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FARM 406 38 • PN Bridge Road near Judith Landing." Although Bauder has worked with all types of irrigation equipment, he does not represent any brand and does not claim expertise with respect to any specific irrigation equipment. Bauder frequently provides assis- tance in interpretation of soil test results, fertilizer management, crop- water requirement estimations, and irri- gation timing. A farmer would also call on Bauder for assistance in determining soil-water holding capacities as related to crop selection, yield potential, irriga- tion management, and crop sequencing to maximize efficient soil-water options. Joe Jurenka of Big Sandy, Montana has hired Jim Bauder for a number of years. "Jim begins by taking soil samples throughout our fields. He tells us how much fertilizer we need in each field zone by using the soil sample readings show- ing stored nitrogen, figuring the ten-year average for moisture during the growing season, and using the targeted yield wanted. Every time, our yield has been either right on or a few bushels higher than Bauder projected. When we were blanket fertilizing, the yield of different fields was varied. We were astounded when each field was close to being the same. It was the results that we wanted." Nearly all of Bauder's consulting work has been the result of word-of-mouth refer- rals. "I focus on being objective, and the work I do is backed up by science," he said. Jim Bauder can be reached at jimmyboze@gmail.com. A NEW SPECIALTY IN AGRICULTURE Informational consulting is definitely a new but growing field. Growers will be hiring more of each type of consultant to provide vital information as agriculture continues to become more technical; and with the demand, the number of informa- tional consultants working in agriculture will increase. Jim Bauder of Soil Resource Consultants checks a water sample that he has taken. Photo courtesy of Montana State University Communications F 406 Having grown up on a farm that is still in the family, Suzanne Waring maintains an interest in advances being made in agriculture.