In the final installment of the Seed to Harvest series, host Sean wraps up an impactful three-part conversation with Jason and Jaren Schley, zeroing in on the critical late-season stages of crop development. This episode dives deep into how growers can finish strong, emphasizing late-season nutrient management, the role of auxins, potassium, boron, zinc, and the importance of understanding phosphorus availability and mobility.

Jason and Jaren share eye-opening results from their on-farm trials, including surprising data on phosphorus uptake and the limitations of traditional P applications. They challenge conventional thinking by highlighting how most growers focus heavily on the first 40–50 days of crop development, while the final 60 days, R3 to R5, hold untapped yield potential.

Listeners will gain insights on:

• The diminishing returns of early phosphorus applications and the value of in-season phosphorus strategies

• Why foliar feeding immobile or oxidized nutrients can be more effective late in the season

• How potassium acts as the “invite” that moves sugars into the grain and enhances kernel fill

• Trial data showing significant yield gains from R4-R5 foliar applications. Up to 10.5 bushels in some cases

• Lessons from the Herman Warsaw study and the vital role of potassium in maintaining nitrogen uptake and photosynthesis late in the season

The episode closes with a compelling call to rethink crop finish strategies, maintain plant health longer, and take full advantage of the back half of the season. If you’re looking to maximize kernel weight, reduce phantom yield loss, and finish your crop strong, this episode is a must-listen.

If you’ve ever questioned whether your K applications are delivering ROI, this episode is a must-listen.

Join Sean Nettleton and Dr. S.A. Khan from the University of Illinois to discuss the eye-opening research behind the Potassium Paradox. Dr. Kahn unpacks decades of soil science and long-term field data, challenging the conventional wisdom around potassium (K) fertilization. Dr. Khan explains why most Midwestern soils already contain more than enough potassium to support crop production and why typical soil tests often fail to accurately represent the true soil availability.

For full context and to follow Dr. Khan’s slides, we highly recommend watching the episode on our YouTube channel.

Topics Covered:

• The science behind exchangeable vs. non-exchangeable potassium
• How soil moisture and weather cycles impact soil test values
• Why overapplying K can hurt calcium, magnesium, and even your soil’s structure
• Results from over 2,000 response trials across North America
• Practical, cost-saving fertility recommendations
  

Don’t miss this deep dive into one of the most misunderstood nutrients in agronomy.

In this episode, Dr. Mulvaney challenges the common belief that most of a crop’s nitrogen comes from fertilizer. Instead, he explains that the soil itself is the primary source of nitrogen uptake—thanks to the natural process of mineralization, where organic matter breaks down and releases plant-available nitrogen.

Key takeaways:

• Fertilizer isn’t the dominant source of N—soil N plays a much larger role.

• Soils differ dramatically in their nitrogen-supplying capacity.

• Yield-based N recommendations ignore this variation, often leading to over-application.

Dr. Mulvaney’s research is focused on improving nitrogen efficiency—boosting crop uptake while minimizing environmental harm. He collaborates with industry partners to refine fertilizer practices and promote the use of the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test (ISNT) for more precise, site-specific N management.

If you’re looking to improve yields without wasting nitrogen dollars, this episode offers critical insights that could reshape how you think about nitrogen use.

Watch the full length presentation here: https://youtu.be/JoExUqhuJas

In this insightful episode, Sean Nettleton talks with Josh Linville, a widely followed fertilizer market expert, about the complex dynamics of the global fertilizer industry and its impact on U.S. agriculture.

Key Topics Covered:

• Fertilizer Price Volatility: Josh emphasizes that neither he nor local retailers set fertilizer prices—global events and market structures do. Price swings often stem from geopolitical instability, trade restrictions, and global supply chain disruptions.

• Global Dependence & Supply Challenges: The conversation highlights how North American agriculture remains tightly linked to international fertilizer markets, including inputs from China, Russia, and the Middle East. Disruptions—like conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz or export bans—can quickly affect local supply and pricing.

• Domestic Production Gaps: Josh discusses the U.S.'s underinvestment in nitrogen production, despite having cheap natural gas and strong environmental standards. He argues for more domestic manufacturing to reduce dependence and exposure to foreign market volatility.

• Fertilizer Futures & Market Tools: The industry is slowly evolving toward offering farmers better tools, such as micro futures contracts for urea, to hedge fertilizer costs similarly to how they manage grain risk. But adoption remains in early stages.

• Fertilizer Efficiency & Biologicals: The two also touch on improving nutrient efficiency through soil testing, biologicals, and smart application timing. Josh acknowledges the role of companies like BW Fusion in helping farmers stretch input dollars with more targeted fertility management.

• The Call for Education: Both Sean and Josh stress the importance of education and proactive planning. With tight margins, farmers must stay engaged year-round, rather than waiting until fall or spring to make buying decisions.

In this episode, host Sean speaks with Ed Baumgartner, founder of BASS Hybrids, to explore their unconventional approach to corn breeding. Ed discusses BASS Hybrids’ 20-year mission to reduce farmers’ reliance on synthetic inputs by developing corn hybrids with native tolerance to insects, drought, and stress without genetic modification.

Here's what we cover:

For many of us in the Corn Belt, rice isn't a crop we've given much thought to. But in this episode, Sean Nettleton sits down with grower and consultant Chad Duckworth from Northeast Arkansas, along with RBM Seth Busby, for a full download on southern crop production. While they cover a range of crops grown in the South, Chad’s 25+ years of experience and deep expertise in rice—right at the cutting edge of rice-growing technology—make him a go-to source for all things rice production.

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In Part 2 of the From Seed to Harvest series, Jason and Jaren Schley pick up where they left off, right after the crucial establishment phase, where microbial partnerships and root development take center stage. Listen to that episode here.

Now, the corn plant enters the V4–V6 growth stage: a critical turning point where it begins to transition away from seed-derived energy and starts to rely fully on its own roots and nutrient uptake. So how do we support the plant through this weaning process?

Jason and Jaren break down what’s happening physiologically in the plant, and more importantly, how to guide it with the right agronomic strategies. From nutrient timing to biological support, this episode is full of actionable insights for ensuring a strong, independent crop as it pushes toward rapid vegetative growth.

In this timely and impromptu episode, Jaren Schley, Mason Claude, and Sean Nettleton dive into one of the hottest agronomic topics of the moment: Early Season Nitrogen. With a late, wet spring challenging many growers across the Midwest, there's no better time to rethink your nutrient strategy.

Drawing on real-time insights from Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota, the trio shares what they’re seeing in the field and how growers can make smarter, more efficient nitrogen decisions leading into side-dress season. They tackle the questions they’ve been hearing directly from growers and aren’t afraid to challenge conventional thinking—especially when it comes to nitrogen testing.

If you're looking to maximize efficiency and make every unit of N count, this episode is a must-listen.

AmiNo: https://bw-fusion.com/stressless

In Episode 36 of Crop Cast, Sean Nettleton welcomes Dr. Connor Sible, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, for a deep dive into high-yield corn and soybean production strategies. Dr. Sible shares his unique research focus—centered on maximizing yield through both input efficiency and improved management practices.

The episode highlights the synergy and occasional differences between university-led research and field-driven agronomy.  Whether you're a grower, agronomist, or industry professional, this episode offers insight into the future of crop productivity and the importance of bridging academic research with real-world application.

Conor Sible: https://extension.illinois.edu/staff/connor-sible 

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In this episode of Crop Cast, we’re joined by none other than Jason Mauck, the innovative and unconventional farmer from Gaston, Indiana—known across social media as "the farm weird guy." Jason has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of traditional agriculture with techniques like relay cropping wheat and soybeans, and experimenting with alley cropping in corn.

Sean Nettleton dives into Jason’s philosophy, where farming isn't just about high yields. Jason shares insights into his work with the Stock Cropper system, his unique grazing strategies, and how he manages what he proudly calls “the greenest golf course in Indiana.”

Whether you're curious about alternative cropping systems or just want to hear from someone shaking up the ag world, this episode is packed with thought-provoking ideas and practical takeaways. Tune in to learn why farming weird might just be the future.

Sign Up for Jason's Field Day: https://conference.eco-ag.com/farmweird
X: https://x.com/jasonmauck1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jason.mauck.5 
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