The concept and the benefits of precision agriculture has developed significantly since being introduced in the early 1980s. However, some things have remained consistent: there has always been a team of experts behind the scenes, developing, learning and driving that new technology. Fast forward to present day, where more growers want to not only move and access their data, but truly understand it to make their best on farm decisions.
Since precision ag manager Nicole Penney’s arrival in 2014, she has supported and educated our FS crop specialists on how to best serve our growers with precision ag tools. Nicole has been a hidden figure throughout the years, working tirelessly to analyze and strategically convert field data, maps, and figures for optimal precision ag results.
“At times, Penney will accompany the crop specialist to discuss results and recommendations directly with a grower. At other times, she is in the field training summer crop scouts, training an operator to load a map, or working directly with growers to understand their field. During the growing season, Nicole is probably the last email that our team receive at the end of the day. At all points, Nicole drives the precision agronomy program directly with our FS Precision and Crop Specialists, and our growers. We appreciate her commitment to precision ag and the 4Rs,” comments FS PARTNERS Agronomy Manager Steve Rongits.
Lance Ruppert, GROWMARK's Executive Director of Agronomy Marketing & Technology saw the role of the precision ag specialist developing. “The need for this specialized certification grew from the team at FS PARTNERS, in fact. Nicole’s fellow crop specialists appreciated her efforts and collaboration in precision ag. They wanted to see her skills develop so that she could stand side by side with a crop specialist to identify customer needs, and to help bring insights and solutions to the grower,” he said. Nicole is the first CPP in the GROWMARK System.
Already proving her skills in the FS system, Nicole was recognized by GROWMARK in 2017 as an Endure 4R advocate, a sustainability initiative designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting nutrient stewardship.
Similar to the CCS (Certified Crop Specialist) program developed by GROWMARK as next-level training to the industry recognized CCA certification, the CPP program was designed to build our FS System’s precision coordinators skills and abilities. “Those who aspire to and then accomplish the goal of becoming a Certified Precision Professional (CPP) are well equipped to help FS differentiate itself in the marketplace by providing new value through technology/data insights and agronomy expertise to help customers be more profitable. Nicole is a great example of that goal,” Ruppert comments.
Currently leading a team of three Precision Ag Specialists across Ontario, Nicole looks forward to the future of precision agriculture. As a strong advocate of the 4R’s, she represents the FS system with integrity and commitment to sustainable future of agriculture.