XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

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...