UMN Extension Nutrient Management Podcast

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about the fall fertilizer outlook for 2023. What are growing conditions looking like around the state? What is the current status of fertilizer prices and availability in Minnesota? What should growers be thinking about heading into fall? There is a lot of talk about environmental issues related to fertilizer use and the potential f...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about measuring and building soil carbon, and some challenges and solutions for farmers and researchers. Why is carbon in the soil being considered as a credit in the global carbon cycle? What practices change soil carbon? What makes soil carbon complicated to measure? What do you think is the ideal (or is there an ideal) carbon mea...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re discussing nitrogen decision tools. How much are we actually at risk of losing fall or spring applied nitrogen because soils are saturated in May? What options do we have to assess nitrogen loss following heavy rain? If a grower is planning on applying nitrogen in season, what suggestions would you have for sources, timing, placement, and i...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re discussing soybean fertilizer management . What does the research say on whether foliar application of liquid fertilizer increases yield? Are other nutrients such as sulfur or nitrogen recommended? What nutrients or practices are not suggested for soybean?  Guests: Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Daniel...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about the spring fertilizer outlook for 2023. Will the dry conditions last year have repercussions for how fertilizer is managed this year? What considerations should growers be making regarding fertilizer for a potentially late spring? Is there any new research on fertilizer products like biologicals or inhibitors that Minnesota gr...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about fertilizing lawns and gardens. Why is proper nutrient management for lawns and gardens important? What should home gardeners and lawn caretakers know about nutrient management? Why is phosphorus fertilizer use restricted in the Twin Cities metro area and on lawns in Minnesota? What can gardeners and lawn caretakers do to prote...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about watershed planning and nitrate reduction. What are watershed plans and what goes into them? How do watershed plans affect nutrient management decision-making? What should farmers know about edge-of-field and nutrient management planning in relation to water quality goals? Guests: Wayne Cords, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about variable rate technology. What are some reasons that farmers might want to use variable-rate fertilizer instead of applying a single rate? Is there a difference between variable rating, different nutrient types? What are the technologies that are used to prescribe variable-rate fertilizer and what is the theory behind them? If...

In this episode, three University of Minnesota experts discuss biostimulants. What's new on the topic of biostimulants? What new research is there related to biostimulants? How should farmers go about testing biostimulant products? Guests:  Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist  Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient management spec...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about soil test myths. First, why is it important to discuss these pervasive myths surrounding soil tests? Myth 1: the Mehlich-3 test is a better test for farmers to consider: Myth 2: I can predict my nitrogen requirement with the cation exchange capacity test. Myth 3: K base saturation is the better way to predict potassium. Myth 4...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss surgarbeet nutrient management. How did Minnesota become the nation's top sugarbeet producer? What are some highlights from past sugarbeet nutrient management research in Minnesota? What current studies does the U of M have on sugarbeet nutrient management? What else should growers know about sugarbeet nutrient management? Guests : Dan...

In this episode, we’re talking about phosphorus and potassium guidelines. Why do P and K guidelines differ from state to state? What is the best way to collect soil samples, and are there benefits from grid sampling? Are there any new technologies out there that may replace soil testing in the future? Guests: Daniel Kaiser, nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Jeff Vetch, nutrient management...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about cover crops. What should farmers who are considering growing cover crops this year be thinking about? What are some tips for getting a cover crop established in Minnesota? Should growers consider applying fertilizer to help get a cover crop established? What recent cover crop studies have U of M researchers been doing, and wha...

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our annual fall fertilizer outlook. What is the current status of fertilizer prices and availability in Minnesota? What should growers be thinking about heading into fall? Should more growers consider inhibitors and biological products that aim to increase fertilizer efficiency? Guests : Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St....

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and soybean nutrient management. What are our guests working on for research on IDC? Is there anything new out there for farmers to help manage IDC? With the late planting and dry conditions following last year's harvest, are any impacts on IDC anticipated this year? What else should growers know about s...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss challenging spring weather and how growers can move forward. What are field conditions looking like around Minnesota? After a cold, wet April with not much fieldwork, what should growers be thinking about heading into May? How can growers better manage nutrients, and water, as Minnesota's climate gets increasingly wetter? Guests: Brad...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss spring nutrient management decisions. What are field conditions looking like around Minnesota? What's the status of fertilizer prices and supplies? How can growers save on fertilizer costs this year? Will there be any changes made to the fertilizer guidelines in 2022? Guests: Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Pa...

Guests: Jake Jungers, U of M Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics Jared Goplen, Extension educator - crops Brad Heins, U of M Associate Professor of Animal Science, West Central Research and Outreach Center Additional resources: Kernza website U of M Forever Green - Kernza U of M Sustainable Cropping - Kernza Minnesota Kernza Twitter account --- For the latest nutrient ma...

Guests: Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist Jodi DeJong Hughes, Extension educator, Willmar Amy Robak, crop advisor, Centra Sota Co-op Additional resources: How to approach carbon market opportunities U of M Extension soil management and health Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH) Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) pilot project in central Minnesota All Acres for Our Waters pr...

Guests: Dan Kaiser, Extension soil fertility specialist Fabian Fernandez, Extension soil fertility specialist Jeff Vetsch, U of M SROC researcher Brad Carlson, Extension educator  Additional resources: Corn nitrogen rate calculator High nitrogen fertilizer costs: What should corn growers be thinking about? Corn fertilizer guidelines Nutrient Management Conference (Feb. 8, 2022) Nitrogen Conference...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss fertilizer prices and supply chain issues. Extension educator Brad Carlson is joined by: Jim Carlson, Vice President of Agronomy at United Farmer's Co-op in Winthrop, Minnesota; Russ Quinn, ag market reporter for DTN/The Progressive Farmer and a farmer in eastern Nebraska; and Josh Linville, Director of Fertilizer at StoneX Financial. ...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss soil management and nutrient issues. How do erosion and tillage practices impact nutrients in the soil and nutrient management? After a dry spring and summer, what should growers know about soil and nutrient management heading into the fall? How can farmers better manage soils to avoid nutrient issues? Are cover c...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss sulfur. How has atmospheric sulfur deposition changed over time and why does it matter for farmers? How did the dry conditions this year impact sulfur availability? Do dry soils mean sulfur responses will be greater? Do dry soils affect which source of sulfur growers should use? What do we know about interactions...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss fall fertilizer decisions. With rising prices, what are some ways growers can save on fertilizer costs this fall and next spring? With the dry conditions, is there anything growers need to be thinking about regarding nutrient availability or soil testing that might arise this fall if conditions stay dry? Is this a...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss starter fertilizer issues. What makes liquid starter fertilizers risky when applying on or near the seed? Should growers adjust their liquid in-furrow application rates in dry years? Is it a good idea to mix liquid fertilizer with fungicides or insecticides? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Researc...