Minnesota CropCast

Is the future of corn production standing a little shorter? In this episode of the Minnesota Cropcast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Jeff Coulter , University of Minnesota Extension Corn Specialist, to explore a novel (and highly visual) shift in corn hybrid technology: short stature corn .  While traditional corn towers at 9 to 12 feet, new hybrids are keeping the canopy...

Special Guest: Ken Franzky, Agronomy Services Manager at Cenrol Crop Consulting.   Hosts: David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, and Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Soybean Specialist In Episode #68 of MN CropCast, we are thrilled to welcome Ken Franzky from Centrol Crop Consulting out of Marshall, MN. Ken Grew up on a farm in West Central Minnesota and graduated from the U...

Minnesota CropCast Episode #67: Head land Highlights Late April Field Report from NW, WC, and SC Minnesota Special Guests: Extension Educators Angie Peltier, Anthony Hanson, and Matt Pfarr Hosts: David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, and Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Soybean Specialist In Episode #67 of MN CropCast, we bring you another "Headland Highlights" to get you u...

Meet the New U of M Forage Agronomist & Headland Highlights, Forage Edition.   Special Guest: Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti Cremostim, Extension Forage Agronomist & State Specialist  Headland Highlights: Troy Salzer, Local Extension Educator (St. Louis County)  Hosts: David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, and Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Soybean Specialist In Episode #66...

Special Guest: Rob Holcomb, Regional Extension Educator in Farm Business Management (Marshall Regional Extension Office) Attention Minnesota farmers and agricultural producers! Are you up to speed on the latest state employment regulations impacting your operation? In Episode #65 of MN CropCast, hosts David Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Rob Holcomb to discuss a critical and timely topic: Mi...

In this special episode of Minnesota CropCast, the tables are turned as regular co-host Dr. Seth Naeve steps into the hot seat to share an inside look at his work on the international stage. As a University of Minnesota Extension Soybean Specialist, Seth doesn't just study how to grow a better bean—he travels the globe to convince international buyers why U.S. and Upper Midwest soybeans are the sm...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of our periodic summer series, "Headland Highlights." These special brief and timely episodes will reside right within our normal MN CropCast feed. For these segments, Dave and Seth will be calling on folks from around the state to get real-time check-ins on the status of local field activities and crops. Today, we are joined by Ryan Miller, who is an Extension Edu...

As planters prepare to roll across Minnesota this spring, farmers aren’t just thinking about getting the seed in the ground – they are also concerned about getting their old and new crops marketed to ensure that they can stay in the black In this timely episode of Minnesota CropCast , hosts Dave and Seth Naeve are joined in the studio by Ed Usset, Grain Marketing Economist with University of Minne...

In part two of this special weed management series, hosts Dave and Seth shift their focus from the chemistry of weed control to the cutting-edge application technologies revolutionizing the field. They discussed with Doctors Peters and Sarangi how artificial intelligence, robotics, and precision herbicide application equipment are changing the way growers target and eliminate weeds. From laser-wie...

In this episode of Minnesota CropCast, hosts Dave and Seth welcome two Extension Weed Specialists: Dr. Tom Peters (NDSU and U of MN Sugarbeet Weed Extension Specialist) and Dr. Debalin Sarangi (U of MN Extension Weed Specialist for corn and soybeans). Together, they dive into the latest field crop herbicides and modes of action available for the 2026 season and beyond, offering advice on managing...

Please join us for episode #59 of MN CropCast.  In this episode, Dave and Seth are diving deep into the DNA of the plants that feed us, and we are thrilled to sit down with Dr. Peter Morrell, a Professor of Computational Biology and Plant Genetics right here at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Morrell has had a fascinating journey to the U of M. He grew up in southern Oklahoma, earned his Ph. D. b...

This week, we are thrilled to feature Agronomist Matt Leavitt. Matt’s work focuses on integrating new crops that provide broad ecosystem services to our landscapes while helping to diversify and de-risk the economic portfolios of Minnesota crop producers. Originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Matt completed his graduate work right here in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics with Craig S...

A conversation with Dr. Bob Stupar, Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics   In this edition of Minnesota CropCast (Episode #57), hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Bob Stupar, Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics and Legume Geneticist at the University of Minnesota. The conversation traces Bob’s unique path from suburban Milwaukee to his current role leading legume genetics...

A conversation with Dr. Anna Cates, Extension Soil Health Specialist In this edition of Minnesota CropCast (Episode #56), hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Anna Cates, the University of Minnesota Extension Soil Health Specialist. The group discusses Dr. Cates' unique role and the current state of cover crops and soil health across Minnesota. Dr. Cates leads the MN Office for Soil...

In the latest University of Minnesota CropCast (#55), hosts Seth Naeve and Dave Nicolai interview Dr. Jochum Wiersma, Extension Small Grain Specialist, about the current status and future of small grain acreage in Minnesota. Jochum reviews how production economics, market potential, and weather trends are impacting acreage for spring and winter wheat, barley, rye, and oats. The discussion also pre...

In this Minnesota Crop Cast (#54) podcast Jodi DeJong-Hughes, an University of Minnesota Extension educator, who works for the Water Resources Center and specializes in the impact of tillage practices on crop yield and soil health was our guest. Jodi has developed her expertise in the area of how compaction occurs, prevention and remediation. During the podcast Jodi reviewed how soil compaction ca...

A conversation with Dr. Jeff Couter, Extension Corn Agronomist In this week’s Minnesota CropCast , hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with University of Minnesota Extension Corn Agronomist, Dr. Jeff Coulter. Together, they review the 2025 Minnesota corn crop and discuss how this year’s unique challenges should inform producer decisions for 2026. The 2025 season was distinct: it began with...

A conversation with Nathan Hulinsky, Agricultural Business Management Educator In this week's CropCast, hosts Seth and Dave sit down with University of Minnesota Agriculture Business Management Educator, Nathan Hulinsky, to discuss one of the largest input costs for crop farmers: land costs. Nathan provides current examples of typical cash rent and land costs in Minnesota and gives an overview of...

In this week's CropCast, hosts Seth Naeve and David Nicolai welcome Dr. Dean Malvick, University of Minnesota Extension Plant Pathologist for corn and soybeans. Dr. Malvick dives into the 2025 growing season to discuss the development and yield impact of key crop diseases. He provides a timely review of Southern Corn Rust and Corn Tar Spot disease biology, detailing their spread across Minnesota a...

Ed Usset, Grain Marketing Economist at the Center for Farm Financial Management, University of Minnesota, joins us for this milestone 50th episode of Minnesota CropCast, recorded on September 12, 2025. Working with colleagues at the Center for Farm Financial Management and in Extension, Ed developed the acclaimed Winning the Game workshop series and manages Commodity Challenge, an online marketing...

 In 1960, the number of farmers raising dry beans in Minnesota and North Dakota could be counted in single digits. The 2025 USDA Dry Bean Planting report showed 320,000 acres (22% of US production) in Minnesota and 630,000 acres (43% of US production) in North Dakota, thus placing Minnesota in 2nd place in US production ahead of Michigan and several other states. In this episode Dave Nicolai and S...

In this week’s CropCast, Dr. Jochum Wiersma, University of Minnesota extension small grain specialist is the guest for the podcast hosted by Dave Nicolai, Extension Crops Educator and Dr. Seth Nave, Extension Soybean Specialist. Jochum discusses the increases in both interest and acreage in winter grains in Minnesota such as Winter Wheat, Winter Barley and Winter Rye along with the renewed interes...

In this week’s CropCast, Seth Naeve and David Nicolai welcomed Dr. Tom Peters and Dr. Debalin Sarangi to discuss “ Getting the most out of pre-emergence herbicides ” Dr. Tom Peters is a sugarbeet agronomist specializing in sugarbeet weed control at North Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota, Dr. Debalin Sarangi is a University of Minnesota Extension Weed Scientist for corn and s...

In this week’s CropCast, Dr. Seth Naeve, extension soybean specialist and David Nicolai, extension crops educator welcomed University of Minnesota and North Dakota State Extension Specialists; Dr. Jeff Coulter and Dr. Tom Peters. Dr. Jeff Coulter is an extension corn specialist and Dr. Tom Peters is an extension weed specialist in sugar beets. These three state specialists discussed optimum planti...

Curtis Mahnken, Agricultural Economist with the University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management was a recent guest with the University of Minnesota CropCast podcast with co-hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve. Curtis reviewed the results of a recent analysis study concerning Minnesota 2024 Farm income.  This analysis includes data representing approximately 13% of Minnesota’s farms with...