XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

It started with auto steer on tractors  — or maybe even before that — where automation ends up, is still an open discussion. Damian Mason hosts that discussion in this episode with XtremeAg’s John Verell and John Deere’s Michael Porter. The evolution of farm machinery automation rolls forward on America’s farms. Johnny Verell explains how autonomy helps him farm better, make more money, and do mor...

Kevin Matthews is shaking up his fertility practices in 2025 with a hybrid approach to crop care. While he remains a firm believer in trickling liquid fertilizer “just in time” for crop development, he’s turning to dry fertilizer to tackle problem areas. But there’s a catch—it requires upgrading to strip-till equipment . In this episode, Kevin shares how he’s streamlining his farm operations, incl...

Is your farm financially prepared for 2025? Economic pressures are mounting, and staying solvent requires a solid strategy. In this episode of Cutting The Curve, Jeff Janssen joins Kelly Garrett and Damian Mason to tackle critical topics like working capital, cash flow, cost of production, and aligning your financial goals with your banker’s expectations. From calculating current assets to underst...

New paint is sexy. We get it. We’re farmers too and we like shiny new machinery! But farming is a business and a business faced with reduced revenue must make adjustments. How do you stay on the cutting edge of Agricultural technology with older machinery? With precision equipment upgrades, that’s how. XtremeAg’s Kelly Garrett and John Deere’s Clint Chaffer explain how — for a fraction of the pric...

Are farm finances tighter than usual? Discover how to save money while maintaining yield and revenue in this must-listen episode. Host Damian Mason talks with XtremeAg’s John Verell and Meristem’s Peter Rousonelos about cost-effective farming practices using the “R’s” of crop cost removal: Reduce, Recycle, Re-use, Repurpose, and Re-Think. Learn innovative ways to cut costs per acre, boost farm pro...

Award-winning results, less nitrogen. Kelly Garrett , with agronomist Mike Evans, achieved an impressive 324 bushels per acre with just 151 pounds of applied nitrogen—earning him recognition in the National Corn Growers Association’s new Nitrogen Management Class . In this episode, they join Damian Mason to share their game-changing methodology and discuss the future of farming under increased env...

Kelly Garrett and Temple Rhodes were both highly skeptical when they received their small plastic bags of pink powder with instructions to treat their seed corn. The pink powder was New Leaf’s bacterial technology , which is now available in products from four different companies. Kelly and Temple share  results and lessons from their trials. Both saw a yield response, more roots , and bigger biom...

The off-season isn’t just about oil changes and wear part replacements anymore—technology has revolutionized winter prep for farmers. In this episode, Damian Mason is joined by Ryan Stien and Christopher Murray from John Deere to explore how farmers can maximize the return on investment (ROI) from their precision Ag technology during downtime. From software updates to ensuring machinery connectivi...

Conventional farming is evolving. Whether driven by regulations, financial incentives, or the undeniable benefits, many farmers are starting to adopt regenerative farming practices. In this episode, Kelly Garrett and Dr. Josh Miller dive into the why and how of this transition. They explore the tangible benefits of soil health , reduced input costs, and participation in sustainability programs, of...

In this episode, Damian Mason talks to Kelly Garrett about why he’s shifting away from soybeans and committing to continuous corn on his farm. From economic advantages to agronomic challenges, Kelly breaks down his decision-making process. Joined by Clint Frese and Mike Evans of Calibrated Agronomy, the discussion dives deep into managing corn-on-corn systems—covering fodder management, soil tempe...

Kevin Matthews has weathered multiple economic downturns in Agriculture. What’s different about this one? He discusses that with Damian Mason in this episode of Cutting the Curve. The two “middle age farm guys" provide historical context and comparison — from the PIK program to revamping CRP, what might the USDA roll out?  What tactics can farmers deploy to remain solvent in a challenging farm eco...

Could hiring a custom harvester transform your farming operation? Chad Olsen of Olsen Custom Farms and XtremeAg farmer Lee Lubbers share their insights with Damian Mason in this compelling episode. Chad’s team harvests crops across 17 states, using 90 combines and 80 semi trucks operated by 150 employees. Lee explains how partnering with Chad has boosted efficiency, freed up working capital, and r...

Farming success hinges on precision, and this episode of XtremeAg’s Cutting the Curve Podcast dives deep into the importance of getting the right source, rate, time, and place for your crops. Host Damian Mason chats with Alabama farmer Chad Henderson , who is pushing the limits with a cutting-edge trial on double crop soybeans . Joined by Drew Ewing from Spraytec, Chad breaks down the critical str...

Think wheat farming can’t be profitable? Think again. Lee Lubbers, fresh off a victory in the 2024 National Association of Wheat Growers yield competition for South Dakota, joins Damian Mason to share how he hit an incredible 138.35 bushels per acre. From evolving production practices to the strategic use of products and precise timing of applications, Lee reveals the methods behind his high ROI....

Humidity and temperature management inside your bins are the two most critical factors to maintaining stored grain quality , but they’re hardly the only factors. Mold, toxins, foreign material, leaks, lack of air flow, damaged seed….these are but a few of the problems farmers might face when managing their grain. In this episode, host Damian Mason gets answers on how to maintain grain quality from...

Don’t let winter weeds steal your nutrients or turn your field into a springtime nightmare. Join Damian Mason as he talks with farmer Kelly Garrett and FMC's Gail Stratman about why late fall and winter are crucial for weed management. Discover strategies to tackle winter annuals, protect your soil's productivity, and ensure cleaner fields come planting season. From targeting small weeds early to...

In production agriculture, improving fertilizer efficiency is more critical than ever, with up to 90% of applied fertility feeding the soil rather than the crop. Could activated carbon be the solution? Brad Benson and Brandon Laws of Activated Carbon Technologies join Arkansas farmer Matt Miles to share results from two years of farm trials that are reshaping how we think about soil health and fer...

Fall is one of the busiest times of year for farmers, but it’s also prime time to gather insights that can drive next year’s success. In this episode, Kelly Garrett and FMC's Gail Stratman join Damian Mason to discuss how you can turn real-time observations during harvest into actionable plans that improve yield and profitability. What clues are your crops giving about soil balance, input needs, o...

As 2024 unfolds, the agriculture industry faces what could be the start of several tough financial years, with farm economics taking a stark downward turn. For many in agriculture, the strains of high input costs, inflated machinery prices, and soaring interest rates are hitting home. What do these economic realities mean for the future of farming? And how does this period compare to previous down...

In this episode, we chat with Johnny Verell from XtremeAg, who reveals why your header transport trailer deserves more attention. Johnny shares how adding two high-speed, all-wheel-drive header trailers to his farm transformed harvest season, from speeding up field transfers to cutting down combine idle time. He also added grain tank extensions that have become a game-changer in maximizing machine...

You’re probably applying too much nitrogen . It’s not your fault, you -- along with most of America’s farmers — have been conditioned to do so. More “N” means more corn, so crank up the “N!” This over- application of Nitrogen is about to come to a halt as nutrient management plans are likely part of future farm legislation. With that in mind, why not cut the curve and start reducing your nitrogen...

Depending on size and age, you could have more investment in your grain set up than your machinery. But do you maintain it with the same diligence as you tend to your rolling equipment? If your grain dryer, leg, or unloading system goes down during harvest, how much time might this cost you? Superior Grain’s Dave Wehlander and Rodie Jelleberg team up with XtremeAg’s Johnny Verell to run through th...

In this episode of Cutting the Curve, we dive into a groundbreaking fertility reduction trial conducted at Matt Miles' farm in Arkansas. Joined by Kelly Garrett from XtremeAg and AgroLiquid’s Galynn Beer and Stephanie Zelinko, the team tested different fertility prescriptions to see how low they could go while still maintaining strong yields. The surprising result? The lowest fertilizer spend deli...

Johnny Verell is shook things up with some major planter upgrades before the 2024 season. In this episode, Johnny sits down with Damian to discuss his decision to consolidate from three 40-foot planters to two 60-foot planters, along with modifications to his 2x2 application and a shift to wider rows. Johnny shares the reasoning behind these changes and, more importantly, the results he's seeing....

Are you leaving money in the field? Harvest loss is a costly problem that too many farmers face, often unknowingly. Kevin Matthews believes, “There is no acceptable loss,” especially when your hard-earned yield is blowing out the back of your combine. In this episode, Kevin and Brian Robertson from Estes Performance Concaves break down the hidden losses happening at the header and inside the combi...