IPNI will present results of the most recent survey of the soil test levels in North America. The summary offers a snapshot of soil test levels in 2015 and also provides a comparison to the previous three summaries that were completed in 2001, 2005, and 2010. A new interactive website will also be highlighted that provides customizable queries of the data.

Interpretation of soil test values is influenced by the user's perception of the data backing their relationship to observed crop responses. Doubts about such data give rise to suboptimal decisions regarding the source, rate, time and place of nutrient application. The consequences are large, particularly for a nutrient like phosphorus whose management has both economic and environmental impacts. This presentation explores the potential benefits to producer decisions and public perception that might arise through making available a comprehensive online soil test calibration database, using the Australian Better Fertilizer Decisions for Crops initiative as an example.

The old adage, “garbage in-garbage out,” rings true with precision data. Farmers and retailers have data – mounds of data. The question is what to do with the data, and how do you filter out the actionable data? This panel will provide a discussion from a few perspectives on the current state of data and offer a primer for factors to consider when evaluating your data. What makes for good data? How can big data analytics – particularly from multiple sources and platforms – be delivered to farmers in an actionable format? What should you know to ensure you’re making decisions from reliable data?