Off-target herbicide movement is one of the most challenging issues facing growers and applicators each season. In this episode of the Crop Doctors' Podcast, Jason and Tom visit with Eric Webster to discuss the factors that contribute to herbicide drift, how to evaluate fields affected by drift, review the environmental conditions that increase risk, and discuss application practices that can help minimize off-target movement.

Bobby Golden visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio earlier in the summer to talk about fertilizer management in corn in an episode released June 2.  After that discussion, we captured a dialogue with Bobby on how agricultural production has evolved, how research and Extension fuel a portion of that evolution, and where future innovations in agriculture will come from.

https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation 

In this episode of the Crop Doctors' Podcast, Jason and Tom sit down with Wes Lowe to discuss two innovative projects aimed at improving on-farm efficiency and profitability.

Wes shares insights from his work evaluating prescription soybean planting and reduced seeding rates, where variable-rate planting strategies are being tested to better match seeding populations with field productivity. He explains how these trials are helping determine where growers can reduce seed costs without sacrificing yield.

The conversation also highlights Wes's collaboration with Drew Gholson on the development of a prototype automated polypipe hole puncher. Designed to streamline the process of setting up furrow irrigation, the system uses field prescriptions to automatically punch holes in polypipe, reducing labor requirements and improving the precision of water distribution across irrigated fields.

https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation 

In this episode of the Crop Doctors' Podcast, Tom provides a midseason update on the current status of soybean root and stem diseases across Mississippi. As the crop progresses through the growing season, several important diseases have appeared, making timely scouting and accurate diagnosis critical for effective management.

Tom discusses what he's seeing in the field, including southern blight, stem canker, taproot decline, and sudden death syndrome, along with the continued importance of monitoring for nematodes. He explains the environmental conditions that favor each disease, how to distinguish them from one another, and what symptoms growers and consultants should be watching for as the season advances.

https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation 

Dr. Mary Nelson Robertson, Mississippi State University Extension Health Specialist, joins the Crop Doctors' Podcast to discuss how Extension is working to improve the health and well-being of Mississippi's agricultural communities. She shares how her program addresses farm stress and anxiety, highlights the On the Farm film series and its role in encouraging conversations about mental health in agriculture, and explains how producers, families, and communities can connect with Extension health resources and programs. Tune in to learn more about the support available for those who keep agriculture moving and where to find additional information about health programs offered through Mississippi State University Extension.

Don and Will visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio to update listeners on the situation with rice delphacid.  This new insect was a severe problem late in the season in 2025.  Currently, it has only been located on a few fields in south Texas in 2026.  Don and Will discuss thresholds, sampling, control measures for this new threat to rice.

https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation 

This week on the Crop Doctors' Podcast, Stafford Shurden of Drew, Mississippi, visited Stoneville to talk about his popular Gas Station Tailgate Review series. Stafford shares how he got started reviewing gas station food, what separates a great stop from an average one, and some of the regional favorites he's discovered along the way. Stafford also discusses his travels across Mississippi and beyond in search of memorable gas station meals, highlighting some of the unique places and flavors he's encountered on the road. Listeners can follow Stafford's Gas Station Tailgate Review content on all social media platforms and check out his other content at stafforshurden.com.

https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation 

Johnsongrass has long been one of the most challenging perennial weeds facing growers across the southern United States. In this episode of the Crop Doctors’ Podcast, Dr. Jim Griffin shares insights from decades of weed science research and discusses the evolution of johnsongrass management strategies. The conversation explores the history of Treflan (trifluralin) and its role in johnsongrass suppression, as well as Dr. Griffin’s experiences with johnsongrass control in sugarcane production. Dr. Griffin also highlights the importance of continued research to identify new management tools and to evaluate whether older practices can be adapted or repurposed to address current production challenges. Join us for a discussion on lessons from the past, innovations for the future, and the critical role of research in advancing sustainable weed management.

https://extension.msstate.edu/shows/mississippi-crop-situation 

In an unplanned episode, Don and Tyler dropped in the Crop Doctors' Podcast studio to talk about the upturn in cases of spider mite infestations in corn.  

In the second half of the episode, AndyWhittington from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation continues to outline the requirements for herbicide use set forth in the Herbicide Strategy that was recently released by the Us Environmental Protection Agency.