Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes the policies and procedures of SoilTune, Inc. ("SoilTune," "we," "our," or "us") regarding the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of your personal and technical information when you use our website, applications, calculators, computational tools, and related services (collectively, the "Services"). By accessing or using the Services, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please discontinue access to the Services.

1. Information We Collect

We collect several categories of information from and about users of our Services, including:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Account Credentials: When you register an account, we collect your full name, email address, password hash, organization/farm name, and contact details.
• Agronomic, Soil Test & Hydroponic Data: When utilizing our computational engines, you voluntarily input parameters such as soil pH, buffer pH, Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), base saturation percentages, EC/PPM values, target crop yields, field acreage, and fertilizer stock formulations. This data is processed immediately to calculate recommendations. Anonymized, de-identified aggregates of these metrics may be stored to improve model accuracy and calibrate regional extension baselines.
• Communications & Support: Records of messages, inquiries, feedback, or support requests submitted via email or interactive contact forms.
• Billing & Subscription Information: For enterprise or premium feature access, third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe) securely collect payment card details. SoilTune does not store full credit card numbers on its servers.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Log & Telemetry Data: Our web servers automatically log standard network telemetry, including your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, time spent per calculation tool, date/time stamps, and system diagnostic logs.
• Device Specifications: Hardware model, screen resolution, mobile platform identifier, and user agent string.
• Coarse Location Data: Approximate geographic region or postal code derived from IP address lookup, used to suggest relevant regional university extension guidelines and climate-adjusted kinetic constants.

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We and authorized service partners use cookies, local storage, web beacons, and analytical tags to optimize user experience:

• Strictly Necessary Cookies: Essential for site authentication, security token validation, and maintaining active calculator sessions.
• Performance & Analytics Cookies: Help us quantify visitor traffic, aggregate tool usage patterns, and resolve site bugs.
• Functional Cookies: Store persistent preferences, such as selected measurement units (Imperial vs. Metric) and target soil pH defaults.
• Targeting & Advertising Cookies: Third-party ad networks (including Google AdSense) may set cookies to display personalized advertisements based on non-identifiable web activity.

  Opting Out of Personalized Advertising

  You can opt out of targeted ad customization across participating advertising networks by utilizing industry opt-out mechanisms:

  • Google Ad Settings Portal →
  • Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) Opt-Out →
  • Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) Opt-Out →

2. How We Use Your Information

We process collected data for legitimate operational, research, and legal purposes:

• To execute real-time stoichiometric, kinetic, and thermodynamic calculations across our agronomic engines.
• To maintain, optimize, and update SoilTune software infrastructure and computational models.
• To process user support requests and deliver administrative notifications or security alerts.
• To analyze aggregated regional soil trends and improve software usability.
• To enforce our Terms of Service, prevent cyber-fraud, and ensure system integrity.
• To comply with applicable laws, judicial proceedings, or regulatory requirements.

3. How We Share Your Information

SoilTune does not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties. Data is disclosed only under the following strictly defined conditions:

• Service Providers: Bound by strict confidentiality agreements, trusted vendors provide infrastructure hosting, database management, billing processing, and security monitoring.
• Legal & Regulatory Compliance: When required by subpoena, search warrant, court order, or applicable law.
• Business Transitions: In connection with a corporate merger, restructuring, acquisition, or asset sale, subject to standard confidentiality protections.
• Anonymized Statistical Aggregates: Fully de-identified agronomic datasets may be shared with academic extension researchers or industry partners for analytical benchmarking.

4. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, maintain active accounts, resolve technical disputes, and comply with legal or auditing obligations. Anonymized calculation logs may be retained indefinitely for model calibration.

5. Data Security

SoilTune enforces technical and organizational controls to protect personal data against unauthorized access, destruction, or disclosure. Measures include Transport Layer Security (TLS 1.3) encryption in transit, encrypted database storage at rest, strict access role segregation, and periodic vulnerability audits. However, no internet transmission or storage system can guaranteed 100% security.

6. International Data Transfers

SoilTune servers are located in the United States. If accessing our Services from the European Union, United Kingdom, or other international regions, please note that your data will be transferred to and processed in the United States under standard legal protections.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you possess data subject rights regarding your personal information:

• Access & Export: Request a copy of the personal data held about you.
• Correction: Request rectification of inaccurate or incomplete records.
• Deletion: Request erasure of your personal data, subject to legal retention obligations.
• Objection / Restriction: Object to processing or request processing restrictions.

To exercise your privacy rights, email our Privacy Team at [email protected].

7.1 California Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)

California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected, request deletion, correct inaccurate data, and opt out of data sharing. SoilTune does not "sell" or "share" personal information as defined under the CCPA/CPRA. We do not discriminate against users exercising privacy rights.

7.2 European Economic Area (EEA) & UK Rights (GDPR)

For individuals in the EEA/UK, processing is conducted under legal bases including consent, contractual necessity, and legitimate business interest. You have the right to lodge a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (DPA).

8. Children's Privacy

Our Services are directed exclusively to adults and are not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted data to us, please contact us immediately for removal.

9. Third-Party Advertising & Google AdSense Disclosures

SoilTune uses Google AdSense and third-party advertising partners to display relevant advertisements across our calculation pages. Google uses cookies (including the DART cookie) to serve ads based on user visits to SoilTune and other websites on the internet.

Users can opt out of personalized Google advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When material revisions occur, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this document and notify active account holders via email or prominent site banner prior to the changes taking effect.

11. Contact Information

For questions, data subject requests, or privacy compliance inquiries, contact our Privacy Officer: