XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

Inside your combine there are a LOT of moving parts and some of those parts — specifically your machine’s concaves — might not be pulling their weight. What if an $8,000 change got you through harvest 25% faster, or allowed you to increase the size of your combine head — without changing out your combine? What if your combine’s concaves are losing a bushel per acre out the rear end of the machine?...

With bigger corn crops come more stover in the field, which can prevent proper seed-to- soil contact following planting. Biologicals such as ResidueRX eliminate this problem, along with preventing disease, maximizing nutrient utilization, and saving you time and money by allowing you to apply during your pre-emergent spray pass. In this episode we discuss residue management to attain bigger yields...

Fertilizer prices are doubling from last crop season as overall Ag input prices are increasing. Savvy farmers understand the need to squeeze every penny out of their input dollars. Biological products like TitanXC — a fertilizer coating — do just that by making phosphorous and potassium more available for crops. Studies show that as much as 60% of your phosphorous goes un-utilized. Can you afford...

When your farm operates as a "one man band” you wear every hat, but as your operation expands you quickly realize the need to prioritize responsibilities based personality, interest, or aptitude. Nobody can be an expert at everything. Generally, some of us love production, while others of us gravitate to the business side of farming. Stuart Sanderson of Henderson Farms explains how their operation...

Inflation is upon us, now the only question is: For how long and how much will prices keep accelerating? This is a challenge for every business, especially production Agriculture, which operates on thin margins and involves the acquisition and application of a lot of expensive inputs. To successfully navigate the pricing turmoil, you need to know why prices are increasing and strategies to employ...

Kevin Matthews of Matthews Family Farms in Yadkinville, NC joins Ruhiyyih Young of BASF to discuss how to achieve great results with proper soybean fungicide treatment. Kevin’s approach to soybeans is all about maximizing daylight for maximum plant performance. Once you’ve got the timing worked out, fungicide application — and its proper timing— can set you on the path to higher yields.   Presente...

In the old days if you wanted a bumper crop of corn, you sprayed copious amounts of Atrazine and put down a lot of nitrogen. While some farmers may think that’s still the game plan, Kevin Matthews attains record yielding corn with a different approach — he maximizes micronutrients with a big assist from the folks at Agroliquid. That company has multiple product corn fertility trials in place on Ke...

Matt Miles once believed a yield monitor was a nice — although not completely necessary — gadget for the combine. Today, he won’t let the combines roll if the yield monitor isn’t working properly. Matt and next generation son, Layne Miles, explain the adaptations their farm has made since Layne joined the farm full time in 2016. Technology and data analysis allows the Miles to reduce water use, ma...

Planters have come a long way since the old days but there’s more to making your planter profitable than just paying for new paint. Illinois NCGA record setter, Dan Luepkes explains the Precision Planting system on his retrofitted planter. We start in the machinery shed overviewing the components of the equipment then move to the field. Throughout this hands-on “field trip,” Dan tells us the why a...

In a previous episode we explained Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s).  In this episode, Peter Rousenelos and Gunther Kreps of AgXplore join Iowa farmer Kelly Garrett to further explain the mode of action and benefits of using PGR’s on your farm. The big benefit of course is yield — which equals dollars.  Even if you’re already familiar with PGR’s, give this a listen as the AgXplore team discusses tr...

Every successful farming operation has practices that make the business. Likewise, farms are owned and operated by humans. Humans are prone to habit — both good and bad. And all businesses have experienced set backs, but those setbacks make you stronger if you’re willing to learn from them. Generation three and four of fifth generation Henderson Farms sit down for a discussion about practices, hab...

The marketplace is in constant motion. Weather events, foreign trade and production occurrences, crop reports, and other factors create opportunities for gains (and losses!). Seasoned farm operators understand the need to exploit higher returns when the marketplace allows an opportunity to do so.  XtremeAg farmer Matt Miles, discusses his grain facility expansion and dryer addition. The upgrade cr...

Lee Lubbers and his brother started farming when even established farmers had trouble getting loans. It was during the midst of the ’80’s farm crisis. The brothers scraped and toiled to keep improving their financial position — always paying their expenses before themselves. Even so, their relationship with their local bank deteriorated and they were cut loose and left without financing heading in...

Oftentimes urban and suburban encroachment impacts farming operations as farm land is sold off for development. If you’re the fortunate owner who sells former farm property for 30- 50,000 dollars per acre, you simply have a tax problem. But what if you’re the tenant farmer? Where do you go to pick up acres to keep your operation rolling? Chad Henderson rented 1,200 acres 140 miles away to offset l...

In the old days you grabbed a few soil probes from an 80 acre field, sent it to a lab and considered yourself a proficient soil manager. Those days are done - or at least they should be. Soil is the most important resource in production agriculture. How you manage it determines your farm’s long term success. Robb Dedman of Ultimate Ag Consulting joins Matt Miles of Miles Farms to discuss their 21s...

Agriculture essentially began with humans tilling the soil. To say tillage has been around a while is an understatement — the bible references farmers being either a tender of the flock or a tiller of the soil. So, it stands to reason tillage is still around even in a world pushing no-till and regenerative practices. But when is the right time to cultivate your soil and is it doing more harm than...

Mark Coots, founder and CEO of Teva Corporation. That’s news to a lot of farmers who are still unfamiliar with the products 42 years after their alleged introduction. Mr. Coots and his plant biologist son, Caleb, join Kelly Garrett to explain PGR technology and the results farmers can attain when PGR’s are used in conjunction with other best farming practices. Sponsored by Advanced Drainage System...

In most of the corn and soybean growing regions, we envision center pivots when we think of irrigation. But in an Ag world impacted increasingly by environmental forces compelling us to till less and drastically reduce resource consumption, we may utilize more drip irrigation. Dan Luepkes explains the Netafim drip irrigation system he uses to set yield records on his Illinois farm. You’ll see comm...