Recorded: 10/7/24

Have you ever wondered how a meteorologist predicts the weather? In the agricultural community, we understand the importance of accurate weather prediction and rely on forecasts to plan management decisions. In this episode, we are talking to Penn State meteorologist Kyle Imhoff about how weather is predicted, the innovative work his team does to improve weather prediction, and his forecast for the fall and winter seasons. 

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Kyle Imhoff, Penn State University

Links:
The Penn State Climatologist service: Agricultural Interests
Climate Zones
What are El Niño and La Niña?
Keystone Mesonet

Photo credit: Ryan Spellman, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 9/26/24

On this bonus episode, Ryan and Justin chat with fellow extension agronomy educators about 2024 crop conditions and silage dry-down. Dr. Heidi Reed discusses the results of the statewide crop conditions tour, projecting soybean and corn yields across Pennsylvania, and Zack Curtis discusses the findings from his silage dry-down reports this season.

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest(s): Dr. Heidi Reed, Zack Curtis, Penn State Extension

Links:
2024 Crop Conditions Tour: Corn Suffers Statewide, Hope for Soybeans
Corn Silage Dry Down Update: Week of September 2, 2024
Troubleshooting Abnormal Corn Ears

Photo credit: Heidi Reed, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 9/25/24

We cannot believe we made it to Season 3 without a silage episode! Today that all changes, as Ryan and Justin talk with forage systems specialist Joe Lawrence of the Cornell PRO-DAIRY team. Joe Lawrence draws upon his years of experience with Cornell and as a private certified crop adviser to chat about the science of corn silage management and hybrid selection, and reflects on lessons learned from the 2024 silage season. 


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

Links:
Corn Silage Management
Spreadsheet to Price Standing Hay-crop Forage
Understanding Silage Management
Cornell Field Crop Variety Trials
PDMP Pennsylvania Corn Silage Hybrid Trials
Cornell Maximizing Forage Quality in Bunk Silos
Managing for Quality Silage: Bunk Silos and Piles. Joe Lawrence, Forage Specialist, Cornell PRODAIRY

Photo credit: Ryan Spelman, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 8/26/24

In part two of our two-part series, we are exploring new and emerging agricultural technologies. In this episode, Dr. Charlie White shares his lab’s research on nitrogen decision support tools and variable rate fertilizer prescriptions, and Dr. Daniela Carrijo shares her lab’s work on using drones to calculate cover crop nitrogen contributions and new short-stature corn genetics.

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest(s): Dr. John Wallace, Dr. Daniela Carrijo, Penn State University

Links:
Nitrogen Recommendations for Corn That Credit Cover Crops and Soil Organic Matter
Soil Fertility Testing

Photo credit: Charlie White, Penn State 

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Recorded: 8/26/24

In part one of a two part series, Ryan and Justin explore new and emerging agricultural technologies. On this episode Dr. Paul Esker shares his lab’s reseacrh on drone technology and fungicide application and Dr. John Wallace shares his lab’s research on exact-apply herbicide application technology.

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest(s): Dr. Paul Esker and Dr. John Wallace, Penn State University

Links:
The Esker Lab
John Wallace
Exploring Emerging and Advanced Technology in Agriculture

Photo credit: Ryan Spelman, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 8/26/24

Season three of Agronomy Highlights is here! Hosts Ryan and Justin take the time to officially introduce themselves, and chat about the future ideas and plans for season 3. Big things to come this season!

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension

Links:
Penn State Extension Agronomic Crops
Penn State Extension Cover Crops
Penn State Extension Forages

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Recorded: 7/12/24

Stored grain insect pests like weevils and grain moths can greatly reduce grain quality during storage, and increase the risk of grain rejection at the elevator. In this episode, we chat with Penn State Entomologist and Extension Specialist, Dr. John Tooker, about the biology of these insect pests and how to manage them using an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. 

Links:
The Penn State Agronomy Guide
Preparing Grain Storages for Harvest
Management of Stored Grain Pests in Organic Systems

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: John Tooker, Ph.D., Penn State

Photo credit: Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org 

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Recorded: July 16, 2024

We are experiencing drought conditions in many parts of Pennsylvania and the country. Join us for a round table discussion with extension educators across the state to learn about current crop conditions and the effects of mid-season drought on corn, soybean, and forages. 

Links:
Managing Crops During a Severe Drought: Q and A
Managing Drought Stressed Corn
U.S. Drought Monitor

Hosts:  Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guests: Zack Curtis, Del Voight, Penn State Extension

Photo credit: Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension

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Recorded: 6/20/2024

Can Agriculture and Solar Coexist? As national interest in renewable energy has increased, agricultural land has become a top choice for solar development projects.

In this episode, we are joined by Ohio State Extension field specialist Eric Romich and agronomy educator Christine Gelley, along with Penn State Extension educator Dan Brockett, for a round table discussion. In the first part of this discussion, we discuss the scale and impact of solar development on Ohio and Pennsylvania agriculture. Eric and Christine then discuss their research on producing forage crops alongside solar panels. 

Links:
Agrivoltaics: What Does That Mean?
Landowner Leasing for Utility Scale Solar Farms
Forage as Vegetative Cover for Utility-Scale Solar in Ohio
Agrivoltaics: Integrating forage production in utility-scale solar farms


Hosts: Ryan Spelman, Daniel Brockett, Penn State Extension
Guests: Eric Romich and Christine Gelley, Ohio State Extension


Photo credit: Ohio State Extension

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Recorded: 6/13/2024

In this week’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Andrew Smith of Rodale Institute to talk about organic field cropping systems. Dr. Smith is the chief scientific officer at Rodale Institute and oversees their vegetable systems trial, along with other organic trials. Join us for an in-depth discussion of Rodale Institute’s history, its long-term research on organic field cropping systems, and the future of organic agriculture in Pennsylvania.

Links:
Transitioning to Organic Crop Production
Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide
Rodale Institute
Rodale Institute: Farming Systems Trial 40 Year Report

Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Anna Hodgson, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dr. Andrew Smith, Rodale Institute


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