The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

When your soil pH becomes a concern, what options do you have?   In this episode, Dr. Antonio Mallarino joins Dr. Alan Blaylock to discuss practical approaches to managing soil pH and soil acidity. They explore how soil testing and grid sampling can help identify pH issues, the role of lime in managing soil acidity, the advantages and disadvantages of various lime sources, and how soil pH and buff...

Farm risk management goes far beyond crop insurance.   In this episode, Amy Crozier sits down with Mathieu Lipari, National Risk Management Lead at Farm Management Canada, to explore what risk management really means and how a whole-farm approach can help drive success.   From trade uncertainty and climate challenges to farm transition planning and financial management, they discuss the risks faci...

What does it take to grow high-quality produce?   Agronomist Christopher Hight from Grimmway Produce Group joins host Dr. Karl Wyant to explore the agronomy behind produce production. With experience managing more than 65 different vegetable crops, Christopher breaks down everything from nutrient management, irrigation and soil health to fertilizer efficiency and the strategies used to produce hig...

From fertilizer applications to crop rotations, many of the decisions made each season can influence your soil pH over time.   In this episode, Dr. Miles Dyck from the University of Alberta joins Dr. Alan Blaylock to discuss what soil pH is, why it matters and what growers should know about managing acidic and alkaline soils.   Learn how fertilizer management, crop rotations and nutrient removal i...

Focusing on one nutrient like nitrogen might yield immediate results, but long-term production requires a more balanced approach.   In this episode, Norm Dueck joins Amy Crozier to discuss what a balanced nutrient management plan looks like and why it's becoming increasingly important in crop production. As crops remove more nutrients from the soil, we must look beyond a handful of key nutrients a...

The residue your crops leave behind is going to impact next season's crop whether you think about it or not.   Too much residue can create challenges like disease pressure and poor planting conditions. Too little can leave topsoil exposed. Managed properly, crop residue can help build soil health, support better planting conditions and cycle nutrients back into the soil.   So how should we think a...

What happens when crops remove phosphorus and potassium from the soil, and what does it take to replenish them?   In this episode, we're in the classroom at Mississippi State University sitting down with Dr. Vaughn Reed to explore how to manage nutrient removal and replenishment by thinking about your soil like a bank account.   From what's immediately available to the crop versus what takes time...

Sustainability is talked about everywhere these days, but what does it actually mean for agriculture?   In this episode, we sit down with Carlos Romero, Senior Sustainability Manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions, to break it down in practical terms. For Carlos, sustainability isn't abstract, it's good agronomy that works both economically and environmentally.   They discuss how Canadian farmers are put...

Agriculture has changed a lot over the last 20 years, and it's not slowing down.   In this episode, we sit down with Ben Graham, President of AdFarm, to explore what's evolved, from how farmers get their information to the rapid rise of on-farm technology. They dig into why some innovations take off faster than others, how farmers decide what tech is actually worth using and what the next 20-25 ye...

Ever wondered how the nitrogen fertilizer you apply is actually produced?   In this episode, we sit down with Chris Boyda, Senior Manager of Operations at Nutrien's Redwater nitrogen facility, to explore the full process behind nitrogen fertilizer production. From how ammonia is made to how it's converted into products like urea, UAN and ammonium sulfate, Chris breaks down what happens inside one...

Every season in the Canadian Prairies comes down to one thing: the weather. With a short growing window, everything rides on how conditions unfold.   In this episode, meteorologist David Spence breaks down how winter set the stage for spring, where moisture levels stand across the Prairies, and what conditions could look like heading into seeding. While much of the region has pulled out of short-t...

If you spend just 14 minutes a day differently, what could that do for you and your farm?   On this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell sits down with Angie Traetow to talk about what it looks like to be more intentional on the farm and in everyday life.   They explore how a small shift in how you use your time can add up over the course of a year, and why stepping back from the day-to-day to think a...

You're applying the nutrients your crops need, but is your soil actually able to deliver them? Your standard soil test might not be giving you the full picture of what's actually happening beneath the surface.   In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Dr. Elizabeth French, Soil Biology Manager at Waypoint Analytical, to explore what traditional soil tests may be missing, and how biological soi...

The weather shapes your entire season on the farm, and right now, it's already telling a story about what lies ahead.   In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Senior Science Fellow Eric Snodgrass to break down the patterns shaping the 2026 growing season. Together, they explore how winter conditions have carried into spring, how limited snowpack is fueling drought concerns and the sharp divid...

As we head into planting, one thing is top of mind for everyone in agriculture—the economy.   What's really driving the markets, and what's the outlook as we head into the field? In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Nutrien Chief Economist and Head of Market Research, Jason Newton, to help break down what's happening today.   From recent movement in crop prices to global supply and demand,...

Spring is here, and many growers are looking for opportunities to get corn in the ground early. When conditions line up for an early start, it can be a major advantage. But planting early means paying close attention to the factors that can influence corn emergence and development.   In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Dr. Erick J. Larson, a professor and extension agronomy specialist from...

When margins are tight, every fertilizer decision carries more weight. Should you build soil test levels, apply nutrients strictly based on crop response or chase ideal soil ratios? Which is best for your soil, crops and bottom line?   In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Dr. Bryan G. Hopkins to explore the three most common approaches to fertilization and soil fertility - build and maintai...

Few people hear from as many corners of agriculture as Shaun Haney does. Through his work, he hears firsthand what's weighing on growers and what's shaping their decisions for the season ahead.   As planting approaches, we sat down with Shaun to explore what's surfacing in his recent conversations. From tightening margins and rising fixed costs to labor and weed challenges, he breaks down the pres...

When Jason Franklin arrived in Clarksdale, Mississippi, he wasn't aware of the level of hardship facing local farming communities. Once he began to hear their stories, he couldn't help but show up.   In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Jason Franklin, a pastor at Clarksdale Methodist Church, to talk about how one simple idea sparked a movement of encouragement and support across the Missis...

We are back in Grace, Idaho, talking with fifth-generation farmer, Ryan Christensen, about the importance of return on investment (ROI) and yield.   Ryan shares what ROI actually means, why it's important, and why he farms for a greater ROI over a greater yield (hint: it's all about profitability).   Tune in to hear how Ryan has improved and increased the ROI of his operation, from implementing co...

In this episode of The Dirt, we head to Grace, Idaho, to talk with fifth-generation farmer Ryan Christensen about conserving one of agriculture's most valuable resources: water.   Ryan shares how his family's farm is using technology, conservation tillage and smart irrigation practices to make every drop of water count.   We dig into the importance of water management in the high desert, the pract...

Extension services play a key role in educating communities across the United States. But what do they actually do?   Find out with host Mike Howell and guest Dr. Angus Catchot, the director of extension at Mississippi State University, to explore what extension services really are, what they do, and why they are indispensable to our communities.   Dr. Catchot explains how extension services turn...

Farmers build an entire legacy within their operation, one that can be passed down for generations. But what happens when it's actually time to hand that legacy over?   In this episode, Mike Howell sits down with Uncommon Farms' Manager of Succession Planning, Mike Downey to dig into the realities of on-farm succession planning.   They explore the difference between estate and succession planning,...

Injuries and illnesses can bring the entire season to a halt, something no farmer can plan for. That's where Farm Rescue comes in.   In this episode of The Dirt, host Mike Howell talks with Founder and President of Farm Rescue, Bill Gross, to explore how this one-of-a-kind non-profit provides free, hands-on help to farmers and ranchers to keep farms running when life takes a turn. From planting an...

When every dollar counts, guessing what's in your soil isn't an option. That's where soil testing comes in.   In this episode of The Dirt, we dig into how soil testing can help farmers make every input dollar work harder in their fields.   Host Mike Howell is joined by Alan Meijer and Mick Goedeken from Waypoint Analytical as they discuss the real ROI of soil testing and why cutting back under tig...