Wayfindr Measure/Monitor/Report/Verify (MMRV) helps farmers document
the good they’re doing on the land, improve environmental outcomes, and increase net return.
What is Wayfindr?
Wayfindr is a web application that helps farmers optimize their operations. The platform was developed by farmers and crop advisors for farmers, and is offered by the nonprofit International Water Institute. Wayfindr was developed to model a producer’s agronomic risk and optimize net return per acre.
Wayfindr allows users to explore how current and potential farm operations affect their fields’ profitability, soil health, nutrient loss, and water retention. Farmers enter details about their existing operation, and select any combination of elements they’re considering to fine-tune: Crops/rotation, tillage, fertilizer/application methods, and any conservation practices.
Farmer inputs and hyperlocal data (terrain, hydrology and precipitation) are calculated to estimate the financial and environmental outcomes of a specific field operation.
This allows producers to compare what they’re doing now to alternatives they are considering. The information is presented in a dashboard that includes a report card, environmental and financial details, and an overall Stewardship Rating based on quantitative water, soil, and nutrient metrics.
Producers can export the information to share with customers, trusted advisors, and food companies.
Benefits of using Wayfindr
1. Fine-tune operations at the field and the farm scale
· Optimize net return
· Improve water, soil, and nutrient retention
· Increase yield in low-performing areas of a field
· Identify and manage agronomic risk
2. Measure/report/verify the good you’re doing on the land
· Differentiate commodities in the market
· Qualify for incentives
· Negotiate preferred bank loan rates
3. Extend your agricultural legacy
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Wayfindr different?
Wayfindr is the only measure/monitor/report/verify (MMRV) tool for agriculture to:
- Be based on widely accepted scientific formulas for physical science
- Calculate the environmental outcomes AND the financial outcomes of field operations
- Include geospatial analysis. Wayfindr accounts for how soils, terrain, precipitation, and irrigation interact with field operations.
Do I need to enroll all my fields?
No. Some users try Wayfindr by entering fields they are considering operational changes on. They enter other fields as they realize the benefits of Wayfindr information.
What data inputs does Wayfindr require?
Operational data required: Crops and rotation, cover crops, irrigation, tillage, fertilizer, conservation practices
Optional data: Precision agriculture data, crop yield, commodity price, input expenses
By default Wayfindr incorporates local geospatial data including soils, hydrography, terrain, and precipitation.
Is my information shared?
No. You own your data. Wayfindr does not share your data with anyone. Wayfindr anonymizes and aggregates data to quantify the improvements across all users over time. No information about you or your farm operation is disclosed. A confidentiality agreement signed during the application process describes data ownership and use.
Is Carbon Intensity (45Z) included?
A Carbon Intensity (CI) score module may be added to Wayfindr if 45Z or a similar carbon tax incentive materializes.
What is the time commitment to use Wayfindr?
A 30-minute call with an IWI Program Specialist to capture your operational data, and then a 30-minute call to review your results.
What is the cost?
$2.00/acre per year.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes. The annual fee you have paid in the year you decide to cancel is not refundable.
Does Wayfindr connect to my other software?
Wayfindr will soon pull in data from John Deere Ops Center and Climate FieldView. Bushel and Case IH Field Ops are also on the product roadmap.
All results in Wayfindr can be downloaded as simple Excel spreadsheet format.
What if I need technical support?
Contact support@gowayfindr.com. We plan to launch a user help center in coming months.
New Indices
Recognizing that the science of sustainability continues to evolve, Wayfindr is built to evolve along with it. As standards for measuring other indicators of field stewardship(e.g., carbon intensity, biodiversity) become well-established and accepted, indices for those variables can be added to Wayfindr for calculations.
