Getting your crops off to a healthy start is critically important to your yield come harvest time. Do you put down fertility at time of planting? If so, are you and your crops getting the maximum bang for your buck? Damian Mason talks to Kelly Garrett and AgroLiquid’s Aaron Stahl about three considerations for a more effective starter fertilizer program on every farm — seed safety, nutritional balance, and compatibility. With so much riding on early plant development, it’s important you get this right! 

This episode is presented by CLAAS

Temple Rhodes and his daughter took a field trip to visit Kelly Garrett's Iowa farm this winter. What they saw inspired Temple to up his soil health practices. Temple and Kelly talk with Damian about their agronomic evolution. Temple has been using cover crops for thirty years but this year he’s diversifying the species he plants. He’s also going to utilize cattle to increase carbon transfer and break down residue. If you’re ready to enhance your soil, listen to this fun and fast-moving discussion. 

This episode is presented by CLAAS

On-farm grain storage today resembles what would have been a good-sized country elevator just a few years ago. The bins are bigger, the driers are faster, and the costs are much higher. Before spending money improving your grain infrastructure, listen to tips from a grain set-up expert and two guys who made several mistakes in constructing their grain facility.  XA’s Chad Henderson along with his cousin Stuart Sanderson describe the steps (and missteps) in the ongoing expansion of their grain structure. They are joined by Superior Grain Equipment's Rodie Jelleberg. Damian Mason leads this informative discussion. 

This episode is presented by CLAAS

Kelly Garrett and his oldest son, Connor “Vern” Garrett, met with their farm’s financial and grain marketing advisor to strategize on their 2024 cropping mix. Upon putting pen to paper, soybean production looked like a loser. This, following losses of $300 per soybean acre in 2023, spurred some creative cropping ideas. Among them: They’re cutting way back on soybeans. But rather than rolling corn on corn, they’re experimenting with cover crops and cattle on would-be soybean acres. This will involve intensive management and a new way of looking at farm returns. Kelly and Connor explain.  

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘊𝘓𝘈𝘈𝘚

Lee Lubbers and his sibling Terry have navigated through numerous challenges at their agricultural enterprise in Gregory, South Dakota. These challenges include not only literal weather disturbances but also financial tumults. Facing a less than optimistic forecast for commodity prices in 2024, Lee offers advice on generating profit during tough economic periods. Damian Mason talks to Lee about the implementation of the 5% rule, a strategy he acquired at TEPAP (The Executive Program for Agricultural Producers) and his approach to conserving operational funds to seize potential opportunities.

This episode of Cutting The Curve is presented by Claas.

In today's advanced agricultural landscape, accurately measuring soil moisture levels remains a challenge. The signs are clear when your soil is oversaturated, such as when you find yourself sinking into the field during the early spring. Similarly, the peak of summer in August unmistakably signals that your soils are in desperate need of hydration. But determining the exact levels of saturation and dryness can be perplexing. Beyond these obvious signs, for the majority of the year, farmers are left to speculate on the moisture content within different layers of soil. Damian Mason talks with Kurt Grimm of NutraDrip and Kelly Garrett about a new satellite technology that is helping farmers understand moisture levels across their fields, enabling more informed and precise agricultural decisions.

Presented by Advanced Drainage Systems

In the challenging agricultural landscape of 2024, where every dollar counts, it's crucial for farmers to rethink their fertilizer application strategies. AgroLiquid's expert, Galynn Beer, warns that adhering to standard fertilizer application recommendations could potentially lead to a loss of $100 per acre given the average yield. This insight comes as part of a vital discussion on fertility tactics in a market facing declining crop prices, hosted by XtremeAg's Damian Mason and Kelly Garrett.

As a farm manager, your role becomes even more significant in times of economic pressure. The key question is: How can you sustain soil health, achieve satisfactory yields, and still ensure financial stability? This discussion offers practical and effective methods for farmers to optimize their fertility investments. Tune in to learn about these strategies and safeguard your farm's profitability in today's tough commodity market.

Johnny Verell performed a phosphorous application reduction trial on corn.  He re-apportioned part of the money he saved into an application of Source from SoundAg. The results: less phosphorous applied, money saved even after using Source, and increased yields. The trial was overseen by Brewer Blessit of Blythe Bayou Research and Consulting. Brewer and Johnny discuss a future of reduced “P” applications - for reasons of economics and environmental regulation.