The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

36:56

Which Potash Fertilizer Fits Your Fields?

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/10/06

What should you consider when choosing a potassium source? In this episode, host Dr. Alan Blaylock is joined by David Holden, owner of Holden Research and Consulting, to explore how crop needs, soil properties, water source and the nutrients supplied alongside potassium can affect how well a particular source fits into a system. They compare potassium chloride (MOP) and potassium sulfate (SOP), discuss why chloride can create challenges for certain crops and explain what growers should think about

en

32:04

Understanding the Soil Factors Limiting Yield

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/09/29

Soil fertility isn't always the yield-limiting factor. Compaction, salinity, soil acidity and water management can all affect how well crops grow and how effectively they access nutrients. In this episode, Lyle Cowell is joined by Marla Riekman, Soil Fertility Specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, to explore some of the other factors that can hold back crop performance and productivity. They discuss how salinity and compaction are connected to water management, how soil acidity can affect crop

en

26:06

What Really Influences Soil Organic Matter?

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/09/22

Building soil organic matter has become a common goal for farmers looking to improve soil health, but increasing soil organic matter levels can be harder than we'd expect. In this episode, host Amy Crozier is joined by Andrew McGuire, Irrigated Cropping Systems Extension Agronomist and Grant County Director with Washington State University, to explore what influences soil organic matter (SOM) and which management practices can actually help build or maintain it over time. They discuss the

en

25:28

Building Better Yield Forecasts with Farm Data

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/09/15

Crop yield forecasting isn't new, but the information used to build them has changed. Today, field observations and grower experience can be combined with satellite imagery, weather data and historical records to provide a more complete view of expected production. In this episode, Dr. Karl Wyant is joined by Megan Nunes, founder and CEO of Bountiful, to explore what goes into crop yield forecasting and how forecasting can support budgeting, cash flow and other planning and business decisions

en

29:37

How 4R Nutrient Stewardship Guidance Has Evolved

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/09/08

4R Nutrient Stewardship is becoming more practical, more detailed and more adaptable to the way growers manage nutrients across different crops and regions. In this episode, host Lyle Cowell is joined by Dan Heaney to explore how Fertilizer Canada's updated 4R Practice Guidance has evolved and what's changed in their latest update. They discuss the addition of best management practices for sulfur and potassium, new guidance for manure, newly highlighted practices that don't align with the 4Rs and

en

27:36

Starting the Conversation on Farm Succession

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/09/01

Succession planning can feel daunting and complex. With multiple people bringing different expectations to the table, it can be difficult to build a plan that fits everyone - which is why less than one in five farm families actually have a farm succession plan in place. In this episode, host Amy Crozier sits down with Kevin Brooks, Farm Business Management and Marketing Educator with the University of Illinois, to explore the family dynamics that can make succession and estate planning difficult

en

32:15

Do You Know Your Grain Production Costs?

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/08/25

Understanding your cost of production goes far beyond knowing what you spend on fertilizer. In this episode, Amy Crozier is joined by Eric Olson and Warren Bills from MNP to break down the different elements that make up production costs in grain and why knowing your cost per bushel matters. From gross margins and production expenses to labor, machinery, land and financing, they explore what each piece means and how it can help growers make more informed decisions. They also discuss how agronomic

en

26:43

Understanding Nitrogen Loss Through Denitrification

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/08/18

Denitrification is one of the three main pathways for nitrogen loss, but what is it really, and how much nitrogen do we stand to lose? In this episode, Lyle Cowell is joined by Dr. Erin Daly from the University of Guelph to break down denitrification and the conditions that drive nitrogen loss in the soil. They explore how nitrogen can be lost as nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas, what conditions drive losses and when they are most likely to occur. Erin also shares how CanN₂ONet, a national

en

33:48

What Pistachios Teach Us About Long-Term Planning

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/08/11

What can a crop built to last for generations teach us about planning for the seasons ahead? In this episode, Dr. Karl Wyant is joined by Stephen Vasquez, executive director of the Administrative Committee for Pistachios and the California Pistachio Research Board, to explore the long-term agronomic planning behind pistachio production. From orchard establishment and nutrient management to record keeping and harvest, they uncover how decisions made today can shape productivity for years to come

en

48:33

Soil Testing Myths And Sampling Tips

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/08/04

Soil testing can be a valuable tool, but getting the most from it starts with understanding what you're measuring and how to interpret the results. In this episode, Dr. Alan Blaylock is joined by University of Minnesota soil scientists Dr. Carl Rosen and Dr. Daniel Kaiser to separate fact from fiction when it comes to soil testing. Together, they discuss common soil test myths, what soil tests can and can't tell you, the science behind common soil testing methods and why research-backed

en

19:17

What's Driving Crop And Fertilizer Markets?

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/07/28

Recorded live at Ag In Motion, Jason Newton returns to revisit the market outlook he shared earlier this year and uncover what could shape crop and fertilizer prices heading into fall. Joining Amy Crozier, Jason breaks down the factors driving today's market conditions, from weather and tightening crop supply-and-demand balances to energy prices, geopolitics and global crop production. He also explores current market conditions across nitrogen, phosphate, sulfur and potash markets and what

en

26:29

Mid-Season Weather Update and Harvest Outlook

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/07/21

Eric Snodgrass is back to revisit the spring weather outlook he shared earlier this year and what the rest of the growing season could look like. In this episode, he joins Amy Crozier to explore how weather patterns have evolved across North America and around the world. From shifting drought conditions to the rapid development of El Niño, Eric explains how the season has unfolded so far, what these changing patterns could mean in the months ahead and the key weather risks he's watching as we

en

38:12

Why Your Irrigation Water Matters

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/07/14

Your irrigation water plays a bigger role in your operation than you might think. In this episode, Cory Broad joins Dr. Karl Wyant to explore why irrigation water should be treated as an agronomic input. They discuss how water quality can affect the performance of your irrigation system, why that matters for irrigation efficiency and fertigation and what a water sample can reveal about your operation. Plus, learn why routine water sampling matters, what distribution uniformity means, how common

en

37:49

Choosing the Right Soil pH Strategy

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/07/07

When your soil pH becomes a concern, what options do you have? In this episode, Dr. Antonio Mallarino joins Dr. Alan Blaylock to discuss practical approaches to managing soil pH and soil acidity. They explore how soil testing and grid sampling can help identify pH issues, the role of lime in managing soil acidity, the advantages and disadvantages of various lime sources, and how soil pH and buffer pH can be used to determine lime needs. Plus, learn how to evaluate lime quality, whether it's

en

28:48

Building Resilience Through Farm Risk Management

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/06/30

Farm risk management goes far beyond crop insurance. In this episode, Amy Crozier sits down with Mathieu Lipari, National Risk Management Lead at Farm Management Canada, to explore what risk management really means and how a whole-farm approach can help drive success. From trade uncertainty and climate challenges to farm transition planning and financial management, they discuss the risks facing agriculture today and how farmers can identify, assess and prioritize them. Learn how proactive

en

29:10

What It Takes To Grow Produce

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/06/23

What does it take to grow high-quality produce? Agronomist Christopher Hight from Grimmway Produce Group joins host Dr. Karl Wyant to explore the agronomy behind produce production. With experience managing more than 65 different vegetable crops, Christopher breaks down everything from nutrient management, irrigation and soil health to fertilizer efficiency and the strategies used to produce high-quality fruits and vegetables all year long. Explore what's unique about produce production and

en

34:48

How Soil pH Changes and What You Can Do About It

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/06/16

From fertilizer applications to crop rotations, many of the decisions made each season can influence your soil pH over time. In this episode, Dr. Miles Dyck from the University of Alberta joins Dr. Alan Blaylock to discuss what soil pH is, why it matters and what growers should know about managing acidic and alkaline soils. Learn how fertilizer management, crop rotations and nutrient removal influence soil pH, the challenges associated with high and low soil pH levels and the options available

en

26:56

The Cost Of Overlooking Nutrients

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/06/09

Focusing on one nutrient like nitrogen might yield immediate results, but long-term production requires a more balanced approach. In this episode, Norm Dueck joins Amy Crozier to discuss what a balanced nutrient management plan looks like and why it's becoming increasingly important in crop production. As crops remove more nutrients from the soil, we must look beyond a handful of key nutrients and consider how a more balanced approach can help you avoid deficiencies, depletion and imbalances that

en

27:10

Do You Know The Value Of Your Crop Residue?

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/06/02

The residue your crops leave behind is going to impact next season's crop whether you think about it or not. Too much residue can create challenges like disease pressure and poor planting conditions. Too little can leave topsoil exposed. Managed properly, crop residue can help build soil health, support better planting conditions and cycle nutrients back into the soil. So how should we think about managing it? Dr. Cassidy Million, VP of Science at BW Fusion, joins us to explore why residue

en

46:04

Replacing What's Removed: Phosphorus And Potassium

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast ·

2026/05/26

What happens when crops remove phosphorus and potassium from the soil, and what does it take to replenish them? In this episode, we're in the classroom at Mississippi State University sitting down with Dr. Vaughn Reed to explore how to manage nutrient removal and replenishment by thinking about your soil like a bank account. From what's immediately available to the crop versus what takes time to become available, to how different soils respond to replenishment and the economics of rebuilding

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Science Weekly

The Guardian

La Science CQFD

France Culture

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

eKonomics

La Science, CQFD

France Culture

Travelers In The Night

Albert D. Grauer