Soybean Research Principal Investigator Profile – David Krog

David Krog, Co-founder and CEO, Salin 247

Why did you decide to pursue a career that includes soybean research?
I grew up on a farm and went to college at Iowa State University, getting my undergrad degree in agronomy. I really like research, and I think it is very valuable to farmers. I am interested in leading technology to help farmers increase yield and sustainability, and research is how we discover and improve.

What research topic have you completed in the past or are working on now that could have or has had the most significant impact on soybean production?
In my autonomous, lightweight equipment, artificial intelligence and robotics work together. Current early research on ways that machine learning and artificial intelligence can help these toolbars communicate with farmers has the most potential to impact soybean production, but we are still in the process of figuring this out.

How has the soybean checkoff enhanced your ability to find answers to production problems for farmers?
Without financial support from the soy checkoff, we would not be as far along in making autonomous, lightweight equipment work as we are today. Getting into fields to plant soybean trials added value for improving autonomy while also collecting data for other research. 

Within your area of expertise, what are the top two or three general recommendations you would offer farmers to improve their management practices?

• Do more on-farm trials and collect more data to keep learning and improving.
• Network with farmers from across your state and the country to learn what is and isn’t working well. Plugging into an ecosystem of farmers allows us all to help each other.
• Work directly with university researchers, as they bring a scientific perspective to farming that helps you improve.

Within your area of expertise, what do you consider to be critical soybean research needs that can impact the profitability of farmers in the future?
We need to research other ways to farm, including a new model for farm machinery that addresses soil compaction and health, as well as labor challenges. I also think research should focus on soil health and cost of production. As we learn more in these areas, that knowledge can support farmer profitability.