Brad Arens from GroVantage (@GroVantageLLC) in Ainsworth, NE and Ryan Overleese (@AgTechRyan) from Acre Insights in Minden, NE, join the conversation covering everything from soil moisture probe strategy and pivot maintenance tips to late-season water management and cover crop impacts.

With insights on barometers (aka soil probes), evaporation efficiency, and irrigation tech advancements, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for maximizing yield when every drop counts.

We also hear about Corteva's Water Reporter: https://sso.granular.ag/login 

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

🌾 Topics Covered:

✅ Pre- vs. post-plant irrigation strategies

✅ How to avoid ammonia burn and manage strip-till fertilizer risks

✅ Best practices for in-furrow applications and planter adjustments

✅ Sulfur applications ahead of soybeans—what the research says

✅ Cup tests & pivot uniformity: Is your irrigation doing what you think it is?

✅ Data-driven decision-making: Testing products, practices, and biologicals

✅ Why seed placement and field conditions matter more than the calendar

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

From adjusting populations based on soil type and planting date, to the latest research on planting green and navigating white mold pressure, Shawn shares insights that are both practical and backed by data. The crew also discusses nitrogen management, allelopathy concerns, herbicide strategies, and how to make economical decisions in a tight margin year. Plus, they wrap things up with a light-hearted chat about Wisconsin beers and future fieldwork wish lists.

Topics include:

- Current recommendations for soybean planting populations based on soil conditions, planting timing, and field variability

- Strategies for managing cover crops, especially cereal rye, in both corn and soybean systems

- Research findings on how rye biomass and termination timing impact weed control and white mold development

- Considerations for variable rate seeding in soybeans

- Nitrogen management in high-yield soybean systems, including early-season and R-stage applications

- The influence of planting timing and maturity group selection on yield and harvest logistics

- Economic considerations for seed treatments, herbicide programs, and input prioritization in a tight-margin year

- The conversation also touches on emerging challenges like seed maggot pressure and slug damage in cover crop systems, as well as the importance of matching agronomic practices with changing production environments.

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

Tubbs and Schaa talk about new technology that is helping farmers plan, including water reporter, and some of the new corn and soybean traits debuting in 2025. 

More about water reporter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5jiKHuxgrk

Sign up for Water Reporter (Granular Insights): https://sso.granular.ag/login

Meet Alex Harrell, a world record holder for soybean yield: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbqAI1Chgik

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

“This is a huge trade deal for the corn industry… we can’t let this thing fall apart,” says Andy Jobman, who is President of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association.“We’re hopeful that cooler heads prevail.” 

We also hear an update on demand around E-15, how DOGE Is affecting corn growers and what we mean when we talk about biologicals. 

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

"There's less water in the air coming off the ocean, and that causes storm systems to be less productive with rain, especially along that 40 degree latitude line," says Wyoming based meteorologist Don Day.  

Although La Nina might mean a drier year, La Nina weather cycles are known for bringing more extreme weather events including droughts and tornadoes, and there's a high chance of tornadoes across the Midwest this spring. Upon publication of this episode, the United States is in a La Nina weather cycle with a more neutral weather pattern coming soon. 

Further reading: 

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html 

https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/impacts-el-nino-southern-oscillation.html 

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

The biggest takeaway from this episode according to Kevin Kowalaski -- try to use stabilizers. If you aren't using them, think twice, and do some trials. It's got an upfront cost, but it will pay dividends in yield.  He also urges farmers using dry nitrogen products like urea to make sure those treatments actually get incorporated into the soil, and don't just sit on top of it. 

A special thank you to all our loyal listeners this week! Kick'n Dirt won an award; we got Best Of for 2024 Pioneer podcasts! 

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

Troy Deutmeyer, Field Agronomist, and Russell French, Certified Crop Advisor join the conversation alongside hosts Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller and Kevin Kowalaski. 

Find the Pioneer Yield Pyramid discussed during this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/mr39u9wb 
Learn more about the crop protection offerings from Corteva: https://tinyurl.com/wm9b4y3t 

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

Pioneer Agronomy publishes a research book each year, and the 2025 version is available now! During this episode of Kick'N Dirt, listen in for a conversation about key insights provided by the 2025 edition, which has 21 people with PhD's who contributed to the articles.

Mike Jeschke, agronomy manager for Pioneer, says the book has been published in some form since the 1950's. It showcases the findings of the investment in farm research by Pioneer. "There are so many management tools available, and you're constantly needing to refresh that knowledge to stay ahead of emerging issues," he says. "The studies in the book cover a lot of different growing conditions and issues that are happening on real people's farms." 

Find the 2025 book here: 
https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy-science.html#anchor_1 

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.

Mike and the Kevins are Kick' N It this episode with Adam Banks, Pioneer Field Agronomist in Kearney, Nebraska, and talking about finishing strong late in the season. With modern hybrids grain filling later and later, that late component of water appears more important than it was even a decade ago. The group talks about what can be done this late in the game to influence yield and what that might cost in relation to what it will produce. 

Resources

Crop Water Use in Corn: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/crop_water_use.html

Soybean Water Use: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/soybean-water-use.html

Considerations for Estimating the Last Irrigation: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/last-irrigation-mid-south.html

Dectes Stem Borer in Soybeans: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/stem-borer-dectes.html

Kick'N Dirt is a podcast about agriculture in the U.S. This show hosts guests to talk about corn and soybean production, including growers, agronomists and other industry professionals.

Hosted by Mike Wardyn, Kevin Keller, and Kevin Kowalaski.