Growers Mineral April Call | Calf Barn Setup, Frost Protection, High-Brix Strawberries & More

In this month’s Growers Mineral Conference Call, we cover real-world results and insights from the field just in time for spring. Mike Bulcher and his son Chad share their experience raising over 300 bottle calves using a low-stress, group-feeding setup—and how Growers Mineral Solutions fits into their feeding protocol. Chad breaks down vaccination schedules, feeding routines, and how he's building toward full-time farming.

Later, Phil Neal highlights the success of Ohio vegetable and berry grower Joel Burns, who’s using RO water, high-calcium lime, and foliar applications of Growers to achieve outstanding quality in strawberries, spinach, sweet corn, and more. Hear how Joel is getting 28% Brix sweet corn and premium produce that's flying off the shelves.

Bruce Stephens closes out the episode with an update on chlorine dioxide as a potential low-cost, non-toxic fungicide alternative. Plus, Jim Halbeisen and Marty Whitsitt discuss the latest on frost protection and what growers can do to protect their crops during unpredictable spring weather.

Topics Covered:

• Raising bottle calves with Growers Mineral
• Frost protection strategies for peaches and strawberries
• High-Brix sweet corn and strawberries using RO water and foliar feeding
• Real results from the field with Growers Mineral Solutions
• Chlorine dioxide as a fungicide alternative
• Soil health and calcium management

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In this episode, Jim Halbeisen connects with Terry and Stephen Norris—Growers Mineral reps on the NC/SC border. They dive into the early start to the 2025 season, calcium’s critical role in soil health, and the importance of balancing magnesium levels to open up tight soils. With dry weather already setting in, they share insights on deep ripping, foliar feeding, and strip testing to keep crops thriving—especially tobacco, corn, soybeans, and vegetables. Terry brings decades of experience, while Stephen shares what he's learning as he steps into a larger role. Practical, real-world farming talk from the Carolinas.

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In this episode, Jim Halbeisen sits down with central Iowa farmer David Armstrong, who’s been using the Growers Mineral program for over 30 years. David shares why he believes feeding the soil biology is the key to healthier crops, better cattle performance, and long-term sustainability.

Hear firsthand how he uses 2x2 and in-furrow application, why available calcium matters more than total calcium, and what happened when he applied 50 tons of gypsum per acre—just to prove a point. David’s approach challenges the conventional model and puts results first, from tissue quality to animal health to shelf life in produce.

If you’re looking for a program that’s built on observation, results, and true soil function—this is the conversation for you.

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In this episode of the Growers Mineral Podcast, Jim Halbeisen and Marty Whitsitt discuss frost protection for fruit trees, particularly peaches, using Growers Mineral Solutions. They share insights from a Southwestern Indiana grower who experienced significant improvements in frost resistance, fruit quality, and shelf life. Learn how proper foliar feeding can enhance fruit color, flavor, and overall crop resilience—ensuring customers keep coming back for more.

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From Struggling Soils to Thriving Farms | Growers Mineral Podcast – February Conference Call

In this episode of the Growers Mineral Podcast, we bring you audio from our February 2025 conference call, held March 13th. Jim Halbeisen hosts a roundtable of farmers and longtime Growers customers who share their stories, struggles, and success using the Growers Program.

Featured Guests:

• L. Grove (Hanover, PA): A fourth-generation Growers rep shares his transition from traditional methods to high-calcium lime, reduced fertilizer use, and healthier cows. His personal journey includes feeding Growers to livestock—and even tasting it himself.
• Rich Rhodes (Canton, OH): A dairy farmer milking 150+ cows discusses fine-tuning his soil with water-treatment lime, foliar feeding corn, and the profitability of beef-on-dairy calves.
• Paul Dotterer (Northern Maryland): The March calendar photo farmer! Paul dives into no-till practices, sourcing lime from the Domino Sugar plant, split nitrogen applications, and the challenges of farming without manure.

Also in this episode:

• Lime strategies that work: paper mill lime, sugar plant lime, and water-treatment lime.
• Corn and soybean rotations with limited nitrogen inputs.
• Adapting to herbicide-resistant weeds.
• Cover cropping, foliar feeding, and working within Chesapeake Bay nutrient regulations.
• Updates on milk pricing, bird flu, and beef markets.
• Discussion on the USDA’s commodity forecasts and export numbers.

Whether you're raising dairy cows, managing row crops, or navigating spring fieldwork, this episode offers field-tested insight from real farmers.

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For more success stories and information about the Growers Program, visit us at http://www.growersmineral.com/ or call us at 1-800-437-4769.

Find us online!
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Our Podcast: https://growersmineral.buzzsprout.com/
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Join Jim Halbeisen, Growers Mineral's Director of Research, as he hosts a podcast live from the Growers Mineral annual meeting. Standing together in the podcast booth, Daniel Weaver from Georgia and Terry Norris from South Carolina share their firsthand experiences with Southern agriculture. From tackling sandy soils and extreme weather to leveraging the Growers Program for cleaner, more sustainable farming, they discuss innovative approaches to improve crop quality and soil health. Don’t miss their insights on calcium, clean fertilizers, and the unique challenges of Southern farming.

For more success stories and information about the Growers Program, visit us at http://www.growersmineral.com/ or call us at 1-800-437-4769.

Find us online!
Our Links https://linktr.ee/growersmineral 
Our Podcast: https://growersmineral.buzzsprout.com/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowersMineral/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growersmineral/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/growersmineral

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In this episode, Jim Halbeisen, Director of Research at Growers Mineral, sits down with Curvin Horst and Stanley Sensenig, third- and fourth-generation farmers, to discuss their farming operations, the Growers Program, and how they apply proven soil health strategies on their farms.

Topics Covered:
✅ Dairy and beef farming strategies
✅ Soil health and calcium applications
✅ Crop production and farm management
✅ Direct marketing and working with diverse clientele
✅ The benefits of using Growers Mineral Solutions

Curvin and Stanley share their firsthand experience using Growers Mineral Solutions, discussing the challenges and successes they’ve had while managing their operations in New York.

For more success stories and information about the Growers Program, visit us at http://www.growersmineral.com/ or call us at 1-800-437-4769.

Find us online!
Our Links https://linktr.ee/growersmineral 
Our Podcast: https://growersmineral.buzzsprout.com/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowersMineral/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growersmineral/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/growersmineral

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Join Jim Halbeisen, Growers Mineral's Director of Research, as he interviews Wisconsin sales rep Daniel Wolf. Discover how Daniel implements the Growers Program to enhance crop quality, improve forage production, and optimize farm inputs. From cover crops to calcium strategies, this podcast offers valuable insights for sustainable farming.

For more success stories and information about the Growers Program, visit us at http://www.growersmineral.com/ or call us at 1-800-437-4769.

Find us online!
Our Links https://linktr.ee/growersmineral 
Our Podcast: https://growersmineral.buzzsprout.com/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowersMineral/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growersmineral/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/growersmineral

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Join Jim Halbeisen, Director of Research at Growers Mineral, as he interviews Keith Shutt from North Dakota and Lauren Scherping from Minnesota, district managers for Growers Mineral Corp. Discover insights into lime spreading practices, crop trends, and the evolving agricultural landscape in the Upper North Central region. From rising land prices to the shift from dairy to beef farming, this podcast offers a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities facing farmers today. Brought to you by Growers Mineral.

For more success stories and information about the Growers Program, visit us at http://www.growersmineral.com/ or call us at 1-800-437-4769.

Find us online!
Our Links https://linktr.ee/growersmineral 
Our Podcast: https://growersmineral.buzzsprout.com/
 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowersMineral/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growersmineral/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/growersmineral

Support the show