Agronomy Highlights

Recorded: 6/1/23

The 2023 growing season has been a dry one across the Commonwealth. Hay yields are down, weed control is challenging, and crops everywhere are progressing slowly. In this episode, we are bringing in several team members to discuss the various challenges our farmers are currently facing with this lack of rainfall and what we might do about it. 

Useful Links:
Thoughts for Drought: Forage Inventorying
Drought and Herbicides: Controlling Escaped Weeds in Corn
How to Decrease Drought Risk in Crop Production
Forage Fertility and Quality Issues During Spring Drought
Evaluation and Considerations on Newly Established Forages


Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guests: Del Voigh, Justin Brackenrich, Zach Curtis, Nicole Thompson, and Dwight Lingenfelter, Penn State Extension

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Recorded 4/3/23

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking to author, speaker, and farmer extraordinaire Mr. Joel Salatin. Joel provides a unique perspective on what a farming operation can be and challenges the mentality commonly used to manage the traditional row crop field. This is a longer episode, but it’s very rich with discussion which just might provide you with some interesting ideas on how you could be managing your farm.

Useful Links:
Polyface Farms

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guest: Joel Salatin, Owner of Polyface Farms

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Recorded: 3/24/2023

Today we are joined by two true experts, Dr. Guojie Wang and Dr. Shiran Benzeev, to discuss the ancient grain known as Teff. Teff is critically important to nations such as Ethiopia, and could have a lot to offer to farmers here in the U.S. We discuss what conditions Teff performs best under, its inherent forage value, and whether or not folks in Pennsylvania should consider growing it!

Useful Links:
Alternative Forages for Spring and Summer Planting
Teffola
The Effects of Irrigation, Genotype and Additives on Tef Silage Making

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guests: Dr. Guojie Wang and Dr. Shiran Benzeev, Pennsylvania State University


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Recorded: 3/20/23

In this episode we get into all those other important crop nutrients that aren’t represented by the three numbers on a fertilizer bag. Learn how micronutrients are used by crops, what farmers can do to test their micronutrient levels, and the best application methods for micronutrients. If you’ve already covered all your other bases and are going after those last few hard to get bushels, you won't want to miss this episode!

Useful Links:
Mid-Season Crop Tissue Testing
Soybean and Corn Tissue Testing - Managing Unseen Nutrient Deficiencies
Scouting for nutrient deficiencies in corn and soybean (with photos)

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guests: Dr. Charlie White and John Spargo 

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Recorded: 3/24/23

With planting season just around the corner, there is a great need to reach out to one of our most knowledgeable Penn State Extension educators, Del Voight, to discuss how to get our crops started off right. Good stand establishment tremendously affects final crop yields, so tune in to hear about planting equipment tune-ups, populations, row spacing, and much more.

Useful Links:
Strategies for Planting Corn and Soybean Varieties
Keep an Eye on Planting Depth in Corn and Soybeans
Assessing Corn and Soybean Populations and Replanting Decisions


Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guest: Del Voight, Penn State Extension

Photo credit: Dwane Miller


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Recorded: 3/16/2023

In this episode, two of Penn State’s finest plant pathologists, Dr. Paul Esker and Dr. Alyssa Collins, join us to discuss fungicide-resistant field crop diseases. We cover how resistance develops, which diseases to look out for, and which fungicides to select. We also touch on non-chemical agronomic management practices that growers can employ to help with disease issues.

Useful links:
Fungicide Resistance
Fusarium Head Blight
Frogeye Leaf Spot
Fungicides are More Than a Plant Disease Management Tool

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dr. Paul Esker and Dr. Alyssa Collins, Penn State

Photo credit: Crop Protection Network

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Recorded: 2/9/2023

Listen in as Joey and Dwane sit down with fellow agronomy educator Justin Brackenrich to discuss the ideal pasture. Pastures may be considered simple, but when you try to manage one properly, you’ll find this could not be further from the truth! Learn more as different aspects of species selection, weed control, fertility management, and more are discussed. Anyone that is raising grazing livestock can benefit from this conversation. 

Helpful links:
Benefits of Pasture
Problem Pasture Weeds
Pasture Production Workshop

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guest: Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension

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Episode Photo Credit: Jessica Williamson, Former Extension Forage Specialist

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Recorded: 2/6/2023

In this episode, we receive an education on all things weather from Eric Snodgrass of Nutrien Ag Solutions. We start by looking at things from a broad perspective, discussing how the weather we get in the United States comes to be. We then get more specific and get into what we’ve seen so far in 2023 and what may come to pass during the spring planting season. Farmers are always trying to keep up with what’s going on with the weather, so if you’re interested, then check out Nutrien’s Morning Minute provided with Eric on YouTube.


Useful Links:
Nutrien's Morning Minute - Feb 20, 2023
Weather Underground
Sign-Up for Daily Weather Content Updates from Nutrien’s Eric Snodgrass
Nutrien’s Weather Intelligence Maps


Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien

Photo credit: Pixabay
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Recorded date: 1/9/2023

In this episode, we are focusing on the key differences between managing rented cropland as opposed to owned cropland. We also get into how the trend of fewer farmers managing an increasingly large number of acres has become more prevalent over time. If you’re curious about how much it costs to rent an acre of cropland in PA, we tried to shed some light on that as well! 

Useful Links:
Iowa State University Leasing Information
Wisconsin Lease Agreements for High Value Crops
Iowa State : Computing a Cash Rental Rate

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Andrew Frankenfield, Penn State Extension

Photo credit: Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension

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Recorded date: January 4, 2023

 In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Mike Boehm, Vice President and Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska. Our conversation is wide-ranging and enriching. Dr. Boehm provides a useful breakdown of the valuable role the Cooperative Extension system plays in the United States, as well as great information on the history of agriculture in Nebraska. Check it out and learn more about crop production in the great plains.

Usefull Links:
About Dr. Mike Boehm

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dr. Mike Boehm, University of Nebraska

Photo credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

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