Recorded: 6/23/2025

What does the future hold for forage production in Pennsylvania? In this episode, Ryan and Justin are joined by Dr. Guojie Wang, Penn State Extension forage specialist and director of the forage systems lab, to discuss his vision for improving forage systems in the state. Dr. Wang shares his ongoing and upcoming research efforts, including diversifying the corn silage and ryelage production system, revisiting the alfalfa agronomic management practices in Pennsylvania, and improving tall fescue variety selection.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dr. Guojie Wang, Penn State 

Links:
2024 Agronomy Research Report

Photo credit: Ryan Spelman, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 6/27/25

As wheat is being harvested across Pennsylvania, and corn and soybean development is well under way, Ryan and Justin take some time to check in with our army of experts on some timely topics. Dr. Heidi Reed joins to share findings from this year’s wheat crop condition tour, Dr. Alyssa Collins gives us updated scouting and management advice for corn tar spot, and Andrew Frankenfield promotes Pennsylvania’s corn and soybean yield contests.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Heidi Reed, Alyssa Collins, and Andrew Frankenfield, Penn State Extension

Links:
2025 Wheat Tour Predicts Average Yeilds and Quality
Updated 2025 Fungicide Efficacy Tables
An Overview of Tar Spot
New Crop Risk Tool Enhances Disease Management Decisions
Disease Severity and Insect Defoliation Training
PA Soybean Yield Contest

Photo credit: Ryan Spelman, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 6/1/25

Are you a farmer looking for information about finding a qualified crop consultant? Maybe you are interested in becoming a Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) yourself. In this episode, Ryan and Justin sit down with CCA’s Dean Collamer and Lew Frame to talk about the CCA program.  They discuss what a certified crop adviser does, the value of the certification, the requirements of the certification, and the value to the farmer. 

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dean Collamer, Growmark FS, and Lew Frame, TeamAg

Links:
Get Certified
Find a Professional
Certified Crop Adviser Exams
Certified Crop Adviser Application
Pennsylvania Certified Crop Adviser Study Guide

Photo credit: Mike Houtz, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 6/5/2025

Winter cover cropping has become commonplace across Pennsylvania; however, few are making the best use of summer cover crops following wheat harvest. In this episode, Ryan and Justin talk to Dr. Heidi Reed about cover crop options and best management practices after wheat harvest. Dr. Dwight Lingenfelter also joins us to discuss considerations for herbicide use in wheat when followed by a cover crop.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dwight Lingenfelter, Penn State Extension

Links:

Cover Crop Establishment and Burndown Herbicides
Double-Crop Soybeans: Weed Management Considerations

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Photo credit: Ryan Spelman

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Recorded: 5/21/25 

While you may be familiar with the benefits of soil nutrient testing, are you familiar with the value of plant tissue testing? In this episode, Ryan and Justin invite Dr. John Spargo, Director of Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Services Lab, to discuss Plant Tissue (Total) Analysis. John shares the value of this type of testing, how it may fit into your agronomic toolbox, and the technical aspects of taking a tissue test.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dr. John Spargo, Penn State

Links:

Plant Tissue (Total) Analysis

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Recorded: 4/21/25 

What are biological amendments, and how can I implement them on my own farm? If you find yourself asking these questions, then this episode is for you! Ryan and Justin navigate the wild west of biological products with Dr. Connor Sible, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana. Dr. Sible discusses the definition of biological products, deciphers biological “modes of action”, and provides practical advice for implementing them on-farm.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Connor Sible, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Links:
Crop Physiology

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Recorded: 4/17/25

As the planters get rolling for corn and soybean planting across the state, it can be all too easy to forget about scouting your wheat crops. However, getting ahead of late season small grain diseases is crucial to protecting your yield and profit. In this episode, we discuss small grain disease scouting and management with Penn State plant pathology specialists Dr. Paul Esker and Dr. Alyssa Collins.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guests: Dr. Paul Esker and Dr. Alyssa Collins, Penn State

Links:
Fusarium Risk Tool
Updated 2025 Fungicide Efficacy Tables
Scouting Small Grains Diseases for Improved Fungicide Decision Making
Evaluating Late Season Diseases in Small Grains
Check Your Small Grain Growth Stage For Management Decisions
Small Grain Growth and Development in Central Pennsylvania: Fields are Getting Closer to Anthesis

Photo Credit: Adriana Murrillo-Williams, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 4/8/25 

Are you wondering how tariffs may impact the grain market? Maybe you want to learn how to build a grain marketing plan in the first place! In this episode, Jon LaPorte, farm business educator with Michigan State Extension, returns to talk about tariffs, building a grain marketing plan, scenario planning, and leveraging your local market.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Jon Laporte, Michigan State Extension

Links:
What's Your Grain Marketing Plan?
The corn-soybean ratio and its potential impact on farm profits
Introduction to Grain Marketing Video Series
Enterprise budgets are useful tools especially during uncertain times

Photo credit: Ryan Spelman,  Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 3/5/25 

As any Pennsylvania farmer can tell you, deer can cause significant damage to crops and are a primary pest in our agricultural landscape. In this episode, we sit down with Law Enforcement Supervisor Brian Singer of the Pennsylvania Game Commission to discuss the legal and lethal options that farmers can take advantage of to manage deer populations.  

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Brian Singer, Pennsylvania Game Commission

Links:
Pennsylvania Game Commission Landowner Assistance
Hunters Sharing the Harvest

Photo credit: Pennsylvania Game Commission

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Recorded: 3/11/25

Cornell Forage Systems Specialist, Joe Lawrence, returns to discuss small grain silage and silage inoculants. We discuss the agronomics of producing high-quality grain silage, and Joe walks us through the different types of silage inoculants, when to use them, and how to use them effectively. 

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Joe Lawrence, Cornell University

Links:
Using a Microwave Oven to Test Moisture Content of Forage
Silage inoculants: What the research tells us about when and how to use them

Photo credit: Ryan Spelman, Penn State Extension

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