Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast

A hard wheat year can still teach Oklahoma producers something useful about risk, timing, and variety decisions. In this episode of the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast, Dave Deken, Brian Arnall Ph. D., and Josh Lofton Ph. D. talk with Amanda Silva Ph. D., Oklahoma State University Extension small grains specialist, about the 2026 Oklahoma wheat crop. They discuss drought stress, scattered rainfall, earl...

Oklahoma summer crops may look smaller than usual, but that does not automatically mean yield potential is gone. Dave Deken talks with Brian Arnall Ph. D. and Josh Lofton Ph. D. about how timely June rains, cooler temperatures, and still-uncertain July weather are shaping corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, hay, and double crop decisions across the Southern Plains. The conversation covers why smaller s...

At the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference, we visit with Jennifer Patterson , Payne County Extension ag educator, about how local agricultural programming comes together and why it still matters for Oklahoma producers. From cattle markets and forage fertility to weed control and producer education, Jennifer explains how Extension listens first, then builds programs around the issues producers are...

High cattle prices can make it tempting to push pasture ground harder than ever, but what happens when the grass gives out before the market does?  In this episode, Dave Deken, Dr. Brian Arnall, and Dr. Josh Lofton visit with OSU Extension Forage Specialist Brian Pugh about pasture recovery, grazing pressure, and the management decisions producers need to make now to protect long-term forage produ...

Soybeans are a lot more than a crop in the field, and this episode proves it. Dave Deken and Brian Arnall visit with Rick and Ginger Reimer of the Oklahoma Soybean Board about how soybean checkoff dollars are being invested in research, producer outreach, education, and consumer awareness across Oklahoma. From Red Dirt Soy and production research to classroom workshops and virtual reality tools, t...

What actually works in wheat weed control when the old spray plan starts slipping? In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy, Dave Deken, Brian Arnall, and Josh Lofton sit down with Liberty Galvin at AgriFest in Enid to talk through the real-world decisions that separate a clean wheat field from a frustrating one. The conversation covers pre-emergent herbicides, burndown programs, delayed planting, com...

Tight margins and wild market swings are back in the driver’s seat—and producers are feeling it. Recorded at the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater, Episode 508 features Clay Burtrum (Farm Data Services) walking through why insurance matters even when you hope you never use it. The crew digs into Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) basics, how price protection actually works, and what pr...

Flies, ticks, and parasites don’t just annoy cattle—they steal gain and profit. Recorded live at the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater, OK, this episode features Dr. Jonathan Cammack (OSU Extension livestock entomology & parasitology) breaking down what producers should know about common pests like horn flies, how researchers test control tools, and why day-to-day management matters...

Episode 506 dives into soil nutrition and the real-world decisions behind soil testing with Jace Whitehead of EnviroAg Laboratories , an OSU Plant & Soil Sciences grad who built a soil testing lab from his hometown roots and now supports producers across the Southern Plains. The crew breaks down what soil test “extractions” actually measure, why Mehlich-3 and Bray phosphorus numbers can disagree (...

Recorded live from the  Oklahoma Wheat Commission  booth at the 2026 KNID AgriFest in Enid, the crew sits down with Jeff Hickman —farmer, longtime ag association leader, Oklahoma higher-education regent, and former Oklahoma House Speaker—for a grounded conversation on where agriculture is headed and why local involvement still matters. Jeff breaks down how ag organizations stay viable in an era of...

In this episode of the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast, we’re joined by 16-year-old Brayden Arnall , who recently won the National FFA Agriscience Award.  This episode isn’t just about a student project—it’s a story of curiosity turned passion, and a father-son bet that led to a national title. Brayden walks us through his award-winning research on nitrogen stabilizers, tillage practices, and ammonia vo...

In this heartfelt and energizing episode of Red Dirt Agronomy , the team sits down with Dr. Kent Martin at the 2026 KNID AgriFest in Enid.  Kent, now a full-time faculty member at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, shares how he's bringing real-world agronomy into the classroom.  From digging soil pits to counting plant populations, his classes give students practical, hands-on experiences th...

Episode 502 takes you straight to the Oklahoma Wheat Commission booth at the AgriFest in Enid—where the smell of fresh bread and cinnamon rolls is basically a tractor beam for farmers.  Dave Deken and Dr. Brian Arnall sit down with Kay County wheat producer Tom Cannon , now a new Oklahoma Wheat Commission board member, to pull back the curtain on what “checkoff dollars” actually do.  Tom shares th...

Recorded live at KNID AgriFest in Enid from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission booth, Episode 501 launches Season 5 with a fast-paced crop check and a whole lot of agronomy banter.  Dave Deken sits down with Brian Arnall and Josh Lofton to talk January wheat realities: dry conditions, odd winter insect pressure, and early reports of wheat diseases showing up sooner than anyone wants.  They also hit can...

This episode of the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast features Dr. Beatrix Haggard , an associate professor in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, whose teaching mission is to make sure students know what plant they’re looking at—and how it works . Dr. Haggard walks us through her journey from FFA land judging in Texas to soil science at Tarleton State and LSU, to a regional...

Water is life—especially in the Oklahoma Panhandle. In this episode, the Red Dirt Agronomy team welcomes Dr. Sumit Sharma , OSU Extension’s irrigation specialist, for a wide-ranging discussion on how producers can stretch every drop.  From pre-watering to planting decisions, Sharma explains how irrigation science is helping producers navigate declining well capacities and unpredictable weather whi...

The cattle industry is riding high on prices—but running low on cows.  In this episode of the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast , Dr. Derrell Peel , OSU Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, joins the team to unpack how drought, market cycles, and global trade have shaped today’s record-setting beef economy.  Peel explains why herd numbers have fallen to their lowest level in 70 years, and why it coul...

This week, the Red Dirt Agronomy crew sits down with Jeff Wright of Oklahoma Foundation Seed to trace the wheat seed pipeline—from a few pounds in the breeder’s bag to the certified seed growers buy.  Jeff opens the hood on a weather‑delayed harvest that still posted only ~5% sprout damage and a 56‑lb test weight on Orange Blossom, then tells the highway‑shoulder saga of backing a combine down I‑4...

This week on the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast , we bring you a wheat-packed episode from High Plains Journal Live in Wichita with Aaron Harries of Kansas Wheat.  Aaron takes us on an incredible journey through the world of wheat in Kansas, including how railroads and immigrant farmers have shaped today’s production, and how cutting-edge research is transforming breeding programs.  He explains how too...

This week on the Red Dirt Agronomy podcast , the crew sits down with Dusti Gallagher, CEO of Heartland Plant Innovations , to explore how cutting-edge breeding tools are transforming wheat genetics.  From her Oklahoma upbringing to her role in driving biotech advancement in Kansas, Dusti shares the story of how HPI is helping breeders produce better wheat—faster.  Using double haploid technology,...

This week’s Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast takes us to the heart of innovation in Kansas agriculture. We caught up with Ray Flickner at High Plains Journal Live, where he shared how his fifth-generation farm blends heritage with high-tech. From running three crops in two years to using cover crops for weed suppression and soil health, Ray’s flexible and moisture-conscious approach proves that success i...

This episode hits the road to Wichita, Kansas, where the Red Dirt Agronomy team joins High Plains Journal Live and connects with growers, ag researchers, and industry leaders from across Oklahoma and Kansas.  Executive Director of the Oklahoma Wheat Commission , Mike Schulte , joins the crew to share invaluable insights on wheat variety development, global markets, and the innovative ways Oklahoma...

The Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast team traveled to Wichita for High Plains Journal Live, where they sat down with Dr. Shannon Ferrell of Oklahoma State University. In this lively conversation,  Dr. Ferrell dives deep into the realities of farm succession planning, from the traditional “farm kid vs. city kid” dilemma to the increasingly common “no heirs returning” challenge.  He explains how recent leg...

In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy , the team sits down with Casey Hentges , host of Oklahoma Gardening , to celebrate the show's 50th anniversary.  From its humble beginnings with live OETA broadcasts to its reach of millions globally via YouTube, Oklahoma Gardening has become a staple in the horticulture community.  Casey shares her unique journey through horticultural landscapes—commercial, e...

Oklahoma wheat growers have faced a wild ride this season—droughts, floods, wind, and more. In this episode, Dr. Amanda Silva from OSU Extension joins the Red Dirt Agronomy crew to unpack the 2025 wheat harvest and the unexpected resilience of this year’s crop.  We hear from Dr. Josh Lofton and Dr. Brian Arnall as they reflect on the evolution of modern wheat management and share insights from sta...