Talking Crop

In this episode of Talking Crop, Meaghan Anderson, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss the current status of Asian copperleaf in Iowa and Illinois, what we know about its spread and weediness characteristics, how to report suspected populations, and more. 

Episode links: 

• Asian copperleaf fact sheet
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Asian copperleaf encyclopedia article 
• eddmaps.org

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357
Guest contact: [email protected]

In this episode of Talking Crop, Laura Gentry, the Director of Water Quality Research with Illinois Corn, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss Precision Conservation Management program, their Business Case for Conservation Resource, and other general considerations for conservation economics.

Episode links:
Precision Conservation Management

PCM Business Case for Conservation

Webinar: Practices That Pay: What 11 Years of Data Reveals About Tillage, Nitrogen Management, and Cover Crops

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357
Guest contact: [email protected]

In this episode of Talking Crop, Jonathan Coppess and Andrew Hockenberry with the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss the policy behind carbon markets, what its flaws are, and what could be done differently to promote better carbon market policy. 

Episode links: 

Aligning Quality Assurance for Agricultural Carbon Credits with Farm Bill Conservation 

Farmers' Legal Action Group: Farmers' Guide to Carbon Markets 

Farmers' Guide to Carbon Market Contracts in Minnesota

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357
Guest contact: [email protected] | [email protected]

In this episode of Talking Crop, Matt Ruark, Professor and Extension Specialist in Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss what soil health indicators correlate with agronomic performance, on-farm research for nitrogen optimization, and how to manage manure and cover crops.

Episode links:

• Soil Health Series articles 
• Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Project (NOPP)
• Cover Crops, Manure, and Nitrogen Management article

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357
Guest contact: [email protected] 

In this episode of Talking Crop, Madelyn Celovsky, Michigan State University Extension Conservation Agronomist Educator, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss cover cropping strategies post-corn, -soybean, and wheat; interseeding and overseeding, cover crop mixtures, and more. 

Episode links:
Midwest Cover Crops Council website
National Cover Crop Variety Testing Program: 2024-25 Report 

Guest contact: [email protected]
Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357

In this episode of Talking Crop, Trent Ford, the Illinois State Climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss severe weather in Illinois both this season and beyond, El Nino, and the big three climate trends in Illinois and their effects on agriculture. 

Episode links:

State Climate Office

CoCoRaHS

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357
Guest contact: [email protected]

In this episode of Talking Crop, Dr. Nathan Schroeder, Associate Professor of Nematode Anatomy and Biology in the Department of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss soybean cyst nematodes, their pest status and control, as well as free SCN testing available to Illinois producers.

Free SCN Testing

SCN Coalition

Guest contact: [email protected] 

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357

In this episode of Talking Crop, Dr. Alison Robertson, Professor of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Extension Field Crops Pathologist with Iowa State University, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss southern rust, tar spot, and the invaluable field crop disease resources from the Crop Protection Network.

Will southern rust be a problem on corn in 2026?

Statewide evaluation of foliar fungicides on corn in Iowa in 2025

Crop Protection Network resources:

• Assessing crop risks
• Fungicide ROI calculator
• Fungicide efficacy tool
• Southern rust of corn map 

University of Illinois Field Crop Disease and Insect Management Applied Research Report

Guest contact: [email protected] 

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357

In this episode of Talking Crop, Dr. Patrick Tranel, Professor of Weed Molecular Biology and Genomics in the Department of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss Dr. Tranel's research in weed genomics and herbicide resistance as well as the implications of metabolic resistance as it relates to the future of weed control. 

ISA Webinar: Understanding Inconsistent Performance of Glufosinate for Waterhemp Control
Weed Science journal article: Confirmation and Transcriptomic Characterization of Glufosinate-Ammonium Resistance in Waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) Populations from Illinois

Guest contact: [email protected] 

Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357

In this episode of Talking Crop, Dr. Giovani Preza-Fontes, Extension Field Crop Agronomist in the Department of Crop Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and host, Kathryn Seebruck, discuss this year's planting and early-season growing conditions as well as Giovani's work on soybean performance in conservation cropping systems.

Farmdoc Crop Central article, "Update on corn planting progress and prospects"
Farmdoc Crop Central article, "What to watch as soybean planting begins in 2026"
Farmdoc Crop Central article, "Evaluating soybean performance in conservation systems – project report"

Illinois Agronomy Lab

Guest contact: [email protected] 
Host contact: [email protected] | (815) 986-4357