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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Date recorded: December 8, 2022

Listen in as we discuss the fundamentals of herbicide resistance with one of our resident weed control experts, Mr. Dwight Lingenfelter. Beginning with the basics,  we go through several scenarios of different resistant weeds in a variety of cropping systems. If you think you’ve got resistant weeds in your fields, then this episode will have some very valuable insights and considerations for you.

Useful links:
Penn State Agronomy Guide, new 2023-2024 edition coming soon!
Palmer Amaranth and Waterhemp Identification
Marestail Management
Herbicide Recommendations for Noxious Pigweeds
Postemergence Soybean Herbicide Options

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dwight Lingenfelter, Extension Associate, Weed Science



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Date recorded: 11/30/2022

From planting to variety selection to pest management and end utilization, all aspects of producing this interesting plant were covered in depth. If you’ve ever wondered what it might take to grow a crop of sunflowers, then give this one a listen!

Useful Links: 

• North Dakota State Sunflower Production Guide 
• North Dakota Sunflower Nitrogen Calculator 

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dr. Burton Johnson and Dr. Hans Kandel, North Dakota State University

Photo credit: National Sunflower Association

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Recorded: 11/8/2022

In this episode, we discussed the interesting concept of growing cover crops as living mulch within a cash crop. This advanced cover cropping technique is both thought-provoking and challenging. From the establishment of such a system to pest management and all the benefits and obstacles in between, this conversation with Dr. Nick Basinger is sure to make you wonder about what’s possible in a row crop field.  

Useful Links: 

• Georgia Cover Crop Nitrogen Availability Calculator
• Penn State Cover Crop and Soil Organic Matter Nitrogen Credit
• Northeast Cover Crop Decision Tool
• Managing Cover Crops Profitably Book

Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dr. Nicholas Basinger, University of Georgia

About our guest:
Nicholas Basinger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia. Dr. Basinger received his Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, where he studied the impacts of weed interference on biomass accumulation of weed and crop species as well as the impacts on crop yield.

At the University of Georgia, he focuses on the alteration and manipulation of the agroecosystem and ecosystems surrounding non-cropland areas to reduce the impacts of weeds. His research interests include exploring aspects of weed interference and crop-weed interactions, herbicide efficacy, remote sensing of weeds, and developing novel management systems for both cropland and non-cropland areas.

Episode photo credit: University of Georgia

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