James Callicut, Mississippi State University Extension Waterfowl and Game Bird Specialist, called into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to explore how habitat management decisions shape success before and after opening day. James shares insights from his research tracking mallards and pintails across Mississippi, discusses key strategies for preparing wetlands and agricultural fields in the weeks leading up to the season, and explains how to adapt management practices as conditions shift later in the winter. Whether you’re a waterfowl hunter, land manager, or conservation-minded outdoorsman, this conversation dives deep into the science and strategy behind supporting ducks throughout the migration.

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

Farm Journal writer Chris Bennett joined us in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to share a remarkable story from one of his recent articles. This episode dives into a truly unique sting operation from 1986 in Oklahoma where a game warden came up with an ingenious plan to catch illegal road hunters using a frozen roadkill deer as a decoy. Chris recounts the clever strategy behind using the frozen deer and why it was so effective as well as he unexpected outcomes of the operation that made this case stand out. Prepare to be entertained by Chris’s engaging storytelling as he brings this wild tale from wildlife law enforcement to life.

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

Settle in for a morning of stories from Stoneville, MS, as Tom, Jason, and Bobby Golden pull back the curtain on some of their most unusual field visits. They trade stories about the strange, absurd, and the downright odd things they've been called to investigate.  From mysterious smoke plumes over rice fields to a surprising discovery on a skeet range, and even the time a wrecked car became part of a field visit, no subject is off-limits. 

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

From the Crop Doctors' Podcast studio in Stoneville, Dalton Whitt and Tanner King, both doctoral students at Mississippi State University, dive deep into their research on two of the Delta's most challenging weeds: Italian ryegrass and Virginia pepperweed. They break down the complexities of herbicide resistance in Italian ryegrass, a winter annual that continues to adapt to control methods. The discussion also turns to the rising problem of Virginia pepperweed, which has become increasingly difficult to control with standard burndown applications. 

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

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On this special episode, we welcome Farm Journal writer and Delta native Chris Bennett back to the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to share what he's hearing on the ground. Known for his candid and insightful storytelling, Chris discusses the pulse of Midsouth agriculture based on his conversations with farmers, industry experts, and those living and working in rural communities.  Chris dives into the lingering challenges farmers faced in 2025 and how they are navigating persistent economic pressures.  

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

From the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville, Jason and Tom talk all things fall burndown for Italian ryegrass.  Every October, the discussions are similar but the years always offer something a little different.  Topics include fall-applied residual herbicide timings, product selection, mixtures, soil textures, resistance, and more.

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

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Drew sat down in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville for a look back at the highly unusual 2025 irrigation season in Mississippi. From historic spring rains to a challenging mid-summer dry spell, Drew shares his observations on how growers navigated a season of extremes.  He also describes their research on wide polypipe hole spacing, automated irrigation systems, and recirculating water in row rice.  Be sure to register for the Mississippi Master Irrigator program at https://www.ncaar.msstate.edu/outreach/master/index.php

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

#mscrops #MSUext

For next Tuesday.  Promo at 13:54 to 14:21 if needed.

From the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville, Tom walks listeners through the 2025 row crop season in Mississippi—from early-season disease pressures through harvest—and teases what growers should watch heading into 2026. He gives a candid summary on disease management across soybean, corn, cotton, and rice.

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

Steve Martin visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville for an in-depth look at the current economic landscape facing row crop producers in the Midsouth. From rising input costs and commodity pressures to the shifting dynamics of farm policy and crop insurance, Steve breaks down the key factors shaping profitability for cotton, soybeans, corn, and rice.

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation

Jarrod Hardke calls into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to visit with Will Eubank, Jason, and Tom about the rice delphacid infestations sweeping through Midsouth rice fields. Experts are raising concerns as these pests continue to appear in new areas late in the season. They also discuss the compounding impact of extreme late-season heat on rice development and yield, especially in fields already under stress. Learn about key warning signs like twin-stemmed plants and sharply reduced yields in affected zones. 

For more episodes from the Crop Doctors, visit our website at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation