UMN Extension Nutrient Management Podcast

Today on the show we join a panel of 5 specialists, practitioners, Extension educators to discuss nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the current situation with nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota? Is the situation improving over time? What are some key factors affecting nitrate concentrations? What should growers in the region be thinking about in terms of nitrogen best management practices? What are some other ways that farmers in southeast Minnesota can help improve water quality? What else should we be thinking about related to N BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota? What resources (financial and otherwise) are available to farmers in southeast Minnesota? All this and much more today's Nutrient Management Podcast from University of Minnesota Extension.

Video of this podcast is available on our YouTube channel! Watch it here. 

Guests:

• Mary Nesberg, Extension educator (Rochester)
• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Kevin Kuehner, Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Preston)
• Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)

Additional Resources:

• Improved understanding of groundwater age and nitrate trends
• GreenCovR: Cover crop management tool provides local information on green cover achieved by management
• Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program
• Tap-In: Safe Drinking Water for SE Minnesota
• Grain Gathering 2026 
• Olmested County SWCD
• Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator
• Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy
• Nitrates and drinking water: Resources for southeast Minnesota well users, farmers
• Southeast Minnesota nitrogen meeting presentations now available online
• z.umn.edu/NitrogenSmart
• Addressing nitrate in southeastern Minnesota
• Extension addresses nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota
• What decade are we measuring? Improved understanding of groundwater age and nitrate trends (YouTube video)

We return to first principles with a detailed discussion about nitrogen loss on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. The five terms that describe how nitrogen is lost from the soil are: leaching, denitrification, volatilization, crop removal and soil erosion & runoff. But what do those terms actually mean? How does nitrogen's chemistry change during loss? Do N loss processes (also called pathways) happen at the same speed? How do temperature and precipitation affect N loss pathways? How might farmers hedge against the risk of loss by incorporating the 4Rs into their N planning? All of this and much more on today's show.

Guests

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources

• Nitrogen Conference (held annually in February; past videos are available online)
• Four things I’ve learned about nitrogen management for corn based on a decade of research in Minnesota
• Nitrogen Nuggets (YouTube playlist)
• Understanding nitrogen in soils
• Nitrogen Smart

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

It's December and we're rounding out the year with an in-depth discussion on cover crops here on the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are panelists' observations regarding covers with lower seeding rates? What are some pros and cons relating to erosion or nutrient uptake? Does planting early at a lower seed rate vs. planting later with a higher seed rate result in the same outcome? What are some weed control characteristics of cover crops? What advice do our panelists have for farmers new to cover crops? What kinds of state and local resources are available for growers? All this and lots more on today's show so be sure to tune in.

Guests:

• Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)
• Ryan Beutow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist (St. Paul)
• Eric Yu, Extension educator (Farmington)

Additional Resources:

• UMN Cover Crops row crops
• UMN Cover crops in vegetables
• Cover crop Academy
• MN Agronomy Technical Note 33
• Single species cereal rye cover crop implementation requirements
• Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
• MN NRCS Cover Crop Design Tool
• Midwest Cover Crop Council
• SARE Managing Cover Crops Profitably
• MN Field Office Technical Guide folder on cover crops

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we're turning our attention to micronutrients. What does current research tell us about micronutrients - for corn specifically - that growers need to consider? Boron is another important micronutrient in Minnesota. What should farmers be aware of regarding boron? Is tissue sampling the answer to help predict where some of these micronutrients are needed? What are other important micronutrient takeaways? All this and much more on today's episode.

Guests & Contact Info:

• Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) - email: [email protected]
• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) - email: [email protected]
• Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) - email: [email protected]

Additional Resources:

• Micro- and secondary macronutrients
• Understanding plant analysis for crops
• Zinc for crop production
• Are you overspending on fertilizer?
• Is boron deficiency a problem for crops in Minnesota?

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

On today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast, Brad and Dan talk about variable rate application - and zones in particular. What's the overall point to variable rate N application? How might an initial starting N rate be determined? How do farmers' fields and equipment introduce their own variables, and how can these variables be monitored? How should farmers think about - and plot out - field zones? What's the difference between a yield map and a zone map, and should farmers rely on yield maps for zoning purposes? Do the best yielding spots always need the most nitrogen? All of this and much more on today's show.

Guests:

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

• With high nitrogen fertilizer prices and low corn prices, can you decrease your nitrogen rate for 2026? 
• www.cornnratecalc.org (Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator)
• Is variable rate nitrogen based on yield maps a good idea?
• Variable rate nitrogen: What are we trying to accomplish?
• Brad Carlson's email address: [email protected]
• Dan Kaiser's email address: [email protected]

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

This month on the Nutrient Management Podcast, we talk about a recent increase in N rate recommendations for corn. Why have these suggested nitrogen rates for corn increased over time? How are regional differences across Minnesota factored into this increase? Why does the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) method of N rate calculation bring economics into the mix? Why should growers focus on profit instead of yield? Won't a higher nitrogen rate make our SE Minnesota water issues worse? Our panelists answer these important questions - and many more - on today's show.

Guests:

• Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional Resources:

• www.cornnratecalc.org (N Rate Calculator)
• Updated corn nitrogen rates: What are we currently seeing for N fertilizer requirements in Minnesota?
• An introduction to MRTN: Efficiencies & economics in mind
• 2025 fall fertilizer outlook: Management tips during economic uncertainty
• With high nitrogen fertilizer prices and low corn prices, can you decrease your nitrogen rate for 2026?

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

Brad Carlson and Daniel Kaiser discuss the maximum return to nitrogen method (MRTN) for determining an optimal N rate on today's episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. What is the MRTN and why was it created? What are differences between an N investment model versus a maximum yield model? What should farmers keep in mind while using the MRTN? Where can Minnesota farmers, producers and ag professionals find the MRTN? All this and more on today's show.

Guests:

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

• www.cornnratecalc.org (N rate calculator)
• Are you overspending on fertilizer?
• Nutrient Management
• Updated corn nitrogen rates: What are we currently seeing for N fertilizer requirements in Minnesota?

For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Dan Kaiser and Brad Carlson continue their discussion on N-fixing biostimulant products in today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. What's the most up-to-date working definition of a crop biostimulant? On which crops are N-fixing products typically used? What is NCERA103.org, and in what ways it it a useful resource for farmers and other agricultural professionals? What are some of the different categories of nitrogen-fixing biostimulants? How should farmers be thinking about biological soil fertility products in general? All this and more on today's show.

Guests:

• Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

• NCERA103.org
• Nitrogen-fixing biologicals: What farmers should know
• Nitrogen-fixing biological products: New report summarizes research from across the corn belt
• Nitrogen-fixing biological products: Four Midwest experts weigh in on industry claims, on-farm research tips, and more

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

On this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we talk all about fall manure application. What should be on a farmer's to-do list to prepare for fall application? What names need to be on an operation's emergency response plan, and what kind of PPE should farmers keep nearby? How much lead time does a lab need to return sample results? If a farmer plans to work with a commercial applicator, what can they do ahead of time to ensure a successful season? All of this, plus a farmer Q&A, on-farm research advice, an update on ManureDB and more on today's show.

Guests:

• Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
• Chryseis Modderman, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (Morris, MN)
• Nancy Bohl Bormann, researcher, manure and nutrient management (St. Paul)
• Eduardo Garay, on-farm research manager, manure management (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

• How to put together a manure management plan
• UMN Manure (YouTube)
• ManureDB
• Manure management: Agitation and pumping
• For on-farm research inquiries, contact Eduardo Garay at: [email protected]

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we take a close-up look at bioreactors as an edge-of-field practice. How does this important tool work, and how does it help mitigate nitrate loss? What types of carbon sources have traditionally been used in a bioreactor, and what types of carbon could be used in the future? How are bioreactors incorporated in to a farmer's operation, and how are they maintained? How effective and efficient are bioreactors? What's on the horizon for the next generation of bioreactor technology? All this and more on today's episode.

Guests:

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton)

Additional Resources:

• Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from agricultural drainage water by a modular bioreactor
• Bioreactor research
• 3 takeaways from the Conservation Drainage Network’s annual meeting
• Edge of field N and P reduction strategies: What to know about conservation drainage practices
• Nitrogen Smart

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at [email protected].

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.