CropTalk

Asking someone to go through the motions without expectations and purpose is enough to turn any passionate go-getter into an underproductive cog.  Radical transparency in an organization is often what separates mediocre and great businesses.  That's why we asked Matt Marshall, Owner of Qi Consulting Group, to join us for a #LeadersTalkCrops series CropTalk podcast.  In this conversation, Matt deta...

As growers, we have the opportunity to grow more than plants.  We can foster the growth of people.  Growth in the people that we work with and especially those that work for us.  Providing something meaningful, other than a paycheck, is part of the formula to retain front line associates over time.  This is an important topic for the Cannabis industry. That's why we had Tim Nolan , a passionate le...

What are the three fundamental dimensions of light? How does different #lighting affect the various insects on your plants? What are some leading hypotheses for her studies and how is she approaching them? How can you send her your russet mites? Because, yes, she wants some shipped to her lab. Bobby Shearer talks with Professor Laura Ingwell from Purdue University about her new line of research ex...

On this episode of the CropTalk series #KyleTalksAgTech, Kyle Barnett speaks with Ian Kanski - Director for the Center for Advanced Agriculture and Sustainability at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Chairman of the Board for the FarmTech Society, and co-founder of INTAG Systems. We discuss his journey from tech to Controlled Environment Agriculture, the lessons he's learned along t...

No, you don't have to let your land rest in between crops. It's time to ditch the fallow period. Leaving land fallow can result in significant land erosion, especially in the Southwest United States. Robert Masson, Agricultural Extension Agent for Yuma County and the University of Arizona, joined as a guest on the #LeadersTalkCrops series of CropTalk, to explain the benefits of minimizing fallow p...

How did Indian farmers control pests and disease prior to conventional pesticides? 👉 Using the control methods of, what we now consider, Integrated Pest Management. They did it without pesticides because they had no other choice. With what we now understand about pesticide dangers and their use in food production, it seems that Indian farmers will eventually face the same dilemma with no other ch...

As a grower of a crop that has strict food safety standards, it seems you have a couple of options:  You can look at food safety regulations with a fixed, the glass is half-empty , mindset while you just get by.  Or, you can look at the glass half-full of opportunity for your company to be different . You can see consistent compliance as a way to set yourself apart. To comply and thrive.  Gabe Jer...

Traditional horticulturalists and legacy Cannabis growers often don't see eye to eye on the definition of "flushing". Seems they don't agree on what the purpose of "flushing" is either. Some follow the "you've gotta flush for premium smokable cannabis" mindset. Some say "it ain't gonna make a difference". Seems it is one of the more disputed cultivation practices in the Cannabis industry and  Josh...

There are so many variables associated with producing a crop.  As growers, it is often our mission to control those variables to whatever extent we can.  When it comes to how we control them, the options seem to be endless.  The number of options can put a grower into " analysis paralysis ".  A state of mind where the waters of constant improvement get murkier and the details needed to be successf...

In this episode of #CropCareConvos, Bobby Shearer sits down with Patricia, co-owner of Sun Roots Farm, to explore the benefits of keeping alpacas on your farm. So, why are alpacas good for your farm? 1. Their poop is basically compost 2. They don't pull plants up by roots, but they're great lawnmowers who don't munch your cannabis plants 3. Light on their, soft pads = minimal soil compaction 4. Fl...

We've got to stop treating our soil like dirt.  👆 I'm not that clever. I read it in a book somewheres. It is easy to think that we are taking a step forward when till, we over mow and spray herbicide.  Couldn't be further from the truth.  In terms of crop quality potential, it is actually two steps back.  This seems to be especially true when talking about orchard floor management.  Thomas Macint...

Harnessing the power of photoperiodism is something that traditional horticulturalists have been doing for decades with ornamental crops such as Chrysanthemum and Poinsettia.  "Fascinating! But, what does that have to do with Hemp?!" you may ask.. According to Allison Justice, PhD. - a whole heck of a lot.  In fact, it could make or break your 2021 hemp crop.  Allison shares that as an industry we...

Are you going to be more physically fit if you eat Kale or Ice Cream all day? 🤔 👉 Kale 🌱 Are your predatory mites going to be more physically fit if they were raised on real or factitious prey?  Wait...there's a difference in predatory mite physical fitness based on their food source?! 🤯  Andrew Maltby, Owner of Biotactics & Producer of Benemite™, came onto the #LeadersTalkCrops series of Crop...

Do you enjoy air turbulence while riding on an airplane?  Your cannabis plants don't appreciate air turbulence either. What turbulence are we talking about here?!  The turbulence created from oscillating fans in a controlled environment cannabis crop.  It affects the crop microclimate and the photosynthetic activity of the plant much more than many understand.  But...what's an alternative?! Lamina...

Looking to hire a Cannabis grower for your cultivation operation?  Corey Lord, says that contrary to popular belief, hiring a "legacy" cannabis grower - one that doesn't have a degree in horticulture - might actually work to your advantage.   Corey had to get going when the going got tough. He attributes a lot of his accomplishments to being of the "learn-it-all" mindset.  In this episode of #Lead...

The cannabis industry can't stop talking about tissue culture.  But wait..what the heck is tissue culture?!  Is it the same as micropropagation?!  🤷‍♂️ 🤷‍♀️ is a typical response.  That's why it was important to have Conor Stephen, a Masters Student at Cornell University, onto CropTalk to give us the perspective we need to better understand what this practice is all about.  Here's a sneak peek. ...

On this episode of the CropTalk series #KyleTalksAgTech, Kyle Barnett speaks with Aaron Fields of Eden Greens Technology where he's growing with a unique vertical system in the greenhouse. We also discuss his journey in horticulture and the lessons he's learned along the way.

It seems there are two things that drive John Harrison.  Passion and determination.  John Harrison, the Founder of AGR1, was a guest on CropTalk under the series #MyFirstCrop. John was in the pre-production and capital raise stage of the AGR1 journey.  Since then, a lot has happened. Including growing quality produce and kicking single-use plastics on the AGR1 farm.  John is passionate about his r...

Growing up in the family floriculture business, Drew Guffey, learned a thing or two about stretching his father's dime.  Input costs are what ultimately drive the bottom line in most horticulture businesses.  The same applies to the cultivation of Cannabis (low THC hemp or medicinal/recreational).  Crop health and protection products are typically a large line item in the cultivation budget.  In t...

What makes a cannabis cultivar commercially viable ?  How can someone utilize and then preserve legendary and heirloom cannabis genetics that they've had for decades? What can an individual do to control their own supply of personalized medicine that works specifically for them ? Those are just a few of the questions that Douglas Klier , Founder of Elite Phenos , answers, in detail during this #Le...

Each #CropDebate brings together two experts in a particular field of study to debate a controversial position. Each may or may not agree wholeheartedly with either position and most often will probably see value in both. But for the sake of entertainment in education, they're going to argue it out with facts! Our first #CropDebate is expected to bee a real buzz!! This is a common debate in applie...

On the second of this two-part episode of the CropTalk series, #KyleTalksAgtech, Kyle Barnett speaks with Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University) and John Jackson (The University of Arizona) about their new company SIGS (Sustainable Indoor Growing Systems). Learn how these two are helping growers create superior plants and maximize yields using vertical farming technology.

Milton Ganyard PhD. was employing integrated pest management practices before the term "integrated pest management" was coined.  As a career entomologist and farmer who's been at it for over fifty years, he's seen a whole mess of problems.  He's also come up with a slew of solutions.  In this conversation, Milton shares how he came to understand integrated pest management, how it has evolved in hi...

On the first of this two-part episode of the CropTalk series, #KyleTalksAgtech, Kyle Barnett speaks with Ricardo Hernandez (North Carolina State University) and John Jackson (The University of Arizona) about their new company SIGS (Sustainable Indoor Growing Systems). Learn how these two are helping growers create superior plants and maximize yields using vertical farming technology.

Climbing CBD mountain with prize-winning #SmokableHempFlower genetics, breeding and sewing feminized hemp seed nationally and internationally, planning and designing your hemp crop's THC compliance, navigating the total THC IFR halloween trainwreck, low MOQ for boutique and craft #SmokableHemp cultivators, free sample seeds, millions of seeds for agriculture at scale; a lengthy, rich and intense d...