About Crop-Tech Consulting

Crop-Tech Consulting’s focus is integrating a systems approach to farming. In addition to soil testing and recommendations, Crop-Tech Consulting offers services pertaining to yield mapping, variable rating, insect and disease monitoring, bug clinics, thermal imagery and technical support for most of the top brands of both equipment and software.

Crop-Tech also helps farmers with seedbed, residue, and manure Management. Crop-Tech Consulting conducts over 150 test plots every year and works in conjunction with Farm Journal to gather research data on the industry’s equipment, practices, and technology.

Crop-Tech Agronomists travel around the country giving presentations on how to implement a systems approach as well as sharing their knowledge through the weekly Boots In The Field Report podcast and as the independent agronomist for Farm Journal articles.

Crop-Tech Consulting Staff

In 1991 Ken, with his wife Jeanenne, started Crop-Tech Consulting in Heyworth, IL. As an independent consultant Ken works with farmer clients and fertilizer dealers providing agronomic services and directions.

Ken is a native of Cresco, Iowa and grew up working on his family farm, tending hogs, cattle and a dairy herd. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science and agricultural business from Illinois State University. He also holds an associate degree in agricultural business from Ellsworth Community College. Much of his leading-edge agronomic training was received as an apprentice under Dr. Everett Dennis, private agronomist from Manhattan, KS.

Jeanenne is a native of Ridgeway, IA and grew up on her family farm milking cows. Jeanenne has an accounting degree from Hamilton Business College and is the office manager for Crop-Tech.

Ken and Jeanenne have four children. Isaac, Katie, and Zach work at Crop-Tech Consulting full time. Chelsea is an Iowa State University graduate that works on special projects for Crop-Tech.

ken ferrie, ken, ferrie, crop tech consulting, croptechconsulting, jeanenne,

Isaac Ferrie

Director of Research, Agronomist

Isaac is a Certified Crop Adviser and the GIS Project Manager, he graduated from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville earning a Bachelors Degree in Geography, specializing in Geographic Information Systems. Isaac also received a Master of Professional Studies from Northeastern University in Geographic Information Technology. He has been working “hands on” since 2003 helping to coordinate and implement many of the test plots that CTC has a hand in each year. Isaac, his wife Abbi, and their three children live in Heyworth. In his free time Isaac enjoys hunting and fishing.

Katie Ferrie

Director of Operations

Katie is a graduate of Quincy University with a degree in Community Relations and a Masters in Business Administration. Katie came on full time in 2010 to manage office logistics and events. She has become the Director of Operations and has taken over managing the soil testing and office aspects of the business. Katie has a passion for education and helps Crop-Tech further their educational outreach.

Zachary Ferrie

Director of IT

Zachary is a graduate of Illinois State University, with a degree in Computer Systems and Technology and a minor in Agriculture. He joined Crop-Tech Consulting Inc. full time after graduating Illinois State University in 2016, and has taken charge of the Technology and Web Operations. Zachary enjoys both fishing and golfing when not working.

Kevin Mohrman

Field Operations Manager

Kevin is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Agriculture. He has been with Crop-Tech Consulting since 1994 and has been the operations manager for over 20 years overseeing soil testing and taking an active part in writing recommendations. Kevin grew up on a farm in Quincy, Illinois and has been married to his wife for 30 years and they have two children. Kevin and his wife currently reside in Normal and he is a trustee of the Heartland Community Church.

Thomas Zerebny

Soil Health and Soil Testing Specialist

Thomas is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Geography and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and joined the Crop-Tech staff in 2009. Thomas is very passionate about soil and weather and handles a large portion of the weather data management and soil health collection for CTC. Thomas also plays a large role in the mapping segment of CTC. Thomas originates from the Rockford area and enjoys out-fishing everyone at the office.

Miles McDevitt

GIS and Soil Testing Specialist

Miles joined Crop-Tech Consulting in 2015 after graduating from Illinois State University with a degree in Geography.  As a GIS Specialist, Miles works in all aspects of map making for Crop-Tech, including soil testing maps, fertilizer maps, and yield maps.  He also helps train interns and lead safety meetings.  In the summer of 2019, Miles and his wife Holly and son Mason moved to Hoover, Alabama where he works remotely.  In his free time, he enjoys hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and reading.

Matthew Duesterhaus

Research Agronomist

Matt started with Crop-Tech as an intern in 2014, and continued full time after graduating from Iowa State with a degree in Agronomy and Animal Science. In 2020 he relocated to his hometown of Mendon, IL where he lives with his wife, Jen, and son Noah.  Matt serves as the Crop-Tech Agronomist for the Ursa Farmers Coop region in West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, and he is actively involved on his family’s farming operation.  Matt enjoys working with the research team coming up with new plots and protocols, working with farm operations in yield map meetings to find areas for improvement, and doing farm visits with farmers evaluating their crops in season.   In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and carpet farming with his son Noah.

Mike Carl

Maintenance Manager

Mike Carl joined the Crop-Tech Staff in 2016. Mike has lived in Heyworth all his life and grew up farming with his dad and grandpa. He graduated from Heyworth schools in 1981 and has worked at Carter Distribution Center (North of Heyworth) and worked 27 years at Mitsubishi Motors in Normal Illinois before coming to work at Crop-Tech. Mike is the Facility Manager at Crop-Tech, keeping all buildings, grounds, and vehicles in good working condition. Mike’s hobbies include: playing pool, working on computers, and being outdoors.

Jared Bergan

Research Assistant

Jared is a graduate of Iowa State University with a bachelors in Agricultural Business & minor in Agronomy. During his college summers,  he interned at Farmers Win Coop, Farmers Edge, and Crop-Tech Consulting. Jared graduated from Iowa State in 2020 and became a full-time employee for Crop-Tech Consulting. When not working at Crop-Tech, Jared travels back to Northeast Iowa to help his father and uncle with their livestock and crop operations. In his free time, he enjoys canoeing/kayaking/cow tanking down the Upper Iowa River.

Keep er’ safe. Keep er’ movin.

Shane Conger

GIS Specialist

Shane is a graduate from the University of Georgia with a Masters in Agricultural Leadership, Communication & Education. Shane also holds a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University in Environmental Geography. Before coming aboard at Crop-Tech he was a member of the Precision Agriculture research team at the University of Georgia. He also spent time at Innovative Crop Technologies and the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission as a GIS Specialist. In 2009 he moved to northwest Georgia where he taught high school agriculture for 10 years. Shane loves to play guitar and drums, he also has fun hiking, fishing, and trying new restaurants. Shane also enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife and two children.

Garrett Stotler

GIS and Soil Testing Specialist

Garrett joined Crop-Tech in 2022 after graduating from Illinois State University with a degree in Business Administration.  Garrett also completed GIS classes at Western Illinois University.  As a GIS Specialist, Garrett completes soil testing maps.  He completes soil testing as part of his Soil Testing Specialist responsibilities.  Garrett is also a certified drone pilot.  In his free time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and hunting.

Crop-Tech Consulting Interns