The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

25:47

How Land Judging Prepares Future Farmers

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/05/13

Mike revisits where his career first began—the National Land and Range Judging Contest. He sits down with three North Dakota 4-H'ers at the 74th annual contest to uncover their experiences, what they learn and how the event prepares them for a future in farming. Plus, we're joined by Larry Wright, one of the contest's officials to explore how the event emphasizes the importance of protecting our resources through land, range and homesite judging. He discusses the effort that goes into the

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21:54

Cover Crops: Planting With a Purpose

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/05/06

Are cover crops a worthwhile investment? Do their benefits outweigh their potential drawbacks? Join Mike Howell and North Dakota State University's Assistant Professor of Extension Soil Science, Dr. Brady Goettl, as they explore the value of planting cover crops for your soil (and not for sale). From Dr. Goettl's opinion on the benefits and drawbacks of cover cropping to current incentive programs and practical tips for cover crop planning, we discuss it all in this exciting episode. Tune in today

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22:50

Are We Overlooking Potassium?

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/04/29

Potassium is one of the most simple and affordable nutrients in your fertilizer program. Dig into how it's produced, where it's mined from and the need for potash on Canadian soils on this episode of The Dirt. Join Mike Howell and Nutrien Senior Agronomist Lyle Cowell as they explore the vital role that potassium plays throughout crop production. From impacting nutrient availability and water balance to supporting plant development and reproduction, we explore it all. We uncover how potassium

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30:57

The Surprising Science Behind Sweet Potato Production

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/04/22

How many crops can actually benefit from stress? Sweet potatoes are in a league of their own. In fact, they've recently become Mississippi's official state vegetable. Join Mike Howell and Crop Consultant, Phil McKibben, as they explore the surprising science behind sweet potato production. Explore what makes this crop different, from their resilience under stress to the important role of the mother plant. Dive into everything from soil fertility considerations to harvest management tips on this

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30:27

Supercharging Your Soil With Starter Fertilizers

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/04/15

Do starter fertilizers really set you up for success? Join Mike Howell and Nutrien Senior Agronomist, Dr. Alan Blaylock, as they uncover the role that starter fertilizer plays in our fields. From early crop growth and root development to stronger yields and earlier maturity, we uncover how you can supercharge your soil with starters. Tune in to uncover the benefits and potential limitations of starting your season with starter fertilizer. Explore expert insights that can help you sprout success

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37:56

Spreading Success With Manure Management

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/04/08

Managing manure may not be glamorous, but it can be a key player in your nutrient management plan. Unpack the nutrient value of manure in this episode of The Dirt. From what your soil says about manure management to the benefits and drawbacks, we explore it all to help you uncover its true value in your fields. What's the difference between dry and liquid manure? How much manure can you apply? How is manure stored throughout the season? How does composting support manure management? Uncover the

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31:30

The Goalpost Has Moved: Soil's New Demands

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/04/01

The goalpost has shifted in nutrient management—are you keeping up? Explore new insights from the University of Kentucky to help meet your soil's rising demand for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur on this episode of The Dirt. Declining soil test levels inspired the University to revisit their nutrient management recommendations. What actually changed? How can you maintain an optimum rate of each nutrient? Find out everything you need to know in this exciting episode with Mike Howell

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30:33

Maximizing Fertilizer Efficiency on a Budget

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/03/25

Uncover the pros and cons of cutting back on fertilizer and strategies to optimize fertilizer efficiency. Kick off season four with Mike Howell as he takes a closer look at how growers can manage phosphorus and potassium under tight budgets and the importance of maintaining an optimum soil test range. Explore the value of fertilizer in various soil types, uncover tips for managing your nutrient budget and discover how nutrients work together to boost your yield and profitability. Looking for the

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23:14

Boosting Bottom Lines In Today's Market

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/03/18

Are costs trending in a positive direction? How will looming tariffs impact your profitability? What do crop prices look like in today's market conditions? Dive into the state of the current agriculture market with Mike Howell and Iowa State University Extension Economist, Chad Hart, on this episode of The Dirt. What do fertilizer costs look like this year? How is the weather affecting crop prices and market conditions? What do the corn, cotton and soybean crop markets look like today? Explore

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26:58

Tariffs Explained: What It Means for Agriculture

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/03/11

What will agriculture look like this year? From tariffs and trade to farm bills and ag innovation, the President and CEO of The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) breaks down the latest issues they are advocating for around the world. Dig into the role that TFI plays in fertilizer industry and the critical issues they focus on. From energy policy to the effects of Tariffs on the fertilizer supply chain, we break down everything you need to know about what's next for agriculture. Looking for the latest in

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21:08

Preparing for Planting: What the Weather Says

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2025/03/04

What's up with the weather? From western wildfires to southern snow, we go all in on the weather to help you prepare for a successful growing season. Mike Howell kicks off season four with crowd favorite, Principal Atmospheric Scientist and Nutrien Senior Science Fellow, Eric Snodgrass, to explore how winter and spring weather will affect the upcoming planting and growing season. Where can growers expect drought, flooding or other unexpected conditions? What patterns are appearing? What does La

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31:01

A Tale of Two Thanksgivings

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/11/26

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate and give thanks for a bountiful harvest. But it's celebrated in its own way around the world. Why do Canadians celebrate in October? What Thanksgiving traditions are celebrated, and what meals are enjoyed in both the United States and Canada? Are Canadians spending Thanksgiving watching football or hockey? Explore the tale of two Thanksgivings as Mike Howell, and special guest, Lyle Cowell, explore the history and origin of Canadian and American

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21:50

Managing Soybean's Yield Robbing Diseases

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/11/19

What are some of the most common diseases that soybean growers face? How does soil fertility, crop rotation, soil moisture and the weather impact disease management? How do soil health and disease management go hand-in-hand? Tune into this week's episode as Mike Howell chats with soybean specialist, Dr. Wade Webster, to explore best practices and research-driven solutions for disease management. From white mold to soybean cyst nematode, this episode will help you explore common soybean diseases

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24:22

The Path to Pasture Profitability

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/11/12

How can you enhance your forage production to improve profitability? What are some of the most common challenges that cattle producers face in creating profitability on their beef operations? How can you elevate your livestock grazing system to enhance profitability? Tune in as Mike Howell and special guest, Carson Roberts from the University of Missouri, sit down to share their insights and discuss new and upcoming research and findings. From Roberts' current research insights to his plans for

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39:23

Sulfur and Nitrogen, The Dynamic Duo

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/11/05

How can you achieve the right balance of sulfur and nitrogen in your soil? What effect do these two nutrients have on plant nutrition and crop yield? How do sulfur and nitrogen work together in the field? Tune in to this week's episode as Mike Howell sits down with Senior Agronimist, Dr. Alan Blaylock, to uncover the relationship between sulfur and nitrogen. From achieving balanced nutrition and addressing deficiencies to the latest research in the industry, this episode digs into everything you

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17:32

Celebrating 65 Years of Potash Production

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/10/29

Join Mike Howell and special guest, Nutrien's Senior Vice President of Potash Operations, Trevor Berg, as they celebrate 65 years of potash production in Saskatchewan, Canada. Follow Nutrien's journey in potash, from the first Patience Lake mine in 1959 to producing over 20% of the world's potash supply, we dig into it all. Uncover the volunteers, community members and employees who work together to mine this valuable resource, and learn more about the history of potash production and mining in

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36:02

Turning to the Tropics: Farming's Future

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/10/23

Travel to Trinidad in this week's episode as we discuss agriculture and farming in Trinidad and Tobago. What crops are most commonly grown in the region? What challenges do growers face in crop production? What opportunities are available for farmers in Trinidad and Tobago? And how will Nutrien's Model Farm and Agricultural Resource Centre change the future of farming? We uncover it all. Listeners will walk away with a strong understanding of agriculture in the Trinidad and Tobago region and how

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29:21

Weathered But Strong: Rebuilding Georgia's...

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/10/17

In this special episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell is joined by Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall to delve into the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene on Georgia's agricultural sector. Tune in as they explore the challenges faced by farmers in the aftermath of this natural disaster, including crop destruction, infrastructure damage, and economic losses. For more information on how you can help, or to donate to Georgia farmers, visit https://supportgeorgiafarmers.org. The Weathered But

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37:26

Soil Synergies: New Research & Trials

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/10/08

Tune in to this week's episode of The Dirt as Mike Howell sits down with Dr. John Jones to discuss his new agronomic role at the University of Illinois and his important research in soil fertility and agronomy. Take a close look at Dr. Jones' areas of research and the agronomic challenges he is helping producers solve. From the relationship between soil properties and nutrient use efficiency to soil acidity and liming recommendations, we dig into the research and trials that Jones is performing to

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28:48

Building Banks and Boosting Yields

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2024/10/01

This week, Mike Howell sits down with Brady Goettl, the new Assistant Professor of Extension Soil Science with North Dakota State University. From building banks to boosting yields, we uncover expert insights to help North Dakota growers. Tune in as we discuss navigating nutrient management in North Dakota and the importance of supporting your soil. What research has been done to support North Dakota farmers? What unique challenges does the state face in crop production, and how can we address

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