Inside Look into Agronomy at Gooseneck Implement
November 15, 2022
Mattie Schmitt, Gooseneck Implement Agronomist

We interviewed Mattie Schmitt., a Gooseneck Agronomist who services customers in the Rugby-Towner area, to learn more about the Gooseneck Agronomy Program. Mattie has been with Gooseneck Implement for almost 2.5 years and she brings immense knowledge and expertise to the agronomy department here at Gooseneck Implement. Her favorite crop is canola, because “It surprises (her) year after year of what it’s capable of, plus it’s beautiful when it’s at full bloom.”   


Mattie says that a Gooseneck Agronomist will typically go through 4 “seasons” throughout the year. They are categorized into the following: springs work, crop scouting, soil sampling, and office work. Each season is very different and varies in terms of how busy they are, but they are all very important to helping our customers to our fullest potential. 


The crop year for agronomists begins in August with the soil sampling season. During this time of year, an agronomist is busy meeting “with all of our clients before they get busy with harvest to discuss the current crop year and figure out our intended crops for the upcoming year.” But this season doesn’t end when harvest starts. “Once harvest gets rolling and the crops start coming off the field, our workload picks up. We are then in a race to finish our Soil, Water, and Topography (SWAT) Mapping, and soil sampling prior to snowfall and/or freeze up.” This season can be a very busy time, as agronomists are trying to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.


The next season in the crop year for agronomists is the slow time of winter. This season consists of “training, client meetings to discuss the upcoming year, a lot of computer work analyzing all kinds of data (soil test results, harvest data, nutrient removal, etc.), and creating analytic reports.” During this time, they also create crop plans and prescriptions for their clients. 


Springs work begins at the end of March and the first part of April. “We are busy this time of year finishing up client meetings to make sure we are ready for spring, finalizing and delivering our crop plans and prescriptions to our clients and/or local co-ops, and always being by our phone to be able to assist with any seeding issues that may come up.” Mattie said that this is the most hectic time for the agronomist, but “it can be somewhat less hectic the more we are able to plan and prepare in the winter months.” 


Lastly, agronomists enter scouting season. This season runs from the end of April to the beginning of September. “We typically start scouting fields prior to seeding to be able to give our clients a good idea of what’s out there for weeds prior to seeding.” This season is typically not as busy as the springs work or soil sampling but is still a busier time for agronomists. After this, an agronomist will enter back into scouting in August and begin the whole process over again with their clients. 


The difference between a Gooseneck agronomist and other types of agronomists is the types of service we offer. “Some things we offer that very few other agronomists offer in the area is the Soil, Water, and Topography (SWAT) technology that we use to create our variable soil zones.” Other things that Gooseneck agronomists provide to farmers include crop planning, soil sampling, crop scouting, technology service, a trusted, non-biased crop consultant, and their knowledge and expertise. 


Mattie compares a Gooseneck agronomist to an independent crop consultant. “On average, we have roughly 10 (could be less or more depending on the types of operations we work with) clients we work with. We are non-biased consultants when it comes to cropping products (seed, fertilizer, pesticides etc.). We get to know each client’s operation for how they do things. We may bring recommendations and suggestions on how we think something may benefit their operation but for the most part, we tailor it to their operation. As Gooseneck consultants, we are the ones with the boots on the ground taking our clients’ soil samples, scouting, and analyzing all their data. Our goal is to understand their operation as best as we can to be able to benefit their operation as best as we can.” 


So, what does it take to be a Gooseneck agronomist? Mattie says that some qualifications to become a Gooseneck agronomist include: 

  • A strong work ethic, discipline, determination, and motivation are probably the most important “qualifications” 
  • Ideally, it’d be beneficial to have experience in the farming industry and have at least 2 years of agronomy, but they will train the right consultant. 


Interested in a career in agronomy at Gooseneck Implement? Check out our job board to see what openings we currently have.


September 23, 2026
MY27 Combines: What’s New for John Deere’s X9 and S7
By McKensie Popinga • September 14, 2026
There’s nothing quite like seeing new equipment up close. On August 26 and 27, we welcomed customers to Minot for our 2027–2028 John Deere Showcase, and if you ask us, there was a lot to look at. From a combine built to keep harvest moving, to sprayer technology that can actually see what’s happening in the field, to automation designed to make baling a little easier, the showcase gave our customers a firsthand look at what’s coming next. And yes, there were some pretty impressive machines on the floor. WATCH OUR EVENT OVERVIEW VIDEO HERE Our John Deere and Gooseneck Implement product experts were there to walk through the new equipment, answer questions and talk about what these advancements could mean for the people putting them to work. Here are a few of the highlights: 2027 John Deere X9 1100 Combine The John Deere X9 1100 is built for high-capacity harvesting when conditions are demanding and there’s no time to slow down. With serious capacity, power and technology, the X9 1100 is designed to help operators keep productivity high while staying focused on grain quality, residue and overall machine performance. And seeing an X9 in person? It’s hard to miss. John Deere currently identifies the X9 1000 and X9 1100 as its Performance Group 10 and 11 combines, with 420- and 460-bushel grain tank capacities. WATCH THE X9 1100 VIDEO HERE 2028 John Deere C1450T Air Cart When you’re trying to make the most of a good seeding window, stopping to refill isn’t where you want to spend your time. With 1,460 bushels of total capacity across five tanks, the C1450T is the largest-capacity air cart in John Deere’s C-Series lineup, giving producers more product on board and more time spent covering acres. The 105-bushel front flex tank also adds flexibility, handling either seed or fertilizer. Because when the weather is right and the field is ready, more capacity means more time getting the job done. WATCH THE C1450T VIDEO HERE John Deere Autonomous 9RX 640 The John Deere Autonomous 9RX 640 gave showcase attendees a firsthand look at where fieldwork is headed. The 9RX uses cameras, artificial intelligence and machine learning to navigate the field and perform tillage work on its own. John Deere's second generation autonomous technology uses 16 cameras to provide a 360-degree view around the machine, helping it identify and respond to obstacles as it works. The goal isn't complicated: put technology to work on the jobs that need to get done, while giving operators the freedom to focus their time and attention elsewhere. And honestly, watching a 9RX 640 work the field with no one in the cab is something you have to see for your self. WATCH THE AUTONOMOUS 9RX 640 VIDEO HERE 2027 John Deere 616R Sprayer + See & Spray™ Gen 2 This might be one of the easiest technologies to see the value in, literally. The 2027 John Deere 616R equipped with See & Spray™ Gen 2 uses camera vision and machine learning to identify crops and weeds in real time, helping target applications where they’re needed. Beginning in 2027, the technology also brings expanded crop compatibility, variable-rate capabilities and See & Scout™ field insights. That means the sprayer isn’t just covering acres, it’s gathering insight along the way. WATCH THE 616R + SEE & SPRAY GEN 2 VIDEO HERE Auto Weave Baler We’re all for technology that makes the job easier. The John Deere Auto Weave Baler uses automation to adjust the baler’s path across the windrow, helping create consistent, square-shouldered bales without the operator having to constantly make those adjustments. Combined with guidance, turn, speed and gate automation, it’s designed to take some of the repetitive work out of the cab and give operators one less thing to manage. Because sometimes the best technology is the technology that lets you focus on everything else. WATCH THE AUTO WEAVE BALER VIDEO HERE So, What’s Next? If there was one takeaway from the 2027–2028 John Deere Showcase, it’s that equipment is becoming a whole lot more than just equipment. We’re seeing more capacity. More automation. More technology. More connectivity. And ultimately, more opportunities to help producers get more from the acres, hours and resources they already have. But the best part of the showcase wasn’t just the equipment. It was getting to spend time with our customers. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us in Minot. We’re grateful for the opportunity to answer your questions, talk through what’s new and, of course, talk a little equipment. Couldn’t make it? No worries! We’ve got you covered. Check out the videos above for a closer look at the equipment featured at the showcase, and connect with your Gooseneck Implement team if you want to dig a little deeper. There’s a lot ahead, and we’re excited to see what’s next with you.
By Marketing Team • September 11, 2026
Harvest may be complete, but the value in your data is just getting started. Learn how to clean, organize, and analyze your harvest data so you can make more informed decisions for next season.
Precision Ag Combine Optimization During Harvest
By Marketing Team • August 13, 2026
Learn how Combine & FEE Startup and Optimization Packages help improve machine performance, reduce grain loss, ensure accurate yield data, and maximize harvest efficiency from the first acre to the last.
By McKensie Popinga • July 14, 2026
Harvest is busy enough without spending extra time creating work plans or correcting field information in the cab. That's why John Deere is introducing a new feature designed to make harvest setup easier and improve the quality of your documentation. Beginning August 3, John Deere Operations Center will automatically create harvest work plans for compatible machines using the seeding data already stored in your organization. How It Works Operations Center will use your spring seeding records to automatically generate harvest work plans and send them directly to compatible machines. If your seeding data is complete and accurate, those work plans will already include information like: · Client · Farm · Field · Crop type · Variety · Additional field information from your seeding records Instead of building harvest work plans manually, your operators can get to work with fewer button pushes in the cab and spend less time managing documentation throughout the season. Why This Matters Accurate spring data leads to accurate harvest records. When your seeding information is clean and organized, this new feature helps ensure your harvest documentation is just as accurate. That means: · Less setup time before harvest · Fewer manual entries in the cab · More accurate harvest documentation · Better records for reporting and future decision-making · Potentially less office work creating harvest work plans manually Is Your Operations Center Ready? This new feature is especially beneficial for operations that have maintained clean seeding data throughout the spring. If you're not completely confident in your Client, Farm, Field, varieties, or seeding records, now is a great time to get everything cleaned up before harvest begins. Post Seeding Maintenance Package Our Precision Ag team is offering a one-time Post Seeding Maintenance Package for $500 to help prepare your Operations Center for harvest. The package includes: · Operations Center Data Cleanup · Client, Farm, and Field organization cleanup · Review and correction of post-seeding data, including: o Varieties o Acres o Task dates o Other planting information · Boundary Creation (Upon Request) o Create or update field boundaries for improved documentation and mapping · FSA & Crop Insurance Reporting Binder (Upon Request) o Receive a complete binder containing: - Seeding dates - Varieties - Acres - Additional seeding information - True field boundaries that remove overlap and identify prevented seeding acres - Seeding coverage maps with field information Whether you're preparing for harvest or organizing records for reporting, this package helps ensure your data is accurate and ready when you need it. Want to Disable Automatic Work Plans? Organizations will have Automatic Harvest Work Plans enabled by default. If you prefer to continue creating harvest work plans manually, the feature can be turned off in your Organization Preferences before August 3.  While we expect most customers will benefit from having this feature enabled, it's helpful to know you have the option to manage this setting based on your operation's preferences. Need Help? If you'd like assistance reviewing your Operations Center data or would like to schedule a Post Seeding Maintenance appointment, contact your Gooseneck Implement Account Manager today. We'll help make sure your data is organized, accurate, and ready for harvest.
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