John Winings

Experience

1. Agronomist and Farm Analyst

   California Olive Ranch

   Apr 2021 — Present · Northern California, US

   CROP EXPERIENCE • Super-high-density olive: 5,550 acres NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT • Leaf sap analysis: cutting-edge nutrient analysis which reveals internal physiological partitioning of mobile and immobile nutrients • Pinpoint the crop’s nutrient demand timings • Reveal relative internal crop nutrient storage capacity • Amplifies differences in fertilizer product uptake/efficacy • Analysis of soil, water, and conventional leaf sample data • Prescribe best nutrient management strategies based on university recommendations, internal data analysis, and on-farm logistics • Fertilizer cost analysis, bidding/purchasing CROP PROTECTION MANAGEMENT • Product efficacy assessment, cost analysis, bidding/purchasing, and inventory tracking DATA PROCESSING AND STATISTICS • Audit of farming methods • Compiled and organized all current and historical soil, water, and leaf sample data • Graphed best-fit linear average trendlines per nutrient per field from the leaf sample data, superimposed against critical nutrient thresholds established by the scientific literature • Statistically elucidated irrigation mismanagement as the primary cause of shoot growth discrepancies in certain orchards; late nitrogen applications were also impactful albeit less significantly • Elucidated differences in new foliar fertilizer product efficacies and application timings • Thorough and timely agronomic status reporting to the Executive Management Team including members of the Board of Directors ORGANIC CROP PRODUCTION: 650 acres • Fertility program development: compost, fish hydrolysate, cover crop, rotational sheep grazing, compost tea, molasses, 16-0-0, and SOP • Organic crop protection EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH • Provided consultation on all the above workflows to outside growers selling their olives to California Olive Ranch for processing • Agronomic presenter at California Olive Ranch’s sponsored Grower Day and Field Day events

Education

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Master of Science (M.S.), Agronomy Major, Statistics Minor

  2011 — 2014

• Brigham Young University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Plant Biology (Horticulture) Major, Organic Chemistry and Business Management Minors

  1999 — 2005