b'S T R A T E G YThey need to be able tothats logging where things go understand and take in dif- in the ground. That ensuresTLDR? FOLLOW THESE TIPS FOR DATA. ferent, diverse data sources,youre setting yourself up for Schultheiss says. Very hetero- success and getting the bestWhen it comes to data management, weve learned while it can geneous data. And make sureout of it.be a little difficult, it doesnt have to be. Here are the takeaways that it works together andFinally, having a continuityfor helping your customer succeed, whether its in the field or in connects well. From there, itsof data is importantits justthe breeding lab.discovering what the custom- like understanding your field1.Make sure to have a plan. Ensuring a plan for your data is ers data can do for them.history. step No. 1 before even touching a monitor or combine. This Having an open, honestUnfortunately, in agri- includes coming up with a few questions to answer: What are communication with yourculture, we cant just flip ayou hoping to achieve in your field? Are you concerned about customer about their goalsswitch and have a do over tosomething specific? Do you have any field history to help with also helps companies bettercollect data. You dont getyour plan?understand and bettera mulligan, Cubbage says. develop a relationship. Everything is calendar driven2.Ensure you have a specific place set aside for your data. Being willing to have that you dont get anotherAfter developing what youd like to achieve with your honest, open discussion withchance for another year.data, ensuring you have a proper storage place and proper your customer to understandHaving that continuity of dataportability is key for sending your data away to analyzers. what theyre trying to learnover multiple years is veryIf your data is unmanageable or unportable, it might not be and being able to assessimportant. possible to make it actionable.what they can learn with theirThe best way to think of3. Make your data actionable. Think about your data as a cropequipment is important, saysyour data and its continu- you manage in the fieldyou need to give it everything it Weathers. If you dont haveity isnt like a slot machine inneeds to produce a fruitful harvest for the future. One way equipment thats able to doVegasinstead, think of itto ensure your data is actionable is by having continuity over it, then you might as well notmore like a 401k.multiple years to find patterns and adjust for the future.even try. Understanding andWhile its hard to say4. Learn from your data. Once your data is actionable, you can having that frank conversationwhats the best amount offinally start learning from it! And when it comes down to it: opens doors. time to have under your belteven if you dont have years worth of data to learn from right In addition, ensuring yourfor your data to be mostnow, its not too late to start. plan is solid will only help youuseful, fortunately, all three find more success. experts agree: its never tooMake sure to follow these tips to allow your data to growas Weathers says that whilelate to start. it does, you can make it and use it for better decisions about it might be tiring to hear, itsYou have to make anhybrid and variety selection to move you through the breeding crucial to understanding whatinvestment in it and decideprocess and, for growers, inputs on farm. data youre working with that its important from a cost and what types of data. Afterstandpoint, Cubbage says. that, it comes to making sureIf you dont have data, youre your data is accurate andnot going to find out or have a understanding how to backgood answer to whats going ON THE WEBcheck it.on at your farm. Plus, youreWHERE All these machines rely onnot going to be prepared for measurements, he says. Getthe market that is growing forWant to catch up on what you might have missed from our Strategy Webinar?out the tape measure and putthat data beyond the farmCheck out the conversation atthem in correctly, becausegate. SW seedworld.com/how-can-big-data-teach-plants-to-talk-a-seed-world-strategy-webinarENDORSED BY 62/ SEEDWORLD.COMJUNE 2022'