Agronomy Highlights

Penn State Extension

Agronomy Highlights is a biweekly podcast hosted by Penn State Extension field and forage crops educators. The goal of the show is to cover a broad range of pertinent agronomic topics in depth with knowledgeable guests. Farmers, industry professionals, and anyone interested in increasing their knowledge of field crop production and management should find the information useful.

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Top 10 Agronomy Highlights Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Agronomy Highlights episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Agronomy Highlights for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Agronomy Highlights episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

S1E14: Agriculture in Nebraska

Agronomy Highlights

02/01/23 • 56 min

Recorded date: January 4, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Mike Boehm, Vice President and Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska. Our conversation is wide-ranging and enriching. Dr. Boehm provides a useful breakdown of the valuable role the Cooperative Extension system plays in the United States, as well as great information on the history of agriculture in Nebraska. Check it out and learn more about crop production in the great plains.
Usefull Links:
About Dr. Mike Boehm
Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dr. Mike Boehm, University of Nebraska
Photo credit: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

S1E7: Farmer Mental Health

Agronomy Highlights

10/06/22 • 36 min

Recorded: 8/31/22
In this episode, we speak with Ginger Fenton from Mercer County about the emotional roller coaster that is farming. We begin with the basics of what mental health is and how to maintain it. We then venture into the specifics of what makes managing a farm both very challenging and rewarding. Join us to find out more about the resources available for producers seeking to improve their mental health.
Helpful Links and Resources:
Stress and Mental Health
Mental Health First Aid Webinar
Mental Health and Stress for Agricultural Producers
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Number: 988
Agri Stress Helpline: 833-897-2474
Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller
Guest: Dr. Ginger Fenton, Penn State Extension dairy educator
Photo credit: United Soybean Board

S2E3: Farm Machinery Selection and Management

Agronomy Highlights

10/11/23 • 46 min

Recorded: 8/1/23
It takes a tremendous amount of mechanical power to keep a modern farm operation running, and in this episode, we dive into all aspects of farm machinery. We're covering which pieces of equipment are necessary for an operation, the tradeoffs of owning equipment vs. hiring a custom applicator, and how to manage equipment once you have it. A special "thank you" to fellow educator Zach Curtis for joining us and weighing in on our discussion.
Useful Links:
New & Used Farm Equipment For Sale
Ag Decision Maker
Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guest: Zachary Curtis, Penn State Extension
Photo credit: Pixabay.com

S2E4: Corn Ear Rots

Agronomy Highlights

10/30/23 • 32 min

Recorded: 9/5/2023
Join us as we sit down with one of our best plant pathologists to discuss some of the most common corn ear rots that afflict our Pennsylvania corn crop. Dr. Murillo-Williams explains what typically causes these ear rots to develop, how to identify them, and what farmers can do to manage them. We also discuss livestock safety issues related to mycotoxin production and which corn ear rots produce the most harmful mycotoxins.
Useful Links:
Corn Ear Rots and Mycotoxins
Ear Rots in Your Corn Crop?
An Overview of Ear Rots
Grain and Silage Sampling and Mycotoxin Testing
Host: Hosts: Joseph Akins and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dr. Adriana Murillo-Williams, Penn State Extension
Photo credit: Dr. Alyssa Collins, Penn State University

S2E9: Year in Review

Agronomy Highlights

12/08/23 • 53 min

Recorded: 11/13/23
Senior agronomist Kevin Fry shares his take on the 2023 growing season in this episode. Everything from the spring drought and Candian wildfire smoke to soybean white mold and weed escapes in corn were covered in the show. Join us to reflect on the 2023 growing season to help you better prepare for the year ahead!
Host: Joseph Akins, Penn State Extension
Guest: Kevin Fry, Pioneer

S2E15: Managing Pokeweed and Burcucumber

Agronomy Highlights

03/01/24 • 73 min

Recorded 2/12/24
Certain weeds seem to be tough to control no matter what we do, and for many row crop farms in Pennsylvania, pokeweed and burcucumber certainly fit this description. If you’re struggling to manage one, or both, of these weeds, then this episode will give you some valuable management recommendations on how to get these nuisances under control. We are joined again by one of our resident weed control experts, Mr. Dwight Lingenfelter, who helps shed light on how to alter herbicide programs and use good cultural practices for dealing with pokeweed and burcucumber.
Links:
Managing Burcucumber in Agronomic Crops
Pokeweed Control in Corn and Soybean
Host: Joseph Akins, Penn State Extension
Guest: Dwight Lingenfelter, Penn State Extension

S2E16: Sulfur Fertilization

Agronomy Highlights

04/01/24 • 51 min

Recorded: 2/13/2024
Sulfur is a critical secondary crop nutrient, especially for corn production. In this episode, Dr. Charlie White joins us for a hearty discussion on why, when, and how to apply sulfur to crops. We also get into the specifics of why it’s difficult to accurately assess sulfur levels in the field, as well as the chemical nature of sulfur and its level of availability.
Links:
Sulfur Fertility Management for Grain and Forage Crops
Host: Joseph Akins, Penn State Extension
Guest: Charles White, Penn State
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S2E20: Summer Annual Forages

Agronomy Highlights

06/03/24 • 58 min

Recorded: 5/21/2024
Interested in increasing forage availability during the summer slump? Summer annual forages might be for you! In this episode, we bring on forage crop and beef systems expert Dr. Daren Redfearn of the University of Nebraska to discuss types of summer annual forages, growing these crops, and how to best incorporate them into your farming operation. Forage species discussed include sorghum, sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass, and pearl millet.
Links:
Alternative Forages for Spring and Summer Planting
NebGuide: Summer Annual Forage Grasses
UNL BEEF: Recent BeefWatch Topics
Hosts: Joseph Akins and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guest: Daren Redfearn, University of Nebraska
Photo credit: Troy Walz, UNL Beef

S2E12: All About Soil Microbiology

Agronomy Highlights

02/02/24 • 56 min

Recorded: 1/5/2024
I was once asked a question about whether fungicidal seed treatments negatively impacted beneficial soil fungi. While researching this question, I came across the work of Dr. Jim Germida from the University of Saskatchewan. In this episode, we get into a broad-ranging conversation about the many aspects of soil microbiology with a true expert. This is a valuable conversation for anyone looking to learn more about what’s happening below the soil in their fields!
Links:
James J. Germida's Citations
Host: Joseph Akins, Penn State Extension
Guest: James J. Germida, University of Saskatchewan

S3E8: Farm Succession Planning

Agronomy Highlights

11/13/24 • 66 min

Recorded: 10/28/2024
Ever wondered what it takes to become a successful multi-generation farm? In this episode, Ryan and Justin investigate the often-tricky process of farm succession and transition planning. Guests Joy Kirkpatrick and Darlene Livingston discuss what farm succession and transition planning means to producers, tensions that may arise during the process, and how to start your own farm plan.
Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension
Guests: Joy Kirkpatrick and Darlene Livingston
Links:
Cultivating Your Farm’s Future
Pennsylvania Farm Link Resource Hub
Farm Succession with Pennsylvania Farm Link
Photo Credit: Ryan Spelman

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FAQ

How many episodes does Agronomy Highlights have?

Agronomy Highlights currently has 63 episodes available.

What topics does Agronomy Highlights cover?

The podcast is about Agronomy, Podcasts, Education and Agriculture.

What is the most popular episode on Agronomy Highlights?

The episode title 'S1E28: Slugs: The Mollusk Menace' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Agronomy Highlights?

The average episode length on Agronomy Highlights is 53 minutes.

How often are episodes of Agronomy Highlights released?

Episodes of Agronomy Highlights are typically released every 14 days.

When was the first episode of Agronomy Highlights?

The first episode of Agronomy Highlights was released on Aug 24, 2022.

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Agronomy Highlights

Penn State Extension

Top 10 Agronomy Highlights Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Agronomy Highlights have?

What topics does Agronomy Highlights cover?

What is the most popular episode on Agronomy Highlights?

What is the average episode length on Agronomy Highlights?

How often are episodes of Agronomy Highlights released?

When was the first episode of Agronomy Highlights?

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