Beyond Yield Maps: Why In-Season Data Collection Matters More Than Ever

As agriculture becomes increasingly data-driven, many growers have become comfortable using yield maps and planting records to evaluate field performance. But according to participants on a recent episode of CropLife Retail Week, some of the most valuable information for improving future crop performance is collected long before the combine enters the field.

Tech Hub LIVE 2026: Where Ag Tech Meets Action
Discover the latest ag retail innovations, precision technology, and AI insights at Tech Hub LIVE this July in Des Moines. Learn more >>

During the episode, Asmus Farm Supply owner Amy Asmus and agronomist Nate Eitzmann discussed how retailers and growers can use in-season observations, drone technology, and emerging artificial intelligence tools to better understand what is happening in fields throughout the growing season.

While harvest data remains important, Eitzmann believes the industry’s next opportunity lies in connecting yield results with the factors that influenced them months earlier.

Building the Story Behind the Yield Map

Most growers today have access to yield maps and other harvest-related data. However, Eitzmann noted that yield data alone only tells part of the story.

“When we look at the big picture, yield maps are data. Almost everybody has that, and everybody talks about that and uses that as a reference point,” he said. “But we’ve learned there is data that can help tell that picture or tell that story about that yield map.”

According to Eitzmann, the growing season offers numerous opportunities to gather information that helps explain final yields. Stand counts, emergence timing, weed pressure, nutrient deficiencies, insect activity, and disease development all contribute valuable context.

“It starts with stand counts,” he said. “Accurate stand counts help paint the picture of emergence timing. We may end up with a more than adequate stand, but maybe they didn’t all come up at the same time.”

Tracking these observations throughout the season can help growers identify patterns and make more informed management decisions in future years.

Technology Expands What Agronomists Can See

Traditional field scouting remains an important part of agronomy, but Eitzmann acknowledged its limitations.

“Boots on the ground can still be very effective,” he said. “It takes time. It’s hard to see every inch of those fields.”

To overcome those challenges, many retailers are increasingly turning to drone-based scouting systems and digital imagery platforms. At Asmus Farm Supply, Eitzmann said the company uses drone technology to capture detailed field-level information that would be difficult to collect manually.

The technology can identify weeds, insects, diseases, and stand counts while creating a digital record that can be analyzed over multiple seasons.

“The thoroughness that we get from a program like that, where they can fly a field in a couple of hours and give us images of every inch of that field, is incredible,” Eitzmann said.

Asmus noted that the technology provides a much more complete picture than traditional scouting methods.

“Back in the days when I used to walk a field or two, we went to the easy spots and maybe halfway in,” she said. “We didn’t get every inch of the field, so it maybe gave us an unclear picture of what was actually out there. Technology is really helping in that area.”

Capturing Data That Drives Future Decisions

The ability to collect data is only part of the equation. Knowing which information to save and analyze is equally important.

Eitzmann encouraged growers to document stand counts, emergence uniformity, weed escapes, herbicide performance, and nutrient deficiencies throughout the season.

Even when issues do not significantly affect yield, they can provide valuable insight into future management strategies.

“When you’re flying every inch of that field, you’ll still find some weeds,” he said. “Take note of that — not only what you have out there for weeds, but where they’re at.”

Similarly, identifying nutrient deficiencies can help guide fertility decisions for future seasons, even if corrective action is no longer possible during the current year.

AI’s Growing Role in Agronomy

Artificial intelligence continues to generate significant attention across agriculture, but Eitzmann believes adoption in field operations remains in its early stages.

“I would agree with those findings,” he said when discussing recent survey data showing most growers currently use AI primarily in office operations. “That’s far and away the place they’re using AI the most.”

However, AI is already playing a role in some agronomic technologies. Eitzmann explained that drone scouting platforms increasingly use AI to identify weeds, insects, and crop stress while generating recommendations and estimating potential yield impacts.

“It’s one of the tools where we are using AI outside of the office,” he said. “But there is a lot of room to grow that usage.”

Looking Beyond Harvest

As agriculture continues to generate more information than ever before, both Asmus and Eitzmann see significant opportunities for growers to gain more value from data collected during the growing season.

While yield maps will remain a cornerstone of crop analysis, the future may depend on combining those results with in-season observations that explain why fields performed the way they did.

For retailers and growers alike, collecting better information today could lead to better decisions tomorrow.

To hear the full conversation with Amy Asmus and Nate Eitzmann, watch the complete episode of CropLife Retail Week.