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Tissue sampling bringing added efficiency

A southern Illinois farmer says in-season tissue sampling has changed his operation.

“Every Monday morning, I’m walking fields, gathering those leaves and taking them to town.”

Granvil Travis, who raises corn and soybeans in Massac County, says it’s a way to keep a close eye on his crops and his budget.

“As I can see those levels dropping, I can see that I need to go out and maybe make a boron application, or a zinc application, or a liquid potash application.”  He says, “It just kind of gives us a guideline on how to spend our money the best way possible to get that ROI.”

He tells Brownfield he’s seen the practice pay off.

“It does cost some money to do it, but the data that we’re getting back from it, if it saves us $5,000 on a wrong application, it’s more than paid for itself.”  He says, “It doesn’t take long to spend money the wrong way, so to be able to know we’re spending it the right way, it’s worth every penny.”

Travis says he’s seen the efficiencies offered through tissue sampling prove even more beneficial in tighter economic times.

AUDIO: Granvil Travis – Southern Illinois farmer