Agronomy Highlights

Date recorded: December 8, 2022 Listen in as we discuss the fundamentals of herbicide resistance with one of our resident weed control experts, Mr. Dwight Lingenfelter. Beginning with the basics,  we go through several scenarios of different resistant weeds in a variety of cropping systems. If you think you’ve got resistant weeds in your fields, then this episode will have some very valuable insig...

Date recorded: 11/30/2022 From planting to variety selection to pest management and end utilization, all aspects of producing this interesting plant were covered in depth. If you’ve ever wondered what it might take to grow a crop of sunflowers, then give this one a listen! Useful Links:  North Dakota State Sunflower Production Guide   North Dakota Sunflower Nitrogen Calculator   Hosts: Joseph Akin...

Recorded: 11/8/2022 In this episode, we discussed the interesting concept of growing cover crops as living mulch within a cash crop. This advanced cover cropping technique is both thought-provoking and challenging. From the establishment of such a system to pest management and all the benefits and obstacles in between, this conversation with Dr. Nick Basinger is sure to make you wonder about what’...

Recorded: 10/25/2022 Today's episode is focused on one of the most damaging but often overlooked pests of soybeans, the infamous Heterodera glycines , better known as the Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN). We discuss the distribution of SCN, common symptoms associated with an infestation, how to sample for SCN, as well as tactics producers can employ to reduce the damage from this pest. Tune in and...

Recorded: 10/25/22 We are digging deep into the value of maintaining healthy soil biology. Our topics range from tiny microbes to the mighty ground beetle, with every springtail and protozoa in between! This discussion is valuable for folks who are just as interested in the below-ground portion of their fields as the above-ground portion.    Helpful Links: Soil Your Undies Managing Soil Health: Co...

Recorded: 9/23/22 This episode focuses on the potential benefits of using cover crops as a tool for weed suppression. Topics include species selection and mixes, interseeding, termination strategies, residue management and more. Whether you’re thinking of getting started with cover cropping or already using them, this episode has valuable information for you.  Helpful Links: Cover Crops and Residu...

Recorded: 8/31/22 In this episode, we speak with Ginger Fenton from Mercer County about the emotional roller coaster that is farming. We begin with the basics of what mental health is and how to maintain it. We then venture into the specifics of what makes managing a farm both very challenging and rewarding. Join us to find out more about the resources available for producers seeking to improve th...

Recorded: 8/29/22 In this episode, we dive into the topic of carbon sequestration. How do we sequester carbon? What are carbon credits, and how do I begin to learn more about the possibility of selling carbon credits? Tune in to find out more!  Helpful Links: Penn State’s Center for Agricultural and Shale Law h Penn State Extension Article on Carbon Sequestration and Credits   “Carbon Markets in P...

Recorded 7/29/22 Today, we are talking about field corn assessment late in the season. We’ll cover how to assess pollination, the importance of the grain-fill process, insect and disease issues, and evaluating fields as we finish off this season’s crop.  Helpful Links: Determine corn pollination with Bob Nielsen, Purdue University with this ear shake test video. Handy Bt Trait Table Abnormal corn...

Date Recorded: 7/25/22 Today we’re joined by one of Penn State’s insect specialists, Dr. John Tooker. In the show, we discuss a broad range of topics related to field crop insects, including: The current level of pest pressure across the commonwealth, the importance of scouting and using thresholds, the value of beneficials, and much more! Join us here to get a healthy dose of entomology.   Hosts:...

On this episode we are joined by Andrew Frankenfield, who is a farmer as well as a field and forage crops educator with Penn State Extension out of Montgomery county. Here we discuss the effects of high input prices, farm budgeting, equipment maintenance, the value of hay, and the general challenges of the economic situation we currently find ourselves in. Useful Links: Crop input prices article E...

Date Recorded: 7/26/22 The dynamic disease duo of Dr. Alyssa Collins and Dr. Paul Esker join us on this episode to discuss a newer disease of interest in corn, tar spot. We start off by covering the general level of disease pressure currently being observed across the state, and soon after, get into all things tar spot. Listen in to find out the history, distribution, symptoms, and control of this...

Recorded 7/21/22 Welcome to the first episode of Agronomy Highlights! Today we’re joined by weed specialist Dwight Lingenfelter, who is a highly valuable resource for Pennsylvania farmers. We start by covering the basics of integrated weed management and then dive deep into how and when to control problematic weeds in pastures.  Useful links: Agronomy Guide: https://extension.psu.edu/the-penn-stat...