Minnesota CropCast Podcast
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Item Minnesota CropCast - Tom Hoverstad – Minnesota April Planting and Weather Update(2024-04-23) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota CropCast has as its guest Tom Hoverstad, Researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN. Tom provides an update about this season’s weather and its effect so far on the growth of the area’s corn and soybean crops. In addition, Tom discusses in detail that this winter at the Waseca Research and Outreach Center was the mildest recorded since 1931; a full 10 degrees warmer than normal. The snowfall total was only 15.5 inches, which was 37 inches less than normal. Tom also reviews his guidelines for the successful planting and establishment of desired corn and soybean stands this April. Finally, Tom provides an in-depth analysis about the significant changes in weed species and management over the last thirty years across southern Minnesota.Item Minnesota CropCast - Announcing two premiere field crop programs for 2024(2024-05-09) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s CropCast from University of Minnesota Extension has as its guests, Liz Stahl, Extension educator - crops, and Dr. Bob Koch, Extension soybean entomologist and Director of Extension’s Institute for Agricultural Professionals. Liz provided an overview of the online U of MN Extension’s Strategic Farming program which is designed to address crop-related concerns in a weekly, research-based webinar with specialists in the field. Liz described how Strategic Farming's summer program, Field Notes, features live, interactive discussions with crop specialists addressing in-season issues as they arise. The series began May 8 and will continue through August on Wednesdays from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Crop producers and other ag professionals are invited to join for timely topics including weather, insect and disease issues, soil fertility concerns, agronomics, and more. You need to register only once to attend any or all webinars. Recordings of Field Notes sessions will be available as a podcast shortly after each live session at z.umn.edu/strategic-farming. Bob provided an overview of the 2024 Field School for Ag Professionals, which will be held July 30 and 31 at the University of Minnesota Agriculture Experiment Station in St. Paul. This two-day, in-field summer event combines hands-on, interactive training with real-world field scenarios. The Field School program is targeted toward agronomists, crop production retailers, seed dealers, consultants, crop protection industry representatives, Extension educators, government agency personnel, and summer field scouts. The first day of the Field School program focuses on core principles in agronomy, entomology, weed and soil sciences to build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge. The second day builds on this foundation with timely, cutting-edge topics that participants can self-select. Bob provided an in-depth discussion of the Field School sessions during the podcast. Detailed session descriptions of educational sessions and registration information may also be found at: https://extension.umn.edu/event/field-school-ag-professionalsItem Minnesota CropCast - Dealing with Early Season Weather Concerns for the 2024 Corn and Soybean Crops(2024-05-22) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethIn episode 35 Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve chat with Dr. Jeff Coulter, University of Minnesota Extension Corn Agronomist about early season precipitation, soil crusting and plant assessment of the 2024 corn crop in Minnesota. In addition, Seth, U of MN Extension Soybean Specialist, discussed how these same factors can affect soybean fields this spring. Jeff discussed delayed corn planting dates, desired soil conditions, corn planting populations and when to change corn maturity hybrid planting dates. Seth also discussed in detail the results of delayed soybean planting date research and recommendations for soybean planting populations.Both Jeff and Seth referenced the University of Minnesota Extension Crop Management Web pages for Corn (https://extension.umn.edu/corn/corn-planting) and Soybeans (https://extension.umn.edu/soybean/soybean-planting) as excellent starting points to review guidelines, best practices and potential issues for planting as well as seeding rates based on University of Minnesota applied research trials. In summary: Jeff discussed May and June corn planting windows, survival of flooded corn, populations that are adequate when not at optimal levels and recommendations for supplemental nitrogen fertilizer if needed. Seth discussed the scouting of early planted soybeans under weather stress, how recent rains were actually beneficial to alleviating some soil crusting and the awareness that seed treatments, while helpful, are not considered a long-term season long protection if wet soil conditions are excessive. Seth referred to the U of MN soybean management web pages which indicate that soybean planting in general as of May 22ndt can result in 90-95% of maximum yield while dropping to less than 90% of maximum yield as of May 29.Item Minnesota CropCast - Kenneth Blumenfeld - Spring of 2024: Is this Normal Minnesota Weather?(2024-06-06) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota CropCast has as its guest Dr. Kenneth Blumenfeld, Senior Climatologist, Minnesota State Climate Office. Kenny provides an update about this season’s unusually excessive precipitation and its effect on the state’s field crops. In addition, Kenny discusses in detail that this winter and spring’s weather represents some unusual extremes not only in precipitation but also in atmospheric temperatures. Kenny also reviews how the warm but very dry conditions across Minnesota in January and February of 2024, led to a more active pattern and brought much wetter conditions to the state during the spring, along with continued warmth. Meteorological Spring, March through May, exceeded the 1991-2020 average (or "normal") precipitation across all of Minnesota, with about half the state exceeding normal precipitation by over 50%. March began on a very dry note, with extreme warmth. Kenny points to several excellent examples of the extreme variability of recent weather events such as in the Twin Cities, where a run of 33 days with no measurable precipitation that began on February 16th and continued through March 20th. This became the 2nd longest streak without measurable precipitation on record and lead to the opportunity for early season spring field work in out-state, Minnesota. More recently, the proportion of Minnesota with above-normal precipitation grew to about 90% during April, with only the far north and a small part of the southeast coming in dry. However, by contrast, only 14 out of 30 days with measurable precipitation in the Twin Cities were warmer than normal for the date, meaning that wet days were slightly more likely to be cool. Season long, spring was warm, but it likely would have been even warmer without the switch to wet conditions, thus explaining the recent slower emergence of weeds and some field crops due to lower temperatures.Item Minnesota CropCast - Roger Becker - A Weed scientist of another flavor(2024-08-08) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota CropCast has as its guest Dr. Roger Becker, an Extension Weed Scientist in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. Roger grew up in southwest Iowa on a beef and grain farm. It was while he was attending Iowa State University (ISU) that he became interested in field research. This led him to an internship at Monsanto with a weed scientist and then to graduate school at ISU in Weed Science. Dr. Becker came to the University of Minnesota in 1987 where his long and winding professional career began in earnest. Roger’s research and Extension activities focused on issues of great contemporary importance where professional voids occurred. For example, his earliest work was around groundwater contamination with herbicides that focused on weed management in forage crops. Later, when a colleague in the Horticulture department who supported weed control for sweetcorn producers retired, Roger took on this role as well.Dr. Becker began closely working with MDA and DNR when purple loosestrife was put on the noxious weeds list. This weed was the thread that really connected Roger with the invasive species as well as the biocontrol, and regulatory communities. Roger has been an instrumental player in the biocontrol of invasive weed species ever since. With Dr. Becker nearing retirement, this conversation reminds us of both the importance of Roger’s work, but also the varied and meandering route that academics sometimes take to make the largest impact for their clientele. Please join Dave and Seth for another interesting MN CropCast episode.Item Minnesota CropCast - Early season weed management, May 2023(2023-05-22) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethDave Nicholai gives an update on planting progress with Seth Naeve and discusses weed management tactics early in the season with Dr. Debalin Sarangi. Weeds such as waterhemp are already emerging with the warming temperatures. They focus on herbicide options for weed management, especially how to time pre-emerge and post-emergence options along with possible tank-mix strategies.Item Minnesota CropCast - Sugar beet Update: 2023 Planting and Weed control in Minnesota(2023-06-01) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s University of Minnesota Extension “Minnesota CropCast” has as its first guest: Dr. Tom Peters, Extension Sugar beet Weed Specialist for the University of Minnesota and North Dakota State University. Tom provided an update on sugar beet planting progress and challenges this spring for both the Red River Valley and southern Minnesota sugar beet planting areas. In addition, Tom reviewed the major weed problems, herbicide options and what the future may hold in terms of new herbicide technologies. Finally, Tom provided an in-depth update about his 2023 weed control research programs.Item Minnesota CropCast - Tom Hoverstad: A Career in Weed Research at the Waseca Research and Outreach Center, what's new and what has changed(2023-06-07) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s University of Minnesota Extension "Minnesota CropCast” has as its guest Tom Hoverstad, Researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, MN. Tom provided an update about this season’s weather and its effect so far on the growth of the area’s corn and soybean crops. In addition, Tom reviewed his major crop and weed research protocols at Waseca, herbicide options and what the future may hold in terms of new herbicide technologies. Finally, Tom provided an in-depth analysis about the significant changes in weed species and management over the last thirty years across southern Minnesota.Item Minnesota CropCast - A Comprehensive Review and Recommendations for Soybean Aphid Management in 2024 from Dr. Robert Koch, University of Minnesota Extension Entomologist(2024-08-21) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s University of Minnesota Extension Minnesota CropCast has as its guest Dr. Robert Koch, an Extension Entomologist in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. Bob provided a comprehensive review and status of the Soybean Aphid infestations currently affecting commercial soybean acreage in Minnesota. Bob reviewed the basic biology and movement of soybean aphid over the years in Minnesota as well as the current economic thresholds for treatment. Bob emphasized that while correct field scouting techniques are important so are the scouting protocols for aphids on a regular basis through the early R6 (full seed) growth stage of soybeans. Also, he provided an in-depth discussion about the options for commercial insecticides when comparing the efficacy of single mode of action products compared to the use of mixtures of various foliar application products now on the marketplace. Finally, the use of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) techniques and the preservation of beneficial insects for aphid control was addressed as a major component of overall soybean aphid management.Item Minnesota CropCast - Dr. Aaron Lorenz: Leading the University of Minnesota Soybean Breeding program in the 21st century(2023-06-13) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThe Minnesota CropCast podcast has as its guest today, Dr Arron Lorenz, Professor in Soybean Breeding and Genetics at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Lorenz, who grew up on a farm in Southwest Minnesota, provided his background, including his academic journey to his present position as a researcher in the development of soybean varieties and genetics. Dr. Lorenz provided specifics about how the University of Minnesota soybean research program provides training for graduate students, soybean varieties for Minnesota Crop Improvement, develops new soybean breeding techniques and licenses soybean genetic materials to major private soybean companies.Item Minnesota CropCast - Water management for Minnesota producers: A discussion with Vasudha Sharma Irrigation Specialist at the University of Minnesota(2023-06-27) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethVasudha Sharma, Irrigation Specialist at the University of Minnesota was a guest for the University of Minnesota Extension CropCast podcast. Vasu discusses and highlights her funded research projects at the University of Minnesota, which aim to understand the impact of water management strategies on crop yield and nitrate leaching. Vasu’s research projects include the following:· Evaluating the performance of different irrigation scheduling methods and their impact on corn production and nitrate leaching in the central sands region of Minnesota.· Development and expansion of a web-based intelligent agricultural irrigation management tool (Irrigation Management Assistant) for Minnesota.· Evaluating and developing precision irrigation and nitrogen management strategies for enhancing water-nitrogen use efficiency.· Understanding the impact of soil health management systems on infiltration, water holding capacity and leaching potential.Currently, Dr. Sharma is advising two Ph.D. students, one M.S. student, and one undergraduate student, in the Department of Soil, Water, and ClimateItem Minnesota CropCast - Seth Naeve: Promoting Minnesota Soybeans Abroad(2023-06-20) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week’s special guest is also co-host, Soybean Agronomist Dr. Seth Naeve. Seth talks about why he traveled to Indonesia last week and what makes Indonesia relevant to farmers from the upper Midwest. Seth spends about half of his research and extension efforts on soybean quality. He regularly travels to North and Southeast Asia to meet with soybean importers, feed millers, animal nutritionists, and other end-users. His primary message is that protein is not a good indicator by itself of soybean or soybean meal quality and does not determine the value of these feed ingredients for most purchasers whereas amino acid content and other factors need to be considered when purchasing soybeans. His goal is to increase demand for soybeans produced in the Western Corn Belt to support local soybean prices for farmers.Item Minnesota CropCast - Soybeans in the Badger State: A Discussion with Dr. Shawn Conley(2023-07-11) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethWhether you know him as Dr. Conley, @BadgerBean, or CoolBean Conley, every discussion with Shawn is a memorable one, and today’s MN CropCast is no different. In Episode #7, Shawn chats with Seth and David about soybean conditions in Wisconsin, and the challenges of raising soybean after cover crops and under no-till, especially in tough years like this one. He is a big idea guy, so he is not shy about sharing his vision of the future of soybean research, while discussing A.I. and Big Data approaches to solving tomorrow’s production challenges.Item Minnesota CropCast - Jake Jungers talks Kernza and new agricultural systems for Minnesota.(2023-07-18) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethDr. Jake Jungers is one of the newest and brightest faculty in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics at the University of Minnesota. He is passionate about taking on some of today’s toughest challenges in agriculture: improving the quality of the state’s water and soil resources. He sees a future landscape less reliant on annual row-crops like corn and soybean, and is focused on the perennial, intermediate wheatgrass or Kernza. Dr. Jungers talks with David and Seth about the challenges of making a new crop profitable for Minnesota farmers and how they are starting to utilize it today.Item Minnesota CropCast - Plant Breeding for Tomorrow: Dr Kevin Smith is improving multiple crops for Minnesota’s future(2023-07-25) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethDr. Kevin Smith is best known for leading the University of Minnesota Barley Breeding program. Kevin has been forced to react to changes in plant diseases, economic challenges from other crops, and evolving demands of the brewing industry, but he has new varieties that will be in your beer soon. In this episode he talks with David and Seth about the opportunities to develop varieties for a changing beer industry in the US. Kevin also leads the breeding efforts for another traditional Minnesota crop, oat. Kevin talks about oat’s unique challenges and the opportunity to compete with Canadian production. Finally, Dr. Smith is working to domesticate a crop for tomorrow, Silphium. Kevin speaks briefly of the challenges in crop domestication. - Silphium integrifolium is a native perennial plant in the sunflower family.Item Minnesota CropCast - An Update from the MN Extension Soybean Entomology Program: Dr Robert Koch is improving insect management for Minnesota’s soybean growers(2023-08-04) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethDr. Robert Koch is best known for leading the U of MN’s soybean entomology program. Bob has been forced to react to changes in Minnesota’s insect, weather and economic challenges confronting Minnesota soybean growers. In this episode he talks with Dave Nicolai about his applied research and extension activities as well as his personal and academic background. Bob provided an update of his work concerning the management of soybean aphid such as control strategies when dealing with insecticide resistance. Bob and his lab personnel have conducted in-depth lab and field analysis of different insecticide resistance issues facing soybean growers in many areas of Minnesota. Bob has also provided leadership and close coordination with other Minnesota Integrated Pest Management specialists in the study and control options for new and invasive insects which can affect Minnesota soybeans such as the Gall Midge and other defoliator insects. Finally, Dr. Koch provided an update about the current 2023 soybean growing season as effected by the drought and an outlook for the rest of the growing season for insect issues. Dr. Koch has advised many graduate students and their research activities over the last several years and serves as resource for extension educators across Minnesota.Item Minnesota CropCast - Evaluating the 2023 corn and soybean crop in Minnesota and the Midwest: Record or Not?(2023-09-06) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethIn this episode, CropCast hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve visited with Mark Bernard, independent crop consultant and Tom Hoverstad, Researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center about the current condition of the Minnesota corn and soybean crop as we enter the month of September. Tom provided a review of the 2023 weather effects upon this year’s corn and soybean crops in the Waseca and southern Minnesota, while Mark reviewed the findings of the recent August Pro Farmer Crop Tour (Farm Journal) held in the Midwest. Mark participated in the eastern segment of the tour where he participated in crop yield assessments in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. Tom highlighted the effects of the fourth driest crop growing season since 1915 at Waseca and the yield and corn stalk quality outlook for the fall of 2023. Mark provided a re-cap of the yield estimates of both the national and Minnesota corn and soybean crops as well as how the procedures were used to make these estimates. In addition, our guests discussed the challenges of this year’s corn and soybean harvest as influenced by poor stalk quality, soybean stem diseases, dry soil conditions and weather challenges.Item Minnesota CropCast - Dr. Megan McCaghey: Complex solutions for complex crop diseases.(2023-08-09) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethThis week, Megan McCaghey joins hosts David Nicolai and Seth Naeve on Minnesota CropCast. Dr. McCaghey focuses her work on soilborne fungi affecting important Minnesota crops. She spends much of her time working on Phytophthora and Sclerotinia Stem Rot. Her position is not tied to individual crops or diseases allowing her to use her expertise to help more producers with more disease challenges. Dr. McCaghey also works with interdisciplinary teams to help solve some of the toughest challenges in crop diseases. She is especially interested in utilizing altered soybean canopy structure to reduce the incidence of white mold in soybean. Join David, Seth, and Megan for a fun(gi) discussion about crop diseases on this week’s Minnesota CropCast.Item Minnesota CropCast - Ed Usset: Grain Marketing is Simple (it's just not easy)(2024-09-16) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethEd Usset, Grain Marketing Economist Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota was the guest for episode 39 of Minnesota CropCast. Since 2001, Ed has been writing and executing marketing plans for his mythical farms; a corn and soybean operation in Southwestern Minnesota and a wheat farm in the Red River Valley of Northwestern Minnesota. Throughout the discussion, Ed emphasizes the importance for grain growers to forward price their grain based on understanding seasonal market patterns after harvest especially during times of lower commodity prices. He also reviews some of the common mistakes in marketing in terms of timing grain sales. Finally, the discussion covers how national production and international demand factors may impact the 2024-2025 marketing year.Item Minnesota CropCast - Dr. Craig Sheaffer Part 1: Forage Research at the University of Minnesota(2023-09-14) Nicolai, David; Naeve, SethDr. Craig Sheaffer has been on the faculty in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics since 1977. Dr. Sheaffer’s research has focused on forage production and has led to the authorship of around 275 scientific publications and scores of book chapters and extension publications. He has worked on pasture management and has focused on many species of forage crops. But his love is alfalfa. Craig sat down with David Nicoali and Seth Naeve to talk about his history at the University of Minnesota and his many collaborators, colleagues, and friends at The U. Craig discussed changes that he has seen in agriculture in Minnesota and talked about alfalfa varieties and the testing program over the years.This is part one of a two-part series that touches on some of the highlights of Dr. Sheaffer’s illustrious career. Part 1 emphasizes his research efforts while Part 2 will highlight his teaching career at the University of Minnesota.
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