In this episode of the Crop Doctors’ Podcast, Tom and Jason sat down with Will Eubank to break down what the 2026 rice season is shaping up like in Mississippi. The conversation covers shifts in acreage along with a look at the mix of varieties and hybrids growers are leaning toward and why.  They also dug into rice delphacids and how they’re influencing priorities and management strategies. Will shares insights from the field on current pressure levels, risk factors, and what growers should be watching as the season progresses.  Finally, Will discussed the direction of his program, the work he’s already begun, and how his efforts aim to support Mississippi rice producers through research, extension, and -the-ground problem solving.

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

Jason and Tom are joined in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio by Jay Mahaffey from the Scott Learning Center for a detailed discussion on nematode management in Mississippi crops. They begin with the importance of proper nematode identification, explaining how soil sampling and accurate diagnosis lay the foundation for effective control decisions.  The episode covers a range of management strategies, including crop rotation, resistant varieties, and other cultural practices that can help reduce nematode populations. Jay also discusses how resistant crop varieties have evolved over time, making it critical for growers to stay informed and adjust their approach.

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

In this episode of the Crop Doctors’ Podcast, Tom and Jason visited with Mississippi State Climatologist Mike Brown to unpack the persistent drought conditions that have impacted the state over the past year. Mike described the current conditions as a transition out of a La Niña pattern.  He also explained what role the jetstream plays in steering weather systems away from or toward Mississippi. Tune in for a practical and science-based discussion on how weather patterns are shaping agricultural conditions across Mississippi.  Find out more about Mike’s work at https://www.ms-sco.us/home and also drought conditions in Mississippi at https://www.drought.gov/states/mississippi

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

In this episode of the Crop Doctors’ Podcast, Brian Arnall from Oklahoma State University joins Tom and Jason to share his firsthand experience evaluating biological products in production agriculture. The conversation dives into just how many products Brian has tested over the years, the wide range of formulations and claims on the market, and the challenges of separating hype from proven performance. They also discuss whether these products can—or should—play a role in real-world farming systems, offering practical insight for growers trying to make informed decisions. Check out Brian’s blog at www.osunpk.com and podcast at www.reddirtagronomy.com

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

In this episode of the Crop Doctors’ Podcast, Jason and Tom sit down with Extension Soybean Specialist Justin Calhoun to break down the stretch of warm, dry weather across Mississippi in March and what it meant for early soybean planting. They discuss how these conditions influenced planting decisions, emergence, and early-season growth.  Justin dives into practical considerations for selecting soybean maturity groups under early planting scenarios, including how to balance efficiency of planting with optimizing soybean development during the longest photoperiod. 

The Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station is a location of the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center located in Raymond.  Tyler Soignier is a MSU agronomist working to bring Brown Loam back on line as a clearinghouse for agronomic information for that part of our state.  Tyler visited with Jason and Tom from the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to highlight his work in central Mississippi.

With urea fertilizer prices continuing to increase, making the right crop management decisions has never been more critical. In this episode, Corey Bryant visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio to break down practical strategies for navigating high nitrogen costs without sacrificing yield potential. The discussion covers timing and placement of applications, evaluating alternative nitrogen sources, and protecting from losses.

Erick rerouted through Stoneville to sit down for a few minutes in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio to discuss how the MS corn crop is fairing after the freeze on the night of March 17.  Erick has spent the last few days working the phone and looking at fields to help make the best decision possible on assessing health of frost damaged corn, determining whether replant is necessary, and which treatments are perform best for terminating failed corn stands.

Jason and Tom sat down with Stafford Shurden of Drew, Mississippi, in the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville for a conversation that bridges generations of Delta agriculture. Stafford reflects on growing up on a family farm in the Mississippi Delta during the 1970s and 80s—sharing stories about the equipment, crops, and community that shaped his early years in agriculture. The discussion explores a shotgun of topics including influences of technology, no-till farming, the 2021 flood, and lots in between.  You can find Stafford at https://staffordshurden.com and all social media platforms.

From the Row Crop Short Course in Starkville last December, Drew Gholson and Wes Lowe visited with Tom and Jason about their prototype poly pipe hole puncher.  After more than six years of brainstorming, tinkering, testing, and re-testing, Drew and Wes are ready to put their hole puncher to the test—an innovation designed to make irrigation setup faster, more precise, and a whole lot less frustrating.