The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

What should you consider when choosing a potassium source? In this episode, host Dr. Alan Blaylock is joined by David Holden, owner of Holden Research and Consulting, to explore how crop needs, soil properties, water source and the nutrients supplied alongside potassium can affect how well a particular source fits into a system. They compare potassium chloride (MOP) and potassium sulfate (SOP), discuss why chloride can create challenges for certain crops and explain what growers should think about when evaluating each source. They also explore how potassium rate, timing and placement can align with crop demand, why potassium availability matters as crops develop and how irrigation can influence the source you select. The conversation offers practical considerations for selecting and evaluating potassium sources, including potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, potassium thiosulfate and potassium nitrate. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Soil fertility isn't always the yield-limiting factor. Compaction, salinity, soil acidity and water management can all affect how well crops grow and how effectively they access nutrients. In this episode, Lyle Cowell is joined by Marla Riekman, Soil Fertility Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, to explore some of the other factors that can hold back crop performance and productivity. They discuss how salinity and compaction are connected to water management, how soil acidity can affect crop growth and what growers and agronomists can look for when diagnosing underperforming areas of a field. They also explore practical approaches to managing and minimizing the impacts of soil salinity and compaction, along with how growers can think about soil health, field variability and the factors they can influence to support crop growth. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Building soil organic matter has become a common goal for farmers looking to improve soil health, but increasing soil organic matter levels can be harder than we'd expect. In this episode, host Amy Crozier is joined by Andrew McGuire, Irrigated Cropping Systems Extension Agronomist and Grant County Director with Washington State University, to explore what influences soil organic matter (SOM) and which management practices can actually help build or maintain it over time. They discuss the balance between biomass inputs and losses, how harvest and erosion affect SOM, the value and limitations of different soil-building practices and debunk the claim that nitrogen fertilizer burns up SOM. Andrew also shares how growers can evaluate soil health products, set realistic expectations and focus on practices that address measurable problems in their fields. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Crop yield forecasting isn't new, but the information used to build them has changed. Today, field observations and grower experience can be combined with satellite imagery, weather data and historical records to provide a more complete view of expected production. In this episode, Dr. Karl Wyant is joined by Megan Nunes, founder and CEO of Bountiful, to explore what goes into crop yield forecasting and how forecasting can support budgeting, cash flow and other planning and business decisions before harvest. They discuss how satellite imagery and other farm data are combined through machine learning to forecast yields in specialty crops, how forecasts evolve as new information becomes available and why connecting data from across the operation can make it more useful for planning. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

4R Nutrient Stewardship is becoming more practical, more detailed and more adaptable to the way growers manage nutrients across different crops and regions. In this episode, host Lyle Cowell is joined by Dan Heaney to explore how Fertilizer Canada's updated 4R Practice Guidance has evolved and what's changed in their latest update. They discuss the addition of best management practices for sulfur and potassium, new guidance for manure, newly highlighted practices that don't align with the 4Rs and expanded recommendations across different climates and crops. Tune in for a look at how 4R Nutrient Stewardship guidance has evolved, including newly added best management practices for all four major fertilizer nutrients, why the framework and new updates matter and how the newest guidance can help put 4R principles into practice. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Succession planning can feel daunting and complex. With multiple people bringing different expectations to the table, it can be difficult to build a plan that fits everyone - which is why less than one in five farm families actually have a farm succession plan in place. In this episode, host Amy Crozier sits down with Kevin Brooks, Farm Business Management and Marketing Educator with the University of Illinois, to explore the family dynamics that can make succession and estate planning difficult. They discuss how owners can establish clear goals, understand expectations and begin building a plan for their operation. Kevin also shares practical steps families can take to get started and explains why clear and consistent communication can help prevent surprises, protect relationships and prepare everyone for what lies ahead. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Understanding your cost of production goes far beyond knowing what you spend on fertilizer. In this episode, Amy Crozier is joined by Eric Olson and Warren Bills from MNP to break down the different elements that make up production costs in grain and why knowing your cost per bushel matters. From gross margins and production expenses to labor, machinery, land and financing, they explore what each piece means and how it can help growers make more informed decisions. They also discuss how agronomic planning and benchmarking can provide a clearer view of margins, the biggest cost drivers in grain today and the growing importance of field- and zone-level decision-making. Tune in to learn what goes into cost of production and how a better understanding of your numbers can help guide decisions across your operation. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Denitrification is one of the three main pathways for nitrogen loss, but what is it really, and how much nitrogen do we stand to lose? In this episode, Lyle Cowell is joined by Dr. Erin Daly from the University of Guelph to break down denitrification and the conditions that drive nitrogen loss in the soil. They explore how nitrogen can be lost as nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas, what conditions drive losses and when they are most likely to occur. Erin also shares how CanN₂ONet, a national research network, is helping us better understand nitrous oxide emissions across Canada. From field towers that measure emissions to research into regionally tailored best management practices, discover how the network is working to help growers improve nitrogen use efficiency and help reduce nitrogen losses across the country. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

What can a crop built to last for generations teach us about planning for the seasons ahead? In this episode, Dr. Karl Wyant is joined by Stephen Vasquez, executive director of the Administrative Committee for Pistachios and the California Pistachio Research Board, to explore the long-term agronomic planning behind pistachio production. From orchard establishment and nutrient management to record keeping and harvest, they uncover how decisions made today can shape productivity for years to come. Stephen also shares how research and advances in production practices have improved pistachio yields and quality over time, and why nutrient budgets are essential for managing current and future production. Tune in to discover what pistachios can teach you about planning ahead and managing today's crop with future seasons in mind. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

Soil testing can be a valuable tool, but getting the most from it starts with understanding what you're measuring and how to interpret the results. In this episode, Dr. Alan Blaylock is joined by University of Minnesota soil scientists Dr. Carl Rosen and Dr. Daniel Kaiser to separate fact from fiction when it comes to soil testing. Together, they discuss common soil test myths, what soil tests can and can't tell you, the science behind common soil testing methods and why research-backed calibration matters. They also share practical recommendations for collecting the right samples, choosing the right test and interpreting results to support better nutrient management decisions. Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics