Agronomy Answers Podcast

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty is joined by Darren Hefty to answer a question every corn grower has wondered: How early is too early to plant? They dive into the origin story of 40 Series corn, explain how early vigor, disease tolerance, seed treatment, and cold germination testing all work together to make early planting possible, and discuss why testing at 40 de...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty is joined by Hefty Naturals brand manager Matt Thompson to answer a question every grower has asked: Can you actually protect crops from heat, drought, and other weather stresses? They dive into the science behind abiotic stress, explain how products like plant growth regulators, amino acids, and biologicals work, and discuss why tim...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty sits down with Hefty Naturals brand manager Matt Thompson to dig into one of the most overlooked variables on any farming operation — water. They break down how your water source, whether it's a well or rural water supply, can directly impact the effectiveness of your herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and biologicals. From ha...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty sits down with his dad to unpack one of the most powerful lessons from the book Lessons From Dad — keep pushing. They dive into why comparing yourself to others is a trap, how to focus on your own gifts, and why every minute of every day is an opportunity to get better. Whether you farm, run a business, or just want to level up, this...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty debates his uncle Darren about the Top 3 tools that are must-haves when you're heading to the field to scouting your crops. What do you always take with you to your back 40? New episodes out weekly! Follow us on social media: Facebook: @heftyseed Instagram: @heftyseed TikTok: @heftyseed X: @heftyseed YouTube: @heftyseed To learn...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty is joined by Darren Hefty for a behind-the-scenes look at how Hefty Seed Company trains its agronomists. They discuss the balance between book knowledge and real-world field experience, why even veteran agronomists need ongoing training every season, and how unexpected challenges like southern rust or new insect pressure keep everyon...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty is joined by Matt Thompson to discuss how agronomy research is conducted and why large scale data matters for making better decisions. They explain how combining independent trials, internal testing, and real on farm strip trials helps validate results across different environments. They also highlight how collecting more data reduce...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty is joined by John Wiese, a research agronomist covering Minnesota and Iowa for Hefty Seed Company. They discuss John's unconventional path into agronomy — from diesel mechanics to the warehouse floor to the research team — and how years of hands-on experience shaped his expertise in seed and soil fertility. They also dig into evo...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, host Zach Hefty is joined by his dad Brian Hefty for another "Lessons from Dad" segment. They break down the idea that working more hours is a double win — you earn more while naturally spending less. Brian shares how he balanced long work hours with family priorities by making intentional trade-offs, cutting hobbies and social time rather...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast features Darren Hefty discussing how the Hefty brand of corn and soybeans got its start and the farming practices that shaped the business. The conversation traces the early days of raising seed crops and how careful field management, seed purity, and proper seed cleaning helped growers achieve better stands and more consistent results. They also explai...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, the discussion focuses on plant growth regulators and how they influence where a plant directs its energy during the growing season. The hosts explain how using the wrong product or applying it at the wrong time can confuse the plant and reduce yield potential. They also discuss situations in which these products may increase silage yield by increas...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers Podcast, the discussion focuses on seed lab testing and how those results translate to real-world field performance. The hosts break down key tests like germination, purity, and stress testing, and explain how they ensure seed quality and consistency. They also highlight how factors like cold and warm germination impact emergence and stand establishment in t...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast continues the Lessons from Dad series with Brian sharing lessons he learned from his dad about work ethic, preparation, and staying consistent when you are not the smartest in the room. He talks about the idea of making money with your back and making money with your pencil, what hard work really means beyond just long hours, and why thick skin and effo...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast features Glenn Herz, the head of research at Hefty Seed Company, sharing his path from growing up on a diversified farm in western North Dakota to leading research across multiple states. Glenn explains what Hefty research really involves, why testing changes over time, and how the team evaluates everything from seed genetics and traits to yield enhance...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast breaks down what is new in planter box Naturals and micronutrient delivery, and what growers need to watch out for to avoid poor results. The conversation covers how some biological technologies can help reduce corn rootworm pressure by masking plant signals and supporting root regrowth if feeding occurs. It also explains why mixing living biology with...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers Podcast, Zach Hefty sits down with Heidi Arneson, Certified Seed Lab Technician, to talk all things seed testing. Raised in agriculture, Heidi carved her own path in the industry and built a career in the seed lab. Heidi shares her journey to becoming a registered technician, including how long the certification process took and what it required. She also br...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast continues the Lessons from Dad series with Brian sharing lessons he learned from his dad about leadership, delegation, and building up the next generation. Brian explains why giving people real responsibility matters, how mistakes are part of growth, and why great team members get frustrated when they have no authority to make decisions. The conversatio...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast features Matt Thompson as he blind ranks a group of Hefty Naturals products based on real research plot results. Matt breaks down how research has reshaped his thinking, what separates versatile tools from niche fits, and why understanding soil conditions matters before choosing any natural product. He also explains why one product consistently stands o...

This episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast features Seth Hansen from the Hefty Seed research team as he talks about what long-term agronomy research really looks like. Seth explains why improvements in soil drainage, soil sampling, and fertility take time, but often lead to the biggest payoffs in the field. He also shares what excites him most about upcoming research, including new soybean trait...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, Zach introduces a new segment called Blind Rankings and puts Brian Hefty to the test. The challenge is simple but not easy. Brian has to rank tough to control weeds without knowing what is coming next. They work through five common problem weeds and discuss why some rise to the top based on resistance, seed production, geography, and real-world cont...

In this episode of the Agronomy Answers podcast, Zach is joined by Matt Thompson, Hefty Naturals brand manager, to explain what the herbicide tax is and why every foliar herbicide application comes with an energy cost to the crop. They break down what happens inside the plant after applications of products like glyphosate and dicamba, why early season timing matters, and how herbicide stress can q...

In this episode, Zach and his dad, Brian Hefty, launch a new segment called Lessons From Dad. The series is built around Brian’s book, Lessons From Dad, and the real-life principles he learned from his own father and later passed on to his family. They kick things off with the first lesson in the book, “$100 an Hour Jobs,” a mindset focused on time management, priorities, and understanding the tru...

In this episode, Zach sits down with Hefty Naturals Brand Manager Matt Thompson to answer a simple but important question: what are Hefty Naturals? Matt breaks down the Hefty Naturals portfolio, how these products work, and how growers should think about using biologicals, biostimulants, and related technologies on their farms. They cover the five core categories within Hefty Naturals, why educati...

In this episode, we unveil a brand-new segment on the Agronomy Answers podcast called Convince Me. This is where Zach sits down with his dad, Brian Hefty, or other guests and challenges them to convince him of a topic they feel strongly about. The topic up for debate is whether corn should be planted as early as possible. Brian lays out the case for early planting, covering yield potential, geneti...

In this episode, we dive into the story behind Hefty Naturals Brand Manager Matt Thompson. Matt grew up in a small Illinois farm town, started in grain trading, moved to Philadelphia for a corporate ag role, and eventually found his way to South Dakota and Hefty Seed. Matt shares how he got into agriculture, the twists and turns of his early career, what pulled him toward the Naturals side of the...