Nutrient Management Planning Experts

Hailing from Elkhorn, Wis., Scott Fleming first sprouted his love of agriculture while working on a small beef and pulling horse farm in high school. Along with custom baling service work, this experience nurtured his desire to seek a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil and Land Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. An internship with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) further solidified his decision to pursue a career in the soil and land conservation field, after graduating in 2004. Fleming’s vast field knowledge draws from previous roles in the agriculture retail industry, applying fertilizer and pesticides, sampling soil and tissues and nutrient management planning (NMP), which he still performs today. He joined the Rock River Laboratory team in 2008, specializing in site-specific soil sampling (grid sampling) and VRT applications. Read More He and his family raise Berkshire hogs and grow cash crops, in addition to his role as the official Rock River Laboratory pig roaster. When he isn’t reviewing farms for plans or soil sampling, Fleming can be found restoring antique tractors, fishing, hunting, and snowmobiling. 

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Scott can be reached at: scott_fleming@rockriverlab.com

Growing up in Colby, Wis., Matt Luther sprouted his experience in agriculture at a young age through work on a local, small dairy farm, where he worked from grade school through his college years. Luther followed his agriculture roots and passions to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1995. After several years gaining vast field experience as a crop production specialist for various cooperatives, Luther joined Rock River Laboratory as a Nutrient Management Specialist in 2006. Luther is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) and certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) with special proficiency in USDA programs and county ordinances, crop diagnostics, soil test recommendations, crop budgets, pesticide and fertilizer recommendations, and inventory management - Read More offering customers added value and expert insights for their Nutrient Management Plans (NMPs). When he isn’t on-farm reviewing operations for conservation planning, Matt can be found spending time with his family, running, fishing, and cooking. 

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Matt can be reached at: matt_luther@rockriverlab.com

Growing up on his family’s beef and swine farm near Platteville, Wis., Josh Noble was immersed in agriculture at a young age. After attending Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska, where he earned an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Agronomy in 2000, Noble went on to the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. There he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy in 2004. Throughout his pursuit of higher education, Noble took on agriculture internships, focusing on custom harvesting, research, and agronomic retail, further solidifying his career path. After gaining experience in agronomy sales and Nutrient Management Planning, and earning his Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) accreditation, Noble joined Rock River Laboratory as a Nutrient Management Specialist in 2018. When he isn’t writing plans, you can find Josh spending time with his family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, gardening, and helping run his family’s no-till grain farm.

Josh can be reached at: josh_noble@rockriverlab.com

Hailing from Stillwater, Minn., Nikki Wagner grew up in the Twin Cities, and found interest in agriculture when her career path led her to the industry. Prior to earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Systems Engineering with a focus on Natural Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007, she spent time at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) and Wastewater programs. For fourteen years since graduation, she was dedicated to her craft as a Nutrient Management Specialist for a Wisconsin agricultural retailer. Wagner continues that passion at Rock River Laboratory since joining the Nutrient Management Team in 2022. Wagner is a Certified Crop Advisor (CCA), with a 4R Nutrient Management Specialty - bringing expertise and experience to her role as a Nutrient Management Specialist. READ MORE When she isn’t reviewing nutrient management practices on-farm or writing plans, you can find Wagner camping, kayaking, road biking, or hiking with her family. She also enjoys the competition of a good board game and volunteering within her community. Wagner has also successfully baked hundreds of cheesecakes for charity, family, and friends. With a knack for creating over 30 delicious flavors in any size, her secret is lacking the temptation to eat them as they are her least favorite dessert!

Born and raised near Loganville, Wis., Gus Parkhurst discovered his enjoyment of agriculture early in life while helping and working on family friends’ farms. After years of milking cows and managing day to day operations on a dairy farm, Parkhurst went on to pursue a degree in natural resource management and soil science at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 2015. Before graduating, Parkhurst traveled abroad to Kenya, Africa as part of permaculture design certification course and worked on various farm types from industrial coffee production in the tropics to family and community subsistence farms in the semi-arid regions of the county. In his current role at Rock River Laboratory, Parkhurst specializes in writing 590 standard nutrient management plans READ MORE in addition to site-specific soil sampling (grid sampling) and plant tissue sampling. When he isn’t writing or out in the field, you can find Gus hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, or enjoying any other outdoor Wisconsin activity!

Growing up on a grain farm in West Brooklyn, Illinois, Kerri Helwig quickly found her niche within agriculture. She attended Sauk Valley Community College, then went on to the University of Wisconsin, Platteville where she joined the soil judging team. In 2017 she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in soil and crop science, and a minor in chemistry. 

 

After gaining experience in the field as a crop scout and a research technician, Helwig joined the Rock River Laboratory soil sampling team in 2017. In her current role as agronomy data and customer support specialist, Helwig helps facilitate soil analysis information collection, provides client assistance, and writes nutrient management plans. When she isn’t spending time with soil, she enjoys crocheting, hiking, baking, learning new hobbies, and eating grilled cheese sandwiches with ketchup. Must be an Illinois thing.

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Kerri can be reached at: kerri_helwig@rockriverlab.com