Crop Cast by BW Fusion

In this episode, Sean Nettleton sits down with Jeff Miller of Forefront Agronomy in Plainview, Texas, for a deep dive into the realities of farming in the High Plains. Jeff shares what it takes to grow crops in a drought-prone, low-humidity, highly variable environment where irrigation capacity is shrinking and full crop failures are a real possibility. The conversation spans irrigation management...

In this episode, Sean Nettleton sits down with BW Fusion dealer and Minnesota farmer  Justin Goettl  and agronomist  Mason Claude . What begins as an unscripted conversation turns into a deep dive on agronomy education, soil science misconceptions, the evolution from grid sampling to zone management, and the power of carbon-based fertility. Justin shares years of hands-on experience with zone crea...

In this episode of The Crop Cast , host Sean Nettleton sits down with Nebraska farmer Randy Uhrmacher for a conversation that starts in the field and ends with personal reflection. From strip-till vs. no-till debates to the challenges of irrigating soybeans, Randy shares what’s working—and what isn’t—on his operation. But this isn’t just about crops. Randy opens up about his health journey, how ex...

In this deep-dive episode of the  Crop Cast , Sean Nettleton and agronomist Blake Hadley unpack the complex world of  phosphorus in soil systems , exploring its  chemical, biological, and physical dynamics . Blake discusses how his self-taught, data-driven approach led him to simplify soil science through visual frameworks that connect redox potential (Eh), pH, and biological activity. Together th...

In this Crop Cast episode, host Sean Nettleton leads a dynamic roundtable with Faith Pierson (Infinity Ag Solutions, Host of Farming with More than Faith), Kyle Olson (Creekside Agronomy, Co-host Dirt 2 Dollars), and Chase Perry (CMP Enterprises, Co-host Dirt 2 Dollars) to unpack how farmers are rethinking fertility, nitrogen management, and long-term soil health through BaselineRx. The group shar...

In this Crop Cast episode, Mason and the team sit down with Nate Ide of Lester Prairie, Minnesota, to explore how he transformed frustration into innovation through soil biology and data-driven farming. Nate recounts his early struggles trying every product on the market with no success—until he embraced BW Fusion’s biological system and the Agronomy365 framework. His breakthrough came when he rea...

In this episode ofCrop Cast, host  Sean Nettleton  and  Mason Claude  take a deep dive into one of agriculture’s most persistent challenges: the oversimplification of agronomy. They explore why common “rules” in fertility management, like chasing perfect pH or part-per-million numbers, often lead farmers astray. Mason breaks down why agronomy is less a precise science and more an “art” built from...

In this episode of Crop Cast host Sean Nettleton is joined in candid conversation with Ross Littlefield and Austin Greve of  Correction Line Ag —two-time BW Fusion “Leaders in the Field” award winners—and Dusty Skaggs, BW Fusion Sales Rep for Oklahoma. The discussion centers on the realities of farming in some of the harshest dry land regions of Kansas and Oklahoma, where growers battle limited ra...

Join host Sean Nettleton with Cliff Bailey and Cara Hanway of Sunset Seeds in Northwest Missouri. Cliff and Cara share how their seed dealership grew into a hub for fertility solutions, community support, and agronomic innovation. From redefining roles in their business to embracing cutting-edge tools like Ferticast, the duo highlights the importance of curiosity, customer trust, and a passion for...

In this episode, we welcome Cassidy Million , BW Fusion's Vice President of Ag Sciences. Cassidy brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective on one of the most misunderstood topics in agronomy: food sources like humics and fulvics . For years, growers and agronomists alike have been taught oversimplified—or even inaccurate—information about these critical components of soil and crop healt...

In this episode of Crop Cast , host Sean Nettleton is joined by Mason Claude and Kyle Olson , owner of Creekside Agronomy , to explore how Baseline RX is reshaping fertility management. Kyle shares his journey from using traditional soil tests that fell short to adopting Baseline RX—transforming not only how he advises his customers but also how he manages fertility on his own farm. Together, the...

Bodie Kitchel knows agriculture—not just from years of supporting growers, but from putting those practices to work on his own farms. Over his career, he’s pushed beyond what’s considered standard, especially when it comes to fertility. His passion for biologics has led him to ask—and answer—the tough questions: What data can growers truly trust? When should intuition take the lead? Why is now the...

Recorded LIVE at the Dealer Meeting 2025, agronomists Jason Schley, Mason Claude, and Josh Messer sit down to tackle one of the hottest topics of the season: the rapid spread of Southern Rust across Midwest farms. This candid conversation dives into the big questions every grower and dealer is asking: How do you build a plan of attack when disease pressure shows up late in the season? When is it s...

Host Sean Nettleton brings a quick update on what's coming next for the Crop Cast podcast. Season 2 is launching in early September, and we’re taking a short break to line up a fresh guest list and tackle real, impactful solutions for growers facing a challenging season. Thank you for listening, and stay tuned. There's a lot to look forward to. Find us on social: https://bw-fusion.com/cropcast Sub...

In the final installment of the Seed to Harvest series, host Sean wraps up an impactful three-part conversation with Jason and Jaren Schley, zeroing in on the critical late-season stages of crop development. This episode dives deep into how growers can finish strong, emphasizing late-season nutrient management, the role of auxins, potassium, boron, zinc, and the importance of understanding phospho...

If you’ve ever questioned whether your K applications are delivering ROI, this episode is a must-listen. Join Sean Nettleton and Dr. S.A. Khan from the University of Illinois to discuss the eye-opening research behind the Potassium Paradox . Dr. Kahn unpacks decades of soil science and long-term field data, challenging the conventional wisdom around potassium (K) fertilization. Dr. Khan explains w...

In this episode, Dr. Mulvaney challenges the common belief that most of a crop’s nitrogen comes from fertilizer. Instead, he explains that the soil itself is the primary source of nitrogen uptake—thanks to the natural process of mineralization, where organic matter breaks down and releases plant-available nitrogen. Key takeaways: Fertilizer isn’t the dominant source of N—soil N plays a much larger...

In this insightful episode, Sean Nettleton talks with Josh Linville, a widely followed fertilizer market expert, about the complex dynamics of the global fertilizer industry and its impact on U.S. agriculture. Key Topics Covered: Fertilizer Price Volatility: Josh emphasizes that neither he nor local retailers set fertilizer prices—global events and market structures do. Price swings often stem fro...

In this episode, host Sean speaks with Ed Baumgartner , founder of BASS Hybrids , to explore their unconventional approach to corn breeding. Ed discusses BASS Hybrids’ 20-year mission to reduce farmers’ reliance on synthetic inputs by developing corn hybrids with native tolerance to insects, drought, and stress without genetic modification. Here's what we cover: Origins & Purpose : BASS Hybrid...

For many of us in the Corn Belt, rice isn't a crop we've given much thought to. But in this episode, Sean Nettleton sits down with grower and consultant Chad Duckworth from Northeast Arkansas, along with RBM Seth Busby, for a full download on southern crop production. While they cover a range of crops grown in the South, Chad’s 25+ years of experience and deep expertise in rice—right at the cuttin...

In Part 2 of the From Seed to Harvest series, Jason and Jaren Schley pick up where they left off, right after the crucial establishment phase, where microbial partnerships and root development take center stage. Listen to that episode here . Now, the corn plant enters the V4–V6 growth stage: a critical turning point where it begins to transition away from seed-derived energy and starts to rely ful...

In this timely and impromptu episode, Jaren Schley, Mason Claude, and Sean Nettleton dive into one of the hottest agronomic topics of the moment: Early Season Nitrogen . With a late, wet spring challenging many growers across the Midwest, there's no better time to rethink your nutrient strategy. Drawing on real-time insights from Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota, the trio shares what they’re seein...

In Episode 36 of Crop Cast, Sean Nettleton welcomes Dr. Connor Sible, Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois, for a deep dive into high-yield corn and soybean production strategies. Dr. Sible shares his unique research focus—centered on maximizing yield through both input efficiency and improved management practices. The episode highlights the synergy and occasional differences...

In this episode of Crop Cast, we’re joined by none other than Jason Mauck , the innovative and unconventional farmer from Gaston, Indiana—known across social media as "the farm weird guy." Jason has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of traditional agriculture with techniques like relay cropping wheat and soybeans, and experimenting with alley cropping in corn. Sean Nettleton dives into...

In-season sampling might be one of the most powerful tools to add to your crop management toolbox. In this episode, we break down the how, when, and why of in-season sampling and explain how it validates the biological side of your input strategy. Because when you have the power of knowledge, you have the power to drive efficiency, make better decisions, and ultimately increase your profitability....