Special Guest: Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti Cremostim, Extension Forage Agronomist & State Specialist 

Headland Highlights: Troy Salzer, Local Extension Educator (St. Louis County) 

Hosts: David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, and Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Soybean Specialist

In Episode #66 of MN CropCast, we are thrilled to welcome one of the newest faculty members to the University of Minnesota Department of Agronomy!

The hosts sit down with Dr. Beatriz Bizzuti Cremostim, our brand-new Extension Forage Agronomist and State Specialist. With her appointment in forage research and Extension, she is stepping into a crucial role for Minnesota's agricultural landscape.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Meet the Specialist: Get to know Beatriz, her background, and what she brings to the U of M Agronomy Department. We'll dive into her plans for forage research and how her Extension work will support producers across the state.
• Forage Focus: A look at the current state of forage agronomy, highlighting the intersections of research and practical, on-farm application.
• Headland Highlights: After our chat with Beatriz, we pull in a special report straight from the field. Troy Salzer, operating out of the Duluth office, joins the show to provide a comprehensive forage update covering the current alfalfa conditions throughout the state of Minnesota.

Whether you manage pastures or just want to stay up to date with the latest experts leading Minnesota's agricultural research, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Tune in to Episode #66 today to meet the newest member of the U of M agronomy team! Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

In Episode #65 of MN CropCast, hosts David Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Rob Holcomb to discuss a critical and timely topic: Minnesota's new Paid Leave Program. While traditional corporate employers might be accustomed to navigating complex leave programs, these recent state mandates represent uncharted territory for many farmers. If your operation relies on hired help and you are issuing W-2s, this episode is a must-listen.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The Basics of the Mandate: A breakdown of the new Minnesota paid leave program (at the highest level) and how it applies to agricultural employers.
• Who is Affected: Whether your focus is on crops or livestock, if you manage labor and issue W-2s at year’s end, these rules apply to you.
• Compliance and Best Practices: Important considerations and actionable advice to ensure your farming operation remains compliant with these new state-level labor requirements.

Dealing with labor in agriculture is challenging enough without surprise regulations. Let Rob Holcomb bring you up to date and help you prepare your farm business for these upcoming changes.

Tune in to Episode #65 today to get the essential updates for your farm! Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

As a University of Minnesota Extension Soybean Specialist, Seth doesn't just study how to grow a better bean—he travels the globe to convince international buyers why U.S. and Upper Midwest soybeans are the smartest purchase they can make. If you’ve ever been frustrated by the "low protein" knock on Minnesota soybeans, this episode is a must-listen.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Busting the "Crude Protein" Myth: Seth explains why buying soybeans based purely on crude protein (nitrogen content) is an outdated practice. Discover the science behind why Northern soybeans, despite having lower overall protein quantity, boast a superior quality due to a concentration of highly digestible essential amino acids.
• Boots on the Ground in Asia: Get a look at recent trade missions to Indonesia and Vietnam. Learn how these massive markets differ—from Indonesia’s heavy demand for whole U.S. beans for human food (tempeh and tofu) to Vietnam’s booming swine and aquaculture sectors demanding high-quality soybean meal.
• Capitalizing on the Domestic Crush Boom: With U.S. domestic crush capacity surging, there is significantly more soybean meal hitting the market. Seth breaks down why this increased supply, paired with shifting geopolitical trade routes, creates a golden opportunity to get U.S. meal into the hands of foreign end-users who have historically relied on South America.
• The Power of the Northern Soybean Marketing Group: Learn how checkoff dollars from Minnesota and the Dakotas are being pooled to directly educate overseas integrators and feed millers, proving that the logistics of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) combined with our amino acid profile, energy content, and physical quality makes for a winning, undervalued product.

Whether you are deep in the weeds of soybean physiology or just want to understand the macroeconomic forces driving the price at your local co-op, Seth provides a fascinating look at the art and science of marketing our crop to the world.

Tune in to Episode #64 now to hear why right now is the perfect time to be aggressively promoting Northern soybeans!

Today, we are joined by Ryan Miller, who is an Extension Educator based in Rochester and works throughout Southeast Minnesota. We discuss the severe weather that visited the area on the evening of April 13th and get a firsthand update on planting progress in his region.

Episode Highlights:

• Severe Weather Impacts: Ryan confirms news reports of tennis-ball-sized hail and corresponding localized heavy rainfall events.
• Planting Progress: The region is off to a relatively slow start for row crop production. While most spring cereals were successfully planted during the very late March window, cooler temperatures, rain, and spring winds through the first two weeks of April have greatly slowed field activities.
• Field Work Status: There have been some tillage and fertilizer applications, but they are not widespread. Early row crop plantings are similarly scattered.

Please join us for this episode, and stay tuned for future MN CropCast: Headland Highlights for more regional crop check-ins.

In this timely episode of Minnesota CropCast, hosts Dave and Seth Naeve are joined in the studio by Ed Usset, Grain Marketing Economist with University of Minnesota and Extension. Ed brings his decades of expertise to break down current market dynamics, domestic crush capacity, and the psychological hurdles of selling grain in a tight-margin year.

Key Episode Highlights:

• The "11th Commandment" of Grain Marketing: Ed explains why holding unpriced old crop in the bin past July 1st is a major risk, and how farmers can capitalize on recent soybean rallies.
• Making Sense of a Weak Basis: Despite ethanol and crush plants running at near-full capacity, local basis levels for corn, soybeans, and wheat are historically poor. Ed breaks down the local supply factors driving this trend.
• The Soybean Crush Boom: They take a dive into the massive nationwide expansion of soybean crush capacity driven by renewable diesel. Learn why soybean oil has officially overtaken meal as the primary value driver of the bean.
• New Crop Price Targets: Ed shares his pre-harvest minimum price targets for December corn, November soybeans, and September wheat. With beans trading near his $11.40 target and corn nudging his $5.00 goal, he discusses why it might be time to start putting sales on the books.
• The Psychology of Selling: How to avoid the trap of holding out for "home runs" during unpredictable weather markets and instead focus on base hits that cover your production costs.

Whether you're keeping an eye on South American yields, tracking geopolitical shifts out of China, or just trying to navigate this year's input costs, Ed’s no-nonsense approach to grain marketing is required listening.

Tune in to the full episode of Minnesota CropCast today to get your 2026 marketing plan on track!

Key Topics Covered:

• Smart Sprayers and Camera Tech: The group discussed camera-based smart spray technology that accurately identifies weeds and directs herbicide application. They discuss the opportunities for this new technology for row-crop farmers.  
• Robotic and Drone Applications: An introductory discussion about how targeted applications kill weeds by applying chemicals only where they grow, including a look at autonomous robotic sprayers running long hours in the field and the current capabilities (and limitations) of agricultural drones.
• High-Voltage Weed Control: An exploration into how high-voltage currents use resistive heating to rupture plant cells as the charge passes through, effectively killing the weed or severely suppressing its growth.
• AI and Laser Weeding: Discussion also about artificial intelligence and computer vision identify crops and target weeds, using lasers to burn them away without damaging the crop.

Key Topics Covered:

• Tackling Problem Weeds: The group discusses targeted strategies for controlling aggressive, yield-robbing weeds like waterhemp and giant ragweed in corn, soybean, and sugarbeet systems.
• The Power of Multiple Sites of Action: Drs. Peters and Sarangi share research results demonstrating that pre-emergence (PRE) herbicides containing two or three sites of action deliver greater, more consistent control and biomass reduction of waterhemp and giant ragweed compared to single-site PRE options.
  • Herbicide Updates: including -- Convintro (group 12; Bayer), Liberty Ultra 1.76SL (glufosinate [Liberty]; group 10; BASF), Rapidicil 0.46EC (epyrifenacil; group 14; Valent), and Rimisoxafen (Groups 12 and 32; FMC)
• Proactive Resistance Management: The group also discussed how applying robust PRE herbicides lowers the overall risk of developing herbicide resistance and buys growers valuable flexibility for post-emergence application timing.
• Application Best Practices: The Specialists reviewed some critical best management practices for applying dicamba and glufosinate post-emergence. They detailed how to achieve optimal weed control while safely avoiding off-target movement and preventing further resistance development.

Dr. Morrell has had a fascinating journey to the U of M. He grew up in southern Oklahoma, earned his Ph.D. back in 1997, and spent time researching genetics in the corporate world at Monsanto in St. Louis before officially joining the Minnesota faculty in 2009. Today, he is essentially a master codebreaker for plant DNA. As an evolutionary geneticist, Dr. Morrell uses big data and computer science to figure out exactly how wild plants evolved into the reliable crops we rely on today—specifically focusing on crops like barley, soybeans, and common beans. His lab looks at the genetic fingerprints left behind by breeders and farmers to understand how plants mix, match, and mutate their DNA to survive.

In fact, his work recently made waves in the journal Science. He co-authored a study on a mind-boggling, 100-year evolutionary experiment on barley, giving us an unprecedented, real-time look at how crops naturally adapt to their local environments over a century.  On top of tracking what happens when farmed crops accidentally swap genetics with wild weeds, he also teaches a popular undergraduate course on the science and agronomy of marijuana, breaking down the complex biology of the plant for his students.

Join us for another Minnesota Crop Cast today.

Originally from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Matt completed his graduate work right here in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics with Craig Sheaffer and Don Wyse. Currently, Matt serves as the Perennial Grains and Winter Annuals Agronomy Specialist for the Department and the Forever Green Initiative (FGI).

In this episode, Matt dives into the most established crops in the FGI portfolio, including Kernza, Camelina, Winter barley, and Hybrid Winter Rye.  He shares his experience working one-on-one with farmers to identify alternative crop species that fit their unique operations, maximizing ecological and economic benefits while reducing overall risk. Beyond the field, Matt also writes extension publications for producers and lectures at winter meetings and summer field days.
Please join David and Seth for another fun and fascinating episode of the Minnesota CropCast!
For more information on the Forever Green Initiative and new value-added crops, visit:
https://forevergreen.umn.edu

In this edition of Minnesota CropCast (Episode #57), hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Bob Stupar, Professor of Agronomy and Plant Genetics and Legume Geneticist at the University of Minnesota. The conversation traces Bob’s unique path from suburban Milwaukee to his current role leading legume genetics and genomics research at the U.

The group takes a shallow dive (cannonball?) into the complex world of soybean engineering. Dr. Stupar explains the critical process of identifying genes of interest, validating their functionality, and engineering soybeans to possess important, novel traits. He also highlights the importance of maintaining and updating reference genomes—the essential "blueprints" for scientific advancement—using historical examples to illustrate their impact. Additionally, the discussion covers how gene editing is being used to improve quality traits, such as reducing antinutritional components in soybeans.

Despite these technical achievements, Dr. Stupar shares that his proudest contribution in his lab isn't just the data, but the people. He emphasizes that his #1 priority is graduate student training and workforce development, ensuring the next generation of scientists is ready to lead.

In this edition of Minnesota CropCast (Episode #56), hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Anna Cates, the University of Minnesota Extension Soil Health Specialist. The group discusses Dr. Cates' unique role and the current state of cover crops and soil health across Minnesota.

Dr. Cates leads the MN Office for Soil Health (MOSH), which is dedicated to improving soil health by working with farmers and conservation professionals. Born on a Wisconsin farm and educated at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (PhD in Agronomy, MS in Soil Science and Agroecology), she now works to turn research into on-the-ground conservation.

The episode explores the partnership between MOSH and the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), highlighting how they collaborate to provide funding, policy implementation, and technical guidance to local partners like Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs).

Tune in to hear discussions on:

• Farmer adoption of conservation practices and cover crops.
• An upcoming intensive educational opportunity: The Cover Crop Academy.

Please join us for another lively and informative MN CropCast.

The discussion also previews the spring release of the updated University of Minnesota Small Grains Guide, a key resource for selecting varieties and refining production practices. Additionally, Jochum explores the potential for oat production in southern Minnesota.

Finally, the episode covers the 2026 Small Grains Update educational seminars. Sponsored by the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council, these free, discussion-based workshops cover agronomics, variety selection, soil fertility, and economics.

Register for a seminar near you at z.umn.edu/smallgrainsupdate:

·       Feb 16: Grand Rapids (NCROC)

·       Feb 17: Cold Spring (Great Blue Heron)

·       Feb 18: Le Center (4H Family Center) & Rochester (Aune Hall)

·       Feb 19: Slayton (Murray County 4H-Building)

·       Feb 20: Benson (McKinney's on Southside)

During the podcast Jodi reviewed how soil compaction can occur any time a heavy piece of equipment moves across a field and what factors increase the probability of it occurring. Such as when moving heavy equipment or tilling the soil when it is wet causes clay particles to slide around against each other, eventually ending up much closer to one another with fewer soil pores than before the field operation took place. Jodi emphasized that the primary goal is prevention for soil compaction via reducing axle loads, trips and adjusting tire pressure among other practices. Jodi also discussed some different field-based practices/tillage options to alleviate soil compaction via mechanical remediation etc.

Finally, Jodi recommended that crop producers consider attending virtually the Northern Soil Compaction Conference that will occur on four Tuesday mornings (9 am-noon CST) this February (Feb 3, 10, 17, 24). For a more in-depth discussion about the factors causing, preventing and alleviating soil compaction. Registration for the conference can be found at this conference site.

In this week’s Minnesota CropCast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Seth Naeve sit down with University of Minnesota Extension Corn Agronomist, Dr. Jeff Coulter. Together, they review the 2025 Minnesota corn crop and discuss how this year’s unique challenges should inform producer decisions for 2026.

The 2025 season was distinct: it began with a very short and early start with a long stretch of moderate weather, only to be interrupted by a cool August and significant late-season drought in West Central Minnesota. The group breaks down how these environmental swings impacted corn yields and analyzes the unusual disease pressure faced by growers—specifically the heavy hit of Southern Rust in addition to routine corn diseases.

Looking ahead, Dr. Coulter explores the trait landscape for 2026, including insect and disease resistance packages and the rising interest in "short stature" corn hybrids. Join us today for a full breakdown on Minnesota CropCast.

In this week's CropCast, hosts Seth and Dave sit down with University of Minnesota Agriculture Business Management Educator, Nathan Hulinsky, to discuss one of the largest input costs for crop farmers: land costs. Nathan provides current examples of typical cash rent and land costs in Minnesota and gives an overview of Extension Farmland Rental workshops scheduled for 2025 and 2026. These workshops cover local historic and projected farmland rental rate trends, current farmland values and sales, and include a worksheet Nathan utilizes to help participants create a fair rental agreement. Landlords, farmers, and agri-business professionals should plan to attend one of these informative meetings being held across Minnesota and online. A list of workshop locations and times can be viewed online at https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/farmland-rental-workshop.

Working with colleagues at the Center for Farm Financial Management and in Extension, Ed developed the acclaimed Winning the Game workshop series and manages Commodity Challenge, an online marketing education game that uses real-time cash and futures data. At the University, he also teaches Commodity Markets to undergraduate and graduate students.

In this episode, Ed stresses the economic importance for grain growers to complete final marketing of any 2024 crop still in storage by this fall. He shares suggestions and target prices to help producers forward-price grain, drawing on seasonal post-harvest market patterns—especially critical during times of lower prices and weakened demand under current trade policies. He also reviews the potential financial impacts of economic constraints on U.S. feed grain exports, particularly corn in 2025.

Finally, Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Soybean Extension Specialist, discusses soybean export needs across Asian markets and what shifting demand means for Upper Midwest producers.

Farmers in the Northarvest (Minnesota and North Dakota) region grow a wide range of dry bean types including pinto, navy, black, dark red kidney, light red kidney, white kidney, Great Northern, pink, small red, and cranberry beans. Darrol reviewes some best management practices of successful dry bean growers concerning planting dates, populations, weed control and crop inputs. Mitch Coulter discusses dry bean markets, research, uses, exports and the increasing acreage for specific varieties of dry beans. Mitch also comments on legislative efforts to improve the usage and production of dry beans. Additional dry bean resources can be found at the Northarvest Bean Institute Website- https://beaninstitute.com/  and Northarvest Bean Grower Magazine which includes the annual Research Publication:  https://northarvestbean.org/beangrower-magazine/

These two gentlemen reviewed the crop growing season and early harvest results for sugarbeets, corn and soybeans in western Minnesota. They discussed early planting delays, limited seasonal rainfall, weed concerns and why some early yield results were better than expected. Factors such as genetic improvement and cultural management contributed significantly to the improvement for some area yields. Tom and Zach also provided advice on 2024 selection criteria when ordering corn and soybean (SCN tolerance) inputs as well as pest management & crop rotation of sugarbeets, corn and soybeans.

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast. 

This analysis includes data representing approximately 13% of Minnesota’s farms with gross incomes over $250,000 annually. It was compiled from 2,198 participants in the Minnesota State Farm Business Management programs and 115 members of the Southwest Farm Business Management Association. The data is collected by FINBIN (finbin.umn.edu), a database that provides farm-level financial data, commodity-specific reports and benchmark reports for peer comparison.  According to the data the median net farm income for Minnesota farms dropped to $21,964 in 2024, marking the lowest level this century. Falling crop prices coupled with below-trendline crop yields due to weather extremes resulted in low incomes, especially for crop producers.

In addition to reviewing the results of the 2024 farm income analysis, Curtis discussed a new free farm income decision aid software tool for use by Minnesota farmers and ag professionals from the Center for Farm Financial Management called “CropCost” which will help to determine the cost of production for field and specialty crops. CropCost is designed to help identify the cost of production for each crop you grow, as well as breakeven cost of production at varying yields and expense amounts. 

The Center for Farm Financial Management at the University of Minnesota develops software, web applications and educational programs focused on farm financial planning, financial analysis, business planning and commodity marketing for farmers and ranchers, educators, lenders, small business owners and other ag professionals.

Curtis Mahnken joined the Center for Farm Financial Management in 2010 as an Extension Economist.  Prior to arriving at the center, he spent four years with the University of Kentucky as an Area Extension Specialist in Farm Business Management. He grew up on a 100 cow dairy farm in southern Illinois and has been described as having milk running through his veins.

In this podcast, Dave and Seth discussed with Bob how the University of Minnesota Research Updates for Ag Professionals event can help Ag Professionals and growers find research-based strategies to deal with today's changing pests, diseases, varieties, and nutrient and environmental recommendations. Participants at each of the five locations located across Minnesota will be able to visit in person with experienced university researchers and colleagues to discuss topics of interest to their region.

In January 2025, the Research updates will be held in Waseca (January 7), Oronoco (January 9), Willmar (January 14), Lamberton (January 15) and Crookston (January 16). Program details including schedule, presentation titles and speakers for each session can be found on the Research Updates website. Both the Waseca and Lamberton sites will feature an expanded program this year of interest to both ag professionals and crop producers.

Follow this link for online registration: Register online

Dr. Malvick provided a review of the corn tar spot disease biology and the 2024 spread of the disease in corn production fields this year across Minnesota and into adjoining states. Dean specifically provided what is known and what is not known about progression and incidence of the disease occurrence in relation to weather, environment, wind spread and crop rotation effects. Because of the many disease risk factors that can occur each year there is not a simple answer to managing this disease. Dean discussed these factors and possible management controls such as hybrid corn selection, along with the use and timing of foliar fungicides. He also reviewed the best management practice for timely scouting for the presence of the disease in the summer of the growing season to provide more information when determining the use of corn foliar fungicides.

To see a distribution map where tar spot has been confirmed and real-time disease activity during the growing season in the US, visit https://corn.ipmpipe.org/tarspot/.

To learn more about the identification, biology, weather and research trials relating to the management of corn tar spot please refer to a previous episode of a University of Minnesota Strategic Farming webcast report from 2023.

Dave and Seth chat with Curt about the soybean harvest progress and yields.  The exceptionally dry and warm fall conditions have left Minnesota soybeans in an unusually dry condition that has led to yield losses for the farmer who is selling overly dry soybeans plus significant field losses due to shattering and harvest loss.  Curt discusses his opinions related to yield losses due to the excess spring and summer rainfall and late drought conditions and reports on the soybean yields farmers are seeing in his region.  Curt chats with Seth and Dave about variety selection for both corn and soybean.  Curt is concerned about other fall activities during this very dry fall.  Soil tests may be particularly accurate and will be difficult to pull, and warm and dry soils will lead to N losses for aggressive farmers.

  
Join Dave and Seth for another great Minnesota CropCast with Curt Burns.

Dr. Becker came to the University of Minnesota in 1987 where his long and winding professional career began in earnest.  Roger’s research and Extension activities focused on issues of great contemporary importance where professional voids occurred.  For example, his earliest work was around groundwater contamination with herbicides that focused on weed management in forage crops.  Later, when a colleague in the Horticulture department who supported weed control for sweetcorn producers retired, Roger took on this role as well.

Dr. Becker began closely working with MDA and DNR when purple loosestrife was put on the noxious weeds list.  This weed was the thread that really connected Roger with the invasive species as well as the biocontrol, and regulatory communities.  Roger has been an instrumental player in the biocontrol of invasive weed species ever since.  

With Dr. Becker nearing retirement, this conversation reminds us of both the importance of Roger’s work, but also the varied and meandering route that academics sometimes take to make the largest impact for their clientele.  Please join Dave and Seth for another interesting MN CropCast episode.

March began on a very dry note, with extreme warmth. Kenny points to several excellent examples of the extreme variability of recent weather events such as in the Twin Cities, where a run of 33 days with no measurable precipitation that began on February 16th and continued through March 20th.  This became the 2nd longest streak without measurable precipitation on record and lead to the opportunity for early season spring field work in out-state, Minnesota. 

More recently, the proportion of Minnesota with above-normal precipitation grew to about 90% during April, with only the far north and a small part of the southeast coming in dry. However, by contrast, only 14 out of 30 days with measurable precipitation in the Twin Cities were warmer than normal for the date, meaning that wet days were slightly more likely to be cool. Season long, spring was warm, but it likely would have been even warmer without the switch to wet conditions, thus explaining the recent slower emergence of weeds and some field crops due to lower temperatures.

Both Jeff and Seth referenced the University of Minnesota Extension Crop Management Web pages for Corn https://extension.umn.edu/corn/corn-planting and Soybeans https://extension.umn.edu/soybean/soybean-planting as excellent starting points to review guidelines, best practices and potential issues for planting as well as seeding rates based on University of Minnesota applied research trials.

 
In summary: Jeff discussed May and June corn planting windows, survival of flooded corn, populations that are adequate when not at optimal levels and recommendations for supplemental nitrogen fertilizer if needed. Seth discussed the scouting of early planted soybeans under weather stress, how recent rains were actually beneficial to alleviating some soil crusting and the awareness that seed treatments, while helpful, are not considered a long-term season long protection if wet soil conditions are excessive. Seth referred to the U of MN soybean management web pages which indicate that soybean planting in general as of May 22ndt can result in 90-95% of maximum yield while dropping to less than 90% of maximum yield as of May 29. 

Bob provided an overview of the 2024 Field School for Ag Professionals, which will be held July 30 and 31 at the University of Minnesota Agriculture Experiment Station in St. Paul. This two-day, in-field summer event combines hands-on, interactive training with real-world field scenarios. The Field School program is targeted toward agronomists, crop production retailers, seed dealers, consultants, crop protection industry representatives, Extension educators, government agency personnel, and summer field scouts. The first day of the Field School program focuses on core principles in agronomy, entomology, weed and soil sciences to build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge. The second day builds on this foundation with timely, cutting-edge topics that participants can self-select. Bob provided an in-depth discussion of the Field School sessions during the podcast. Detailed session descriptions of educational sessions and registration information may also be found at: https://extension.umn.edu/event/field-school-ag-professionals.

  
Mitch is a native of Minnesota, and his parents continue to raise organic grass-fed beef in southeast Minnesota. His postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota focused on dual-use management of Kernza® intermediate wheatgrass for forage and grain production. Mitch did his PhD in agronomy at Penn State where he studied cover crop mixtures, climate resilience, and sustainable intensification.

  
In this podcast, Dave and Seth discuss with Mitch how and why  FGI is developing and improving winter-hardy annual and perennial crops that protect soil and water while driving new economic opportunities for growers across Minnesota. By combining these novel crops with traditional annual crops, FGI is to provide farmers with crops that can keep the soil covered all year round, or a “continuous living cover”.  Mitch outlined how FGI combines basic research with crop commercialization efforts, so that it can be profitable for farmers to produce these crops across rural Minnesota.

  
Mitch also highlights that the Cargill corporation recently awarded $2.5 million to the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota to support research into two novel oilseed crops—winter camelina and domesticated winter pennycress—that can produce vegetable oil for low-carbon transportation fuels while also protecting soil, improving water quality, and providing new revenue streams for farmers.

 A major emphasis of FGIis to combine basic research with crop commercialization efforts, so that it can be profitable for farmers to produce these crops across rural Minnesota. This comprehensive approach moves new crops out of the lab and onto the landscape, where they can make a difference for farmers, the environment, industry, and society.

  
The Forever Green Initiative is a research platform in the College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Minnesota that includes over 15 crops, each supported by a multidisciplinary team that may include expertise in the areas of genomics, breeding, agronomics, natural resource sciences, food science, sociology, economics, and commercialization. It is housed in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Join Dave and Seth for a lively discussion on this week’s edition of Minnesota Crop Cast.

Matt talked about his family’s strong ties to the University of Minnesota.  Not only did his father attend the U, but so did he and his three siblings (and their spouses).  All four have CFANS based degrees and his sister continues to work as a postdoctoral research geneticist with the Cereal Disease Laboratory. Matt worked on a soybean physiology project with Seth from 2014-2016.  His experiments were focused on environmental effects on secondary constituents of soybean seed. Today, his work forms the cornerstone of our understanding of the tradeoffs between protein quantity and quality in soybean that is important for Northern produced soybeans.  

Matt grew up on a farm in Sibley County Minnesota, in a family where hogs, crops, and wrestling ran deep.  Matt wrestled at St John’s University (MN) during his undergraduate years while his brothers were both well known Gopher wrestlers. Although Matt is fully employed by Lallemand, he continues to farm alongside his family making him a seventh-generation farmer on both his mother’s and father’s side. His mother’s investment on the farm is extraordinary including hauling grain, tillage and animal care.

The Lallemand company is one of the largest producers of yeast and bacterial cultures for the baking, brewing, enology, dairy and industrial ethanol industries. The company entered the plant care business only about twenty years ago through acquisitions of French, Finnish, Brazilian, Uruguayan, and Canadian companies. Today Lallemand is a key player in the plant biologicals space.  Dave and Seth chatted with Matt about the industry’s explosive expansion and the future of biologicals for crop farmers. Join us for another fascinating and far-ranging conversation on Minnesota CropCast.

Dennis is a native Iowan with his BS and PhD from Iowa State in Meteorology and Agricultural Meteorology. He has spent two stints in South Dakota, first completing his MS at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and most recently as Associate Professor and State Climatologist for South Dakota at South Dakota State University before moving to the Midwest Climate Hub, based in Ames, Iowa.

The mission of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub is to develop science-based, region-specific information and technologies alongside USDA agencies and partners, and deliver these products to agricultural and natural resource managers that enable climate-informed decision-making. The Midwest Climate Hub produces several climate related publications and on-line tools. One such publication is the Midwest Climate Hub monthly which utilizes NOAA and USDA outlooks, placing them in context for agriculture in the Midwest based on current impacts. The most current Midwest Ag-Focus Outlook can be found here.

Join Dave and Seth for a discussion with Dennis Todey on this week’s edition of Minnesota Crop Cast.

In his role as Department Head, Gary has been instrumental in modernizing the physical space and teaching efforts within the department.  Gary managed the remodeling of classrooms and conference spaces as well as the main office.  He is supporting faculty teaching more engaging courses and working to recruit both undergraduates and graduate students from across the state of Minnesota and beyond.  Join Dave and Seth for a discussion with Gary Muehlbauer on this week’s edition of Minnesota Crop Cast.

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast.  

Tom led the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association (MSGA) https://mnsoybean.org/msga and the MSR&PC in efforts to develop the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) https://aginnovationcampus.org in Crookston, MN. The AIC is a soybean processing plant and much more. It is an incubator for agricultural innovations that develops novel products and increases the value of agriculture. The AIC fills an important space between the public and private sectors to support creativity that would otherwise not flourish. Tom provides an update on Phase 1 and discusses future phases at AIC.

The Minnesota Ag Expo https://mnagexpo.com takes place in Mankato, MN at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center on January 17 and 18, 2024. Tom talks about the importance of this annual event for Minnesota corn and soybean growers. It is a time for legislative resolutions and much more. There are 24 excellent speakers scheduled, including the UofM’s own P.J. Fleck. There is a jam-packed trade show, University of Minnesota researchers on hand, and lots of time and space for chatting with farmers and folks from across the Ag industries. Join Dave and Seth for a conversation with Tom Slunecka today.

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast.  

In this CropCast, Dave and Seth chat with Rex about his research and his novel views on teaching and outreach that employ hooks to generate interest in students and general public.  Please join us today for another lively Minnesota CropCast.    

Craig Tomera, an Identity Preserved (IP) Specialist with Grain Millers joins Aaron Lorenz, Soybean Breeder at the University of Minnesota on this week’s Minnesota CropCast.  David and Seth learn about IP soybean production in Minnesota from these gentlemen.  They chat about yield potential, management and contracting of IP soybeans.  Craig discusses cleaning and exporting soybeans at their St Peter, MN plant and describes Grain Millers other food ingredient plants spread across the US and Canada. Aaron reviews the development of the IP soybean breeding program at the University of Minnesota. Join us for another engaging Minnesota Crop Cast.  Don’t forget to subscribe so that these podcasts are easier to find each week.  

Gordon Denny has been a farm kid from southern Indiana, a Marine, and a long-term employee with Bunge.  Today he is a knowledge center for the radical changes occurring in the global demand for soybeans and other oilseeds.  With increased demand for vegetable oils for renewable diesel, a rapid increase in soybean processing is occurring in the U.S.  A near-term increase in soybean processing of around 25% will have radical implications for the supply of oil, soybean meal, and whole soybeans for both domestic and international utilization.  

In this episode of Minnesota CropCast, Gordon helps us to better understand how the soybean world got to this place, and where it might go from here.  We ask Gordon where he thinks all of this extra meal will go.  Please join us on this episode of CropCast to find out.  Along the way, you are sure to learn a whole lot about the evolving supply and demand for soybeans and soybean products at the global scale.

While her work is extremely sophisticated and cutting-edge, Candy is focused on helping corn farmers in Minnesota and beyond.  In this podcast Candy discusses some of her research projects including studies of kennel integrity and factors affecting food quality that will be highly relatable to listeners.  Dr. Hirsch discusses how a big data approach that integrates environmental, genetic, and plant phenotypic data can be used to help solve important problems for producers, exporters, and food manufactures.  Candy discusses teaching and graduate education with Seth and Dave. She emphasizes her role in producing the next generation of researchers who will ask then next round of big questions.  

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast.  

Hirsch Lab Website -- https://hirschlab.cfans.umn.edu/

Have a listen to this special edition of MN CropCast.  You will appreciate the passion of these young scientists.

University of Minnesota Soybean Research Center – https://soybeanresearchcenter.umn.edu/

Stupar Lab webpage. – https://stuparlab.cfans.umn.edu/

Soybean Extension webpage – www.soybeans.umn.edu

Kelsey discusses the 2023 wheat crop in Kansas and highlights the drought impacts on production.  Seth and Kelsey chat about the impact of wheat scab and it’s presence in years like the current one.  They discuss the impact of Fusarium Head Blight and the economic impacts.  Management through variety selection and fungicide application is possible, but it can be especially challenging for producers in areas with either infrequent challenges from Scab or low yielding environments where intensive management can be economically infeasible. 

Please join us for another Minnesota CropCast.  

In addition to highlighting his background and academic activities, Fabian visits with Dave and Seth during the podcast about various nitrogen management recommendations for corn growers in the fall of 2023 and the spring of 2024.  Fabain reviews the best management recommendations regarding soil temperatures during fall applications, fertilizer product types, inhibitors and recommended nitrogen application rates based on economics, environments, and soil types.

During the podcast several important internet links were mentioned regarding soil nutrient management as influence by environmental considerations and economics.

Nitrogen Management University of Minnesota Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/nutrient-management/nitrogen

Fertilizing Corn in Minnesota: https://extension.umn.edu/crop-specific-needs/fertilizing-corn-minnesota

Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator: https://www.cornnratecalc.org/

Minnesota Department of Agriculture 6-inch soil temperature network: https://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/soilprotection/soiltemp

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast.  

Please join us for another lively Minnesota CropCast.  

This is part one of a two-part series that touches on some of the highlights of Dr. Sheaffer’s illustrious career.  Part 1 emphasizes his research efforts while Part 2 will highlight his teaching career at the University of Minnesota.

·         Evaluating the performance of different irrigation scheduling methods and their impact on corn production and nitrate leaching in the central sands region of Minnesota.

·         Development and expansion of a web-based intelligent agricultural irrigation management tool (Irrigation Management Assistant) for Minnesota.

·         Evaluating and developing precision irrigation and nitrogen management strategies for enhancing water-nitrogen use efficiency.

·         Understanding the impact of soil health management systems on infiltration, water holding capacity and leaching potential.

Currently, Dr. Sharma is advising two Ph.D. students, one M.S. student, and one undergraduate student, in the Department of Soil, Water, and Climate