What Is the LENS? And Why More Growers Are Adding It to Their Toolkit

If you've spent any time thinking about how to grow better crops with fewer surprises, you've probably run into the challenge of managing nutrients. It’s no secret that timely and accurate nutrient management can make a huge difference in your yields, but knowing what your crop needs, and when it needs it, is often easier said than done. That’s where the LENS comes in. 

So… what is the LENS? 

The LENS (Leaf-Evaluated-Nutrient-System) is a tool developed by Picketa Systems that brings real-time tissue analysis straight to your operations. Instead of sending leaf samples off to the lab and waiting days for results, the LENS lets you scan leaves and get nutrient data in minutes. It’s fast, easy to use, and gives you the insights you need to make timely decisions during the growing season. 

Who is it for and how are people using it? 

The LENS is designed for farmers, agronomists, consultants, researchers, and anyone involved in crop production who wants better insight into their fields. Whether you're managing 500 acres or 50,000, the LENS helps you answer questions like: 

• Are my crops actually taking up the nutrients I applied? 

• When should I make my next fertilizer pass? 

• How is this field trending week to week? 

Some people use the LENS to track nutrient levels every week in a few key zones across their farm. Others pull it out before and after a foliar application to see if it’s making a difference. And sometimes, it’s just a great way to double-check a field that looks “off” without jumping straight to guesswork. 

However you use it, the LENS becomes a helpful habit. One that saves time, improves decisions, and gives you more confidence in what’s happening with your crops. And it’s not just for one crop. The LENS is calibrated for corn, potatoes, and canola, with more crops on the way.   

Why it matters  

Nutrient management has always been a balancing act—too much or too little of a single nutrient can impact crop health and yield. And when you’re dealing with unpredictable weather, rising input costs, and tight application windows, waiting for lab results just doesn’t always cut it. 

The LENS gives you data you can act on right away. That means more confident decisions, more efficient use of fertilizer, and fewer surprises at the end of the season. 

What are the benefits? 

• Speed: No more waiting for lab results. The LENS gives you real-time readings in the field. 

• Consistency: Sample the same spots every week and track trends throughout the season. 

• Flexibility: Scan in your truck, at the edge of the field, or back at the office, whatever works for you. 

• Cost-effectiveness: More data, faster decisions, better outcomes. That’s a strong return on investment. 

What makes it different? 

What sets the LENS apart isn’t just the speed—it’s also how simple we’ve made the whole process. Once your fields are set up in our app (called Fieldbook), you just head out, take a few leaf samples, scan them with the LENS, and you’re done. No shipping, no guessing. Plus, your results are stored and organized in one place so you can track changes and share them easily. 

We’ve also recently added Custom Critical Levels, a feature that lets you tailor nutrient thresholds to your specific crops and goals. So instead of generic recommendations, you get insights that are relevant to your farm. 

Picketa's Fieldbook data visualisation Platform

Don’t miss out this year 

If you’ve been on the fence about trying the LENS, now’s the time. We only have a few units left for this season, and once they’re gone, that’s it until next spring.  

Have questions? Curious to see how it could work in your fields? We’re happy to chat. 

Send us a message at info@picketa.com or visit www.picketa.com/contact. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know! 

Know your crops, grow your potential.  

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