A Penney For Your Thoughts

Sean and Andrew are back with the University of Kentucky’s Dr. Chad Lee to chat about all things cover crops and how you can best manage them to improve soil health, water quality and yield potential.

The crew discusses:

✅ How to get started using cover crops on your acres

Meet the Guests:

🌱Dr. Chad Lee grew up on his family's farm in Ohio and is now an extension professor and agronomist for corn and bourbon grains at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Lee provides statewide leadership in Extension activities related to agronomic management of corn and the small grains used in distilling. Dr. Lee leads applied research and investigates cover crops, crop rotations and other practices that help farmers produce excellent crops and improve their farms over time. 

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram 

YouTube 

Sean and Andrew are joined by a long-awaited guest, the University of Kentucky’s Dr. Chad Lee, to talk about all nitrogen needs, the practicality of cover crops and high-quality corn demands across Kentucky. 

The crew discusses:

✅ The intricacy of cropping systems in Kentucky

✅ The high-quality corn needed to meet Kentucky’s demands

✅ Ideal nitrogen applications when using cover crops

✅ Efforts to close the loop on the bourbon industry’s environmental impact

✅ The importance of no-till systems and reducing erosion

🌱Meet the Guests:

Dr. Chad Lee grew up on his family's farm in Ohio and is now an extension professor and agronomist for corn and bourbon grains at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Lee provides statewide leadership in Extension activities related to agronomic management of corn and the small grains used in distilling. Dr. Lee leads applied research and investigates cover crops, crop rotations and other practices that help farmers produce excellent crops and improve their farms over time. 

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm.. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram 

YouTube 

Sean and Andrew are finishing up their conversation about nitrogen with Iowa State University’s Dr. Mike Castellano and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Dr. Andrew Margenot. This time, they’re focusing on how you can manage nitrogen on your acres to achieve high yields, reduce environmental impact and improve your bottom line.

The crew discusses:

✅ How to be stewards of the land while chasing high yields

✅ Understanding nitrogen availability throughout the growing season

✅ Trials you can do on your acres to expand your farm’s  database

✅ Replenishing the nutrient pool in your soils

✅ Ideal nitrogen timing and application rates across the Midwest

🌱 Meet the Guests:

Originally from Rhode Island, Dr. Mike Castellano obtained his Ph.D from Penn State in soil science. He now is an agronomy professor at Iowa State University, where his research focuses on biogeochemical cycling and transport within the soil as it extends to the atmosphere and subsoil. His ultimate objective is to maximize sustainable productivity of agricultural systems, specifically looking at nitrogen. Connect with Dr. Andrew Castellano on LinkedIn.

Dr. Andrew Margenot is originally from Rhode Island and earned his Ph.D in in Soils and Biogeochemistry from the University of California Davis. He is now an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where his work addresses the literal foundation of all cropping systems: soils. Alongside his team, he evaluates how human activities can enhance or compromise soil services to human societies, with an emphasis on food security from urban and rural agroecosystems in the U.S. Midwest and East Africa. Connect with Dr. Andrew Margenot on LinkedIn.

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm.. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram 

YouTube 

Sean and Andrew are back with two of the leading nitrogen experts in the field, Iowa State University’s Dr. Mike Castellano and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Dr. Andrew Margenot, to dig into the science of nitrogen in row crop systems.

The crew discusses:

✅ The relationship between nitrogen and phosphorus

✅ Trials used to evaluate nitrogen use and loss

✅ How nutrients are lost from the soil and how soil is lost from the field

✅ Responsibly managing inputs in a tight economy

✅ What happens to nitrogen in the soil after application

🌱 Meet the Guests:

Originally from Rhode Island, Dr. Mike Castellano obtained his Ph.D from Penn State in soil science. He now is an agronomy professor at Iowa State University, where his research focuses on biogeochemical cycling and transport within the soil as it extends to the atmosphere and subsoil. His ultimate objective is to maximize sustainable productivity of agricultural systems, specifically looking at nitrogen. 

Dr. Andrew Margenot is originally from Rhode Island and earned his Ph.D in in Soils and Biogeochemistry from the University of California Davis. He is now an associate professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where his work addresses the literal foundation of all cropping systems: soils. Alongside his team, he evaluates how human activities can enhance or compromise soil services to human societies, with an emphasis on food security from urban and rural agroecosystems in the U.S. Midwest and East Africa.

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram 

YouTube

Sean and Andrew are back with Iowa State University’s Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis to continue their conversation about nitrogen. The conversation digs into how breeders, agronomists and growers can work together to optimize nitrogen use.

The crew discusses:

✅ Achieving high harvest indexes

✅ Whole system nitrogen management

✅ Nontraditional high yield indicators 

✅ The relationship between breeders, agronomists and growers

Meet the Guests:

🌱Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis is a professor of integrated cropping systems in the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy. His research aims to predict impacts, explain causes, and design future strategies to improve crop productivity and environmental sustainability. His approach combines field experimentation and use of agricultural systems process-based models to explain Genotype x Environment x Management interactions and enable prediction and design at scale.

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm.. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram

YouTube

Sean and Andrew are joined by Iowa State University’s Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis to discuss his research on the relationship between different generations of corn hybrids and nitrogen variability.

The crew discusses:

✅ Managing the impacts of weather during the growing season

✅ Old era vs. new era hybrid research and data collection 

✅ Yield efficiency compared to physiological efficiency

✅ Nitrogen supply in relation to post-harvest management practices 

✅ GGD and SDD effects on yields

🌱 Meet the Guests:

Dr. Sotirios Archontoulis is a professor of integrated cropping systems in the Iowa State University Department of Agronomy. His research aims to predict impacts, explain causes, and design future strategies to improve crop productivity and environmental sustainability. His approach combines field experimentation and use of agricultural systems process-based models to explain Genotype x Environment x Management interactions and enable prediction and design at scale.

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram

YouTube

Sean and Andrew round out their conversations at Purdue University with five of the best and brightest agronomy graduate students. This episode is a look into the future of agronomy, as we hear about research currently being conducted at one of the top ag universities.

The crew discusses:

✅ Target site vs. non-target site weed resistance

✅ How adjuvants can make or break the success of an application

✅ International crop production challenges

✅ New research on fungicide and herbicide resistance

✅ Nutrient needs, row spacing and plant populations in short-stature corn

✅How collaboration with industry partners and other universities is moving research forward faster

🌱Meet the Guests:  

Grant Isaacs, originally from Illinois, is an M.S. student under Dr. Bryan Young. His research is mainly focused on weed science, specifically, the herbicide interaction between pyridate and HPPD-inhibiting herbicides.

Jessie Lewis, originally from Illinois,  is an M.S student under Dr. Bryan Young. Lewis's internship during her B.S. sparked her interest in weed science and inspired her to pursue research in Dr. Young's lab surrounding target sites and metabolic resistance. 

Anelise Brun, originally from Brazil,  is an M.S student under Dr. Shaun Casteel. Her graduate research is within the soybean extension, focusing on inoculation and sulfur treatments. 

Morgan Goodnight, originally from Oklahoma, is a Ph.D. student under Dr. Darcy Telenko. Her studies started in tar spot disease but have been expanded to white mold and red crown rot in soybeans. 

Erick Oliva Fuentes, originally from Honduras,  is a Ph.D. student under Dr. Dan Quinn. His research is based mainly on short-stature corn hybrid nutrient needs, population and row spacing. 

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. It's ag talk that just makes cents. 

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

Instagram

Sean and Andrew are back with Purdue's Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti to learn how nitrogen management and digital innovations research can be translated into practical solutions for growers. 

The crew discusses:

✅ The reality of nitrogen management

✅ What most growers are doing wrong when it comes to nitrogen

✅ How growers can make more informed decisions

✅ Turning formal research into practical management decisions

✅ How digital innovations are changing the way we farm

Meet the Guests:

🌱 Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti, a digital ag-focused quantitative agronomist, is an agronomy professor and co-director of the Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems at Purdue University. Ignacio’s research explores the integration of crop eco-physiology and plant nutrition with data science, remote sensing and crop modeling tools. His career is focused on developing both the science and scholars who will push the agriculture industry forward. Follow Ignacio on X and Instagram.

More episodes you might like: 

Science of Nitrogen with Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti from Kansas State University

Apple | Spotify

Management of Nitrogen with Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti from Kansas State University

Apple | Spotify

Residue Management and Crop Physiology with Dr. Connor Sible - University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Apple |  Spotify 

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

YouTube 

You know ‘em, you love ‘em, and you’ve listened to ‘em for 99 episodes and counting. Sean and Andrew are sitting down for their 100th episode to reflect on the podcast they have built, the valuable insights they have gained, the professionals they have met along the way and to ask each other a few heartfelt questions. 

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. By combining real-time updates from the field with expert insights from industry professionals, we help you achieve your highest yields yet. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

YouTube 

Sean and Andrew are sitting down with Purdue’s Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti for a conversation about revolutions happening in the people, plants and processes involved in row crop systems. 

The crew discusses:

✅ The changing dynamic of agronomy professionals

✅ The ins and outs of nitrogen mineralization in corn and soybeans

✅ What makes successful ag innovations

✅ The transition from traditional agronomy to quantitative agronomy

✅ How NASA is advancing agronomic research

✅ The connections between technology, agronomy and physiology

🌱Meet the Guests: 

Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti, a digital ag-focused quantitative agronomist, is an agronomy professor and co-director of Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems at Purdue University. Ignacio’s research explores the integration of crop eco-physiology and plant nutrition with data science, remote sensing and crop modeling tools. His career is focused on developing both the science and scholars who will push the agriculture industry forward. Follow Ignacio on X and Instagram.

A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney,  plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. By combining real-time updates from the field with expert insights from industry professionals, we help you achieve your highest yields yet. It's ag talk that just makes cents.

⭐️ Like what you hear? Leave us a review to help our podcast reach more growers and agronomists like you!

📲 Follow us on social: 

Facebook 

Twitter/X

YouTube