This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our 2023 AFREC research roundup. What is AFREC and how does it help our panelists conduct their research? What AFREC-funded projects are they currently working on? Have there been any interesting findings from the 2023 growing season? What have been our panelists’ favorite AFREC research projects and why? What would happen if AFREC were to go away?  Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)Jeff Vetsch, U of M...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about nitrogen management and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the situation in southeast Minnesota and why is it different from the rest of the state? What is the history of this work in southeast Minnesota on nitrogen issues? What is being done about the situation, and what are our current recommendations for southeast MN? Where does our panel see this issue going in the future? Guests: Brad Carlson, Extension...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about edge of field N and P reduction strategies. What is an edge of field practice and why are they used? What specific practices do our panelists have experience with, and which have the most potential for use in Minnesota? Are these practices a farmer can pursue alone, or do they require local government to be involved? What assistance is available for farmers who are interested in one of these practices?  Guests: Brad...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about fall soil sampling. What do conditions look like around the state? Is there a best time to take soil samples in the fall? What should you watch out for when sampling dry fields? What should you keep in mind when using grid versus zone soil sampling? Guests: Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)  Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about fall manure best practices. What are some best management practices for the fall manure application season? If you're a crop farmer thinking about getting manure this fall, what information do you need from the producer or the manure applicator? What are some things to look out for? What's on the horizon for manure application? What are some practical safety solutions surrounding manure and the application of...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about the fall fertilizer outlook for 2023. What are growing conditions looking like around the state? What is the current status of fertilizer prices and availability in Minnesota? What should growers be thinking about heading into fall? There is a lot of talk about environmental issues related to fertilizer use and the potential for future regulation. How should that play into application decisions for this...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about measuring and building soil carbon, and some challenges and solutions for farmers and researchers. Why is carbon in the soil being considered as a credit in the global carbon cycle? What practices change soil carbon? What makes soil carbon complicated to measure? What do you think is the ideal (or is there an ideal) carbon measurement scheme and what would it look like? What new research exists to address some of these...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re discussing nitrogen decision tools. How much are we actually at risk of losing fall or spring applied nitrogen because soils are saturated in May? What options do we have to assess nitrogen loss following heavy rain? If a grower is planning on applying nitrogen in season, what suggestions would you have for sources, timing, placement, and inhibitors? How late in the growing season can you apply nitrogen and what should you consider?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re discussing soybean fertilizer management. What does the research say on whether foliar application of liquid fertilizer increases yield? Are other nutrients such as sulfur or nitrogen recommended? What nutrients or practices are not suggested for soybean?  Guests: Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) Seth Naeve, Extension soybean...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about the spring fertilizer outlook for 2023. Will the dry conditions last year have repercussions for how fertilizer is managed this year? What considerations should growers be making regarding fertilizer for a potentially late spring? Is there any new research on fertilizer products like biologicals or inhibitors that Minnesota growers should be aware of? Guests: Brad Carlson ([email protected]), Extension educator...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about fertilizing lawns and gardens. Why is proper nutrient management for lawns and gardens important? What should home gardeners and lawn caretakers know about nutrient management? Why is phosphorus fertilizer use restricted in the Twin Cities metro area and on lawns in Minnesota? What can gardeners and lawn caretakers do to protect local water quality? Guests: Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist Natalie...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about watershed planning and nitrate reduction. What are watershed plans and what goes into them? How do watershed plans affect nutrient management decision-making? What should farmers know about edge-of-field and nutrient management planning in relation to water quality goals? Guests: Wayne Cords, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Brad Carlson, Extension nutrient management specialist (Mankato) Jeff Strock, Extension soil...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about variable rate technology. What are some reasons that farmers might want to use variable-rate fertilizer instead of applying a single rate? Is there a difference between variable rating, different nutrient types? What are the technologies that are used to prescribe variable-rate fertilizer and what is the theory behind them? If farmers apply fertilizer at a variable rate, how should they evaluate those outcomes?

In this episode, three University of Minnesota experts discuss biostimulants. What's new on the topic of biostimulants? What new research is there related to biostimulants? How should farmers go about testing biostimulant products?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about soil test myths. First, why is it important to discuss these pervasive myths surrounding soil tests? Myth 1: the Mehlich-3 test is a better test for farmers to consider: Myth 2: I can predict my nitrogen requirement with the cation exchange capacity test. Myth 3: K base saturation is the better way to predict potassium. Myth 4: I need to run an analysis of all micronutrients.

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss surgarbeet nutrient management. How did Minnesota become the nation's top sugarbeet producer? What are some highlights from past sugarbeet nutrient management research in Minnesota? What current studies does the U of M have on sugarbeet nutrient management? What else should growers know about sugarbeet nutrient management?

In this episode, we’re talking about phosphorus and potassium guidelines. Why do P and K guidelines differ from state to state? What is the best way to collect soil samples, and are there benefits from grid sampling? Are there any new technologies out there that may replace soil testing in the future?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about cover crops. What should farmers who are considering growing cover crops this year be thinking about? What are some tips for getting a cover crop established in Minnesota? Should growers consider applying fertilizer to help get a cover crop established? What recent cover crop studies have U of M researchers been doing, and what have we learned from them?

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our annual fall fertilizer outlook. What is the current status of fertilizer prices and availability in Minnesota? What should growers be thinking about heading into fall? Should more growers consider inhibitors and biological products that aim to increase fertilizer efficiency?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss iron deficiency chlorosis (IDC) and soybean nutrient management. What are our guests working on for research on IDC? Is there anything new out there for farmers to help manage IDC? With the late planting and dry conditions following last year's harvest, are any impacts on IDC anticipated this year? What else should growers know about soybean nutrient management?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss challenging spring weather and how growers can move forward. What are field conditions looking like around Minnesota? After a cold, wet April with not much fieldwork, what should growers be thinking about heading into May? How can growers better manage nutrients, and water, as Minnesota's climate gets increasingly wetter?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss spring nutrient management decisions. What are field conditions looking like around Minnesota? What's the status of fertilizer prices and supplies? How can growers save on fertilizer costs this year? Will there be any changes made to the fertilizer guidelines in 2022?

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss Kernza, on track to becoming the world's first perennial grain crop. What is Kernza and why should farmers consider growing it? What do we know about Kernza’s soil fertility needs? For organic producers, what nitrogen sources are suitable for production? What is Kernza’s potential to be used as a “dual-use crop”? Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural...

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss carbon markets. What is soil carbon sequestration and how does it work? What are carbon markets and how do they work? What are the risks and benefits of carbon farming? What else should farmers interested in participating in carbon markets keep in mind? Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC).

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss the Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to corn N rate guidelines. What is the MRTN and why was this system implemented? What are the pros and cons of the MRTN approach and how is it performing? What should corn growers know about alternative approaches to the MRTN? Will there be any changes made to the MRTN approach in the future? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education...