Agriscience Explained

In today’s episode, we’re following a molecule around the world, from being discovered in Japan to being developed in the United States to becoming a solution for farmers in the United Kingdom. Joining us is one of those farmers in the UK, Julian Gibbons. Julian has seen a variety of fungicide solutions come and go for important wheat diseases like Septoria tritici, or speckled leaf blotch. He’s r...

We celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Pioneer Seeds, and take a look back at the history of hybridization. The process may seem simple: to take two varieties or even species and cross them together to create more desirable offspring. But the concept of controlled hybridization, intentionally transferring pollen from a chosen male parent to a chosen female parent, is relatively new in the hist...

What does it take to break the world soybean yield record? Today we talk to soybean yield record-holder Alex Harrell and soybean breeder Don Kyle. Alex farms in southwest Georgia with his dad where they primarily grow soybeans, corn, wheat and watermelon. In 2023, he became the first farmer to record a soybean yield of over 200 bushels per acre. The next year he beat his own record coming in at 21...

In today's episode, we explore how agriscience has created a more valuable soybean. A soybean that gets the farmer more money, a dairy farm who buys it more profit, and has the added benefit of supporting a local agricultural economy. This is the story of Plenish soybeans.  We are joined by Dairy scientist Dr. Bill Mahanna who works for Corteva Agriscience and manages Pioneer’s Global Nutrition Sc...

On today’s episode we uncover some critical details about one of the most destructive and adaptable insect pests in corn: corn rootworm. It has been referred to as the billion dollar pest for several years, and the reality is it’s probably closer to the two billion dollar pest now in terms of damages. To explore the impact and management of corn rootworm we are joined by Clint Pilcher, Ph. D., who...

On today’s episode, we celebrate the end of our first full year of the podcast by taking a look back at some previous episodes in order to take a look forward into the future of agriscience. In the spirit of Agriscience Explained and the fact that we believe true ag innovation has to be farmer-led, we’ve invited an innovative farmer to join the show for this episode.  Tim Nuss of Nuss Farms operat...

 On today's episode: Why did we see so much southern rust in the 2025 corn crop? We talk about this foliar disease, where it comes from, the impact it had on the crop and what farmers can do to better manage it going forward. We'll also explore some fascinating agriscience happening that will give farmers better protection against crop diseases like southern rust in the future. To guide us through...

Today’s episode dives deep into creating a comprehensive and integrated approach to weed management. Agriscience has proven that we can make effective products, but can we make those effective products last? This process of preserving our latest and greatest tools is called stewardship. In this episode we take a deep dive into what it looks like to create solutions with stewardship in mind from th...

One scientist's vacation 30 years ago is a big reason why you don’t end up with caterpillars in your lettuce today. The class of chemistry derived from this remarkable bacteria is called Spinsoyns based on the scientific name for the bacteria, Saccaropolyspora spinosa.  To tell this incredible story of a bacteria discovered in an unlikely location, we’re joined by Jesse Richardson, a field scienti...

Termites are not typically considered an agricultural pest, but they are a great example of how science, in particular biology, can be used to create better pest management solutions that have real economic impacts.  Termites cost U.S. homeowners at least $5 billion per year. The landmark innovation in termite pest control happened about 30 years ago, with a partnership between Corteva Agriscience...

On today’s episode we explore the incredible power of seed applied technology. Seed treatments are incredible tools that help protect the seed and seedling plant in the first 10-30 days of development. The fact that the technology is delivered on the seed itself without having to spray or make any sort of extra pass with equipment makes this area of agriscience sometimes overlooked or even underap...

On today’s episode, what goes into the traits farmers can purchase with their seed? How are these traits found, developed and ultimately packaged into crop genetics? Julian Chaky who leads the trait characterization and development team at Corteva Agriscience joins us to explain how the genetic traits are found, developed and packaged into usable crops. Joining Chaky is a sixth generation farmer i...

In today’s episode, we sat down with farmer and podcaster Corey Hillebo and Corteva Agriscience chief technology and digital officer Sam Eathington. Hillebo and Eathington help us to better understand how to unlock agriscience innovation, both at the farm level and at the corporate level.    “Can we use the science to find another crop or crops for Iowa? Like there's no doubt with Brazil coming on...

In today’s episode: agriscience versus nature. The ability to farm land productively and profitably requires that farmers bend nature to their will on some level. But that doesn’t mean that farmers and scientists can’t find ways to work with nature, minimize off-target effects and conserve biodiversity. A great model species to think about these concepts related to farming and nature is the honeyb...

 In today's episode, the challenge and opportunity of hybrid wheat. We've discussed previously how much hybrid corn has increased corn yields over the past century. Wheat is an important crop around the world; but why haven't hybrids been commercialized in the same way? Today we take a look at how agriscience is changing the game for hybrid wheat. Corteva Agriscience is on the cusp of making hybri...

In today’s episode, we start to unpack the category of biologicals. Are biological products ready for prime time on the farm, or still struggling to prove their return on investment? Where are biologicals finding traction and what are the barriers and opportunities for this category going forward?  To begin to peel back some of the layers of this nuanced topic, we’ll speak with Corteva researcher...

In this episode, what would a truly renewable biofuel look like? Well, the feedstock would have to come from a crop that is productive, profitable, and resilient to grow. And one that has a low carbon intensity score that’s going to displace minimal amounts of acres of other cash crops. Could winter canola be that crop? It’s sure looking that way, in the mid-south at least.  Today we hear from Cha...

 In today's episode: how can technology help with timing on the farm? We're talking specifically about fungicide applications and a tool that uses the power of artificial intelligence to signal when the optimal time is for a fungicide application within the spectrum of timing per label directions. Today you’ll hear from Corteva Agriscience research scientist Layton Peddicord about this fungicide t...

In this episode, we’re going to dive even deeper into the science and behind making reduced stature corn a reality. Plant physiologist Jeff Habben has been with Corteva Agriscience for about 30 years and has developed a tremendous depth of knowledge and expertise about how corn and soybean plants grow, develop and function.  “ Hormones are very powerful molecules, and so what you can do is that yo...

 In today's episode: Does corn really need to be so tall? It's time to explore this concept of reduced stature corn, otherwise commonly referred to as short corn. When you picture a mature cornfield, I imagine you're probably thinking of tall green stalks, towering overhead, and there are some agronomic advantages and disadvantages to this. So some corn breeders are developing varieties that are i...

In today’s episode we dive into a critical topic that is usually hidden in plain sight: formulation science. It’s easy to think of agricultural products as straightforward chemistries that get sprayed from a tank. An insecticide is an insecticide; a fungicide is a fungicide. The active ingredient is what is going to give us the outcome we want. But a product is not just made up of that active ingr...

In today’s episode: what might it look like to create a better cover crop system? A group of researchers and farmers are seeking to answer this question. Cover crops can help reduce soil erosion, preserve soil biology, build organic matter, suppress weeds and improve water and nutrient retention. So why do fewer than 10% of US row crop acres incorporate cover crops? There is risk involved. The see...

Digital agriculture, decision science and generative artificial intelligence (AI) all converge into a new tool for agronomists and seed sales reps. How will this enhance the way trusted advisors make recommendations to farmers?  Imagine you're an agronomist traveling from farm to farm. You have an assistant riding along in your passenger seat who can answer your every question about product inform...

In today’s episode, we look into the path forward for gene editing in agriculture. What will that look like for farmers and for consumers?  In our last episode we clarified some of the key differences between gene editing and transgenic crops, or what most know as GMOs. Transgenic crops have been widely adopted over the past 30 years, but very few gene edited crops are currently on the market. Why...

In today’s episode, we begin to explore the tremendous opportunities that are emerging as a result of gene editing. This ability to apply cutting-edge technology to crops is distinctly different from transgenic or GMO approaches, and its impact could be even greater on the future of food and agriculture.  It shouldn’t seem far-fetched that breakthroughs in genetics can really impact things on the...