The $3,000 Problem Every Grower Faces
Water—it’s the lifeblood of every growing operation, whether you’re managing acres of farmland, maintaining pristine golf courses, tending to cannabis grows, or nurturing your home garden. But how do you know if you’re using too much or too little?
Meet Grant Anderson, owner of Anderson Farms in Minnesota. With 8,000 acres and approximately 100 irrigation pivots, Grant was spending a fortune on irrigation—about $5 per inch of water per acre on fuel and electricity alone.
“I was essentially watering blind,” Grant admits. “Without accurate soil data, you’re just guessing, and guessing costs money.”
For Grant, that guesswork translated to roughly $3,000 in wasted water and energy costs per 120-acre field, every single season.
His story isn’t unique. Across the country, growers of all types face the same challenge: how to optimize irrigation without compromising plant health.
The Game-Changing Discovery
Everything changed when Grant discovered the EarthScout Soil Cub, a handheld soil moisture meter that delivers instant, research-grade soil data.
“The first time I used it, I realized I had been overwatering by at least 30%,” Grant says. “The Soil Cub paid for itself within weeks.”
What makes this small device so revolutionary? Unlike traditional methods that require calibration, slurry preparation, or complex setup, the Soil Cub uses Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) technology—the same precision instruments trusted by leading university researchers—to provide immediate readings.
With just a simple tap, the Soil Cub delivers five critical measurements:
- Soil moisture (Volumetric Water Content)
- Soil temperature
- Soil EC (Electrical Conductivity)
- Air temperature
- Air humidity
Not Just for Mega-Farms: How Every Grower Benefits
While the savings are most dramatic for large agricultural operations, the EarthScout Soil Cub is transforming growing practices across multiple industries:
Cannabis Cultivators See Explosive Growth
For cannabis growers, maintaining optimal root zone moisture is critical for maximizing terpene production and overall yield. Too much water invites root disease; too little stunts growth.
“We’ve increased our yield by 22% while using 40% less water,” reports Alex Chen, master grower at Green Horizon Cannabis in Colorado. “The Soil Cub lets us dial in the perfect moisture levels for each stage of growth.”
Golf Courses Stay Green While Saving Blue
Golf course superintendents face unique challenges—maintaining picture-perfect playing surfaces while managing water costs and conservation efforts.
James Wilson, superintendent at Oak Ridge Golf Club, explains: “Different zones have different moisture needs. The Soil Cub lets us target our irrigation precisely, resulting in better turf health and a 35% reduction in water usage.”
Home Gardeners Eliminate Guesswork
Even home gardeners are discovering the power of precision soil data.
“I used to lose plants regularly, either from overwatering or underwatering,” says Maria Rodriguez, an avid home gardener in Arizona. “The Soil Cub takes the guesswork out completely. My garden has never looked better, and I’m using far less water.”
The Technology That Makes It Possible
What sets the EarthScout Soil Cub apart is its unique combination of professional-grade technology and user-friendly design.
The research-grade TDR technology delivers accuracy that typically costs thousands more in specialized equipment. Yet, the Soil Cub is portable, requires no calibration, and works in virtually any growing medium—from natural soil to coco coir, rock wool, perlite mixtures, and peat.
The rugged design, featuring a water and UV-resistant case and stainless steel, corrosion-resistant probe, stands up to the harshest environments while remaining lightweight and portable.
Best of all, it’s made entirely in the USA at EarthScout’s Minnesota facility, ensuring the highest quality standards.
Beyond the Handheld: Building a Smarter Growing System
For many growers, the Soil Cub is just the beginning of their precision agriculture journey. EarthScout offers a complete ecosystem of smart growing tools, including:
- WeatherCub™: A weather station that monitors 11 different variables
- Cellular Gateway: Connect multiple Soil Cubs for comprehensive field coverage
- EarthScout Irrigation App: View your data on mobile or desktop devices
These tools work together to create a complete picture of growing conditions, allowing for unprecedented control and efficiency.
The Future of Growing Is Here
As climate change increases water scarcity and costs continue to rise, precision irrigation tools like the EarthScout Soil Cub aren’t just convenient—they’re becoming essential.
By providing real-time, accurate soil data, this small device is helping growers of all types:
- Save 30-60% on irrigation costs
- Improve crop quality and yield
- Conserve precious water resources
- Make data-driven growing decisions
Whether you’re managing thousands of acres, maintaining golf courses, growing premium cannabis, or tending to your backyard garden, the message is clear: the future of growing is data-driven, and it starts with knowing exactly what’s happening in your soil.
