have good weed control? Using the query tool will allow you to see what those areas cost you.

• Yield by variety by soil type. This analysis takes a more in-depth look at your yield as it relates to the varieties you plant and how yield varies with placement. By seeing the effect that different soils have on different varieties, you will see the importance of proper placement and can gain insights into what variety attributes are needed to perform best for each field.

• Yield removal fertilizer recommendations. This is a great way to maintain your soil nutrient levels and allow you to put back only the nutrients removed. By using a crop-removal math equation, you can turn your yield map into a fertilizer-removal map and then variable rate the correct amount of fertilizer back onto the correct area of the field.

You can learn more about dealing with yield data at www.mfa-inc.com/precisionag.aspx.

Becker is the precision agronomy manager at MFA Inc.