UMN Extension Nutrient Management Podcast

Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Practices, progress & solutions

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:41:09 -0500

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast we speak in-depth about the recently-revised Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy with Matt Drewitz from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. What are the goals of the MN Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and how are they being addressed specifically? Are we on track to meet our objectives? How have environmental changes over the years affected our progress? How have wastewater treatment plants contributed to the effort, and what have we learned from them? What kinds of other practices can be leveraged to meet the goals of the NRS, and how should farmers approach these ideas? Who's a farmer's point of contact with questions about adopting these practices? All of this on today's episode, recorded on the road from the recently held Nutrient Management Conference in Mankato, MN.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Matt Drewitz Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Incorporating conservation practices: County SWCDs, farmer resources & successes

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:41:20 -0600

Today we’re going on the road with a conversation recorded during the Minnesota Association of Social and Water Conservation Districts' (MASWCD) annual conference. Mike Schultz, district manager at the Le Sueur County SWCD talks with Brad Carlson about actual methods of incorporating conservation practices into the landscape. What are general categories of conservation practices? How are watershed plans written, and how do they address a balanced set of interests? Which practices tend to appeal to farmers the most? What kinds of resources can a County SWCD provide? What are some examples of successful implementation? Are there cost-share programs available - and if so how do farmers find them? All that and more on today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Mike Schultz, district manager, Le Sueur SWCD

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Looking ahead to spring manure: ManureDB, research updates & best practices for MN farmers

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 10:11:50 -0600

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss all things manure as we head into spring. Our three manure nutrient management specialists and researchers talk about recent updates to ManureDB (the online manure database). Why was ManureDB created, and what makes it a helpful tool for farmers and producers? What's the status of current and future manure research projects? How can Minnesota farmers partner with the University of Minnesota manure team for on-farm research projects? What are some top-of-mind best practices for sampling and safety as we head into the growing season? All of that and much more on today's show.

Guests:

Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Eduardo Garay Lagos, manure research manager (St. Paul)
Nancy Bohl Bormann, manure nutrient management researcher (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Nitrogen BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota: What should growers be thinking about?

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:00:27 -0600

Today on the show we join a panel of 5 specialists, practitioners, Extension educators to discuss nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the current situation with nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota? Is the situation improving over time? What are some key factors affecting nitrate concentrations? What should growers in the region be thinking about in terms of nitrogen best management practices? What are some other ways that farmers in southeast Minnesota can help improve water quality? What else should we be thinking about related to N BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota? What resources (financial and otherwise) are available to farmers in southeast Minnesota? All this and much more today's Nutrient Management Podcast from University of Minnesota Extension.

Video of this podcast will be posted to our YouTube channel at a later date.

Guests:

Mary Nesberg, Extension educator (Rochester)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Kevin Kuehner, Hydrologist, Minnesota Department of Agriculture (Preston)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)

Additional Resources:

The 5 main pathways of nitrogen loss: What are they, and how can you increase efficiency?

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:36:56 -0600

We return to first principles with a detailed discussion about nitrogen loss on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. The five terms that describe how nitrogen is lost from the soil are: leaching, denitrification, volatilization, crop removal and soil erosion & runoff. But what do those terms actually mean? How does nitrogen's chemistry change during loss? Do N loss processes (also called pathways) happen at the same speed? How do temperature and precipitation affect N loss pathways? How might farmers hedge against the risk of loss by incorporating the 4Rs into their N planning? All of this and much more on today's show.

Guests

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources

Nitrogen Conference (held annually in February; past videos are available online)
Four things I’ve learned about nitrogen management for corn based on a decade of research in Minnesota
Nitrogen Nuggets (YouTube playlist)
Understanding nitrogen in soils
Nitrogen Smart

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

All about cover crops: Lower seeding rates, weed control, advice for farmers & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:39:33 -0600

It's December and we're rounding out the year with an in-depth discussion on cover crops here on the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are panelists' observations regarding covers with lower seeding rates? What are some pros and cons relating to erosion or nutrient uptake? Does planting early at a lower seed rate vs. planting later with a higher seed rate result in the same outcome? What are some weed control characteristics of cover crops? What advice do our panelists have for farmers new to cover crops? What kinds of state and local resources are available for growers? All this and lots more on today's show so be sure to tune in.

Guests:

Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)
Ryan Beutow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist (St. Paul)
Eric Yu, Extension educator (Farmington)

Additional Resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

Micronutrients: Current research, tissue sampling, toxicity symptoms & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 08:52:15 -0600

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we're turning our attention to micronutrients. What does current research tell us about micronutrients - for corn specifically - that growers need to consider? Boron is another important micronutrient in Minnesota. What should farmers be aware of regarding boron? Is tissue sampling the answer to help predict where some of these micronutrients are needed? What are other important micronutrient takeaways? All this and much more on today's episode.

Guests & Contact Info:

Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) - email: jvetsch@umn.edu
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) - email: dekaiser@umn.edu
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) - email: rosen006@umn.edu

Additional Resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Variable rate zones: Field mapping, soil characteristics, tools & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:24:26 -0600

On today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast, Brad and Dan talk about variable rate application - and zones in particular. What's the overall point to variable rate N application? How might an initial starting N rate be determined? How do farmers' fields and equipment introduce their own variables, and how can these variables be monitored? How should farmers think about - and plot out - field zones? What's the difference between a yield map and a zone map, and should farmers rely on yield maps for zoning purposes? Do the best yielding spots always need the most nitrogen? All of this and much more on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

With high nitrogen fertilizer prices and low corn prices, can you decrease your nitrogen rate for 2026?
www.cornnratecalc.org (Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator)
Is variable rate nitrogen based on yield maps a good idea?
Variable rate nitrogen: What are we trying to accomplish?
Brad Carlson's email address: bcarlson@umn.edu
Dan Kaiser's email address: dekaiser@umn.edu

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Updated corn nitrogen rates: Regional differences, profit vs yield, water quality & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:06:45 -0500

This month on the Nutrient Management Podcast, we talk about a recent increase in N rate recommendations for corn. Why have these suggested nitrogen rates for corn increased over time? How are regional differences across Minnesota factored into this increase? Why does the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) method of N rate calculation bring economics into the mix? Why should growers focus on profit instead of yield? Won't a higher nitrogen rate make our SE Minnesota water issues worse? Our panelists answer these important questions - and many more - on today's show.

Guests:

Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional Resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

An introduction to MRTN: Efficiencies & economics in mind

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:26:07 -0500

Brad Carlson and Daniel Kaiser discuss the maximum return to nitrogen method (MRTN) for determining an optimal N rate on today's episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. What is the MRTN and why was it created? What are differences between an N investment model versus a maximum yield model? What should farmers keep in mind while using the MRTN? Where can Minnesota farmers, producers and ag professionals find the MRTN? All this and more on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Biological soil fertility products for corn and soybeans: How should farmers be thinking about them?

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 12:01:38 -0500

Dan Kaiser and Brad Carlson continue their discussion on N-fixing biostimulant products in today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. What's the most up-to-date working definition of a crop biostimulant? On which crops are N-fixing products typically used? What is NCERA103.org, and in what ways it it a useful resource for farmers and other agricultural professionals? What are some of the different categories of nitrogen-fixing biostimulants? How should farmers be thinking about biological soil fertility products in general? All this and more on today's show.

Guests:

Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Fall manure application: Plans, resources & strategies for Minnesota farmers

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 06:40:40 -0500

On this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we talk all about fall manure application. What should be on a farmer's to-do list to prepare for fall application? What names need to be on an operation's emergency response plan, and what kind of PPE should farmers keep nearby? How much lead time does a lab need to return sample results? If a farmer plans to work with a commercial applicator, what can they do ahead of time to ensure a successful season? All of this, plus a farmer Q&A, on-farm research advice, an update on ManureDB and more on today's show.

Guests:

Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Chryseis Modderman, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (Morris, MN)
Nancy Bohl Bormann, researcher, manure and nutrient management (St. Paul)
Eduardo Garay, on-farm research manager, manure management (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

How to put together a manure management plan
UMN Manure (YouTube)
ManureDB
Manure management: Agitation and pumping
For on-farm research inquiries, contact Eduardo Garay at: garay043@umn.edu

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Bioreactors in-depth: Carbon sources, incorporation, maintenance & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:24:29 -0500

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we take a close-up look at bioreactors as an edge-of-field practice. How does this important tool work, and how does it help mitigate nitrate loss? What types of carbon sources have traditionally been used in a bioreactor, and what types of carbon could be used in the future? How are bioreactors incorporated in to a farmer's operation, and how are they maintained? How effective and efficient are bioreactors? What's on the horizon for the next generation of bioreactor technology? All this and more on today's episode.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton)

Additional Resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

2025 Fall fertilizer outlook: Management tips during economic uncertainty

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 11:18:20 -0500

It’s that time of year again; time for the Fall Fertilizer Outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Given the overall economics of crop production right now, how should farmers be approaching their fertilizer decisions this fall? What are some regional differences with respect to fertilizer management this year? There has been a renewed focus on the issue of water quality in Minnesota - how should this affect farmers’ decision-making? How many fertilizer decisions can be pushed off until spring? All of this and more on today’s show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
Jeff Vetsch, Research supervisor (Waseca)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Manure laws and regulations in MN: Feedlots, storage, buffers & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 09:41:42 -0500

On today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast, Brad Carlson and Melissa Wilson explain aspects of Minnesota laws and regulations that manure applicators should be aware of. What are the requirements for manure testing, and how often should you do it? What are some general restrictions for manure application in Minnesota? How do buffers and setbacks help you? What kinds of documents should be incorporated into a manure management plan? What contingencies should be put into place in the case of an emergency? All this and more on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

How soil conditions & chemistry affect nitrogen loss

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:47:49 -0500

Nitrogen loss is the topic today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast. Soil conditions and chemistry are factors that make nitrogen prone to loss, but how does the N loss process actually happen? What's left over in the field after that process occurs, and where does the lost nitrogen go? What do denitrification, leaching and volatilization mean? How can the 4 Rs (right rate, right source, right placement, right timing) help growers minimize risk? How do nitrification inhibitors, microbes, and soil types fit in to the picture? All that and more in today's conversation.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Variable rate nitrogen: What are we trying to accomplish?

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:35:39 -0500

On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart, Brad and Dan take some of the mystery out of variable rate N. What are we trying to accomplish when we use a variable rate management practice? What kinds of field conditions might benefit from VRN, and which conditions should be avoided with VRN? How might the other 3 R's (Timing, Source & Placement) play a part in rate decision making? All that and more on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nutrient management for irrigated crops in MN: Corn, potatoes, & edible beans

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:12:01 -0500

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss nutrient management for irrigated crops in Minnesota. How many irrigated acres are there in Minnesota? What are some of the benefits and risks of irrigation? In what ways can risks be mitigated - through timing, cover crop adoption and / or other general soil health practices? What should growers know about the latest irrigation research in Minnesota? If a farmer is considering adopting irrigation practices, what should they focus on first? This and much, much more on today's episode.

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension irrigation specialist, Dept. of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul)
Vasu Sharma, Extension irrigation specialist, Dept. of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Sulfur management: In-season, source, carryover, soybean & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 11:57:15 -0500

This month's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is all about sulfur. Fertilizer guidelines go through changes periodically, but are there any upcoming changes to the sulfur fertilizer guidelines specifically? What does current research tell us about managing sulfur for Minnesota crops? Were there any surprising results? Should growers proactively add sulfur to crops out of caution, or is that practice unnecessary? What are some final takeaways that our panelists want Minnesota farmers to know about?

Guests:

Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Manure sampling and testing: Variability, guidelines & safety for your operation

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:13:46 -0500

This week on Advancing Nitrogen Smart Melissa Wilson and Brad Carlson talk about manure sampling and testing. What are some sampling guidelines to be aware of in Minnesota? How variable is nitrogen in one type of manure, and then from type to type? How could changes to a farmer's overall operation affect manure nutrient content? How should manure samples be stored? Safety is huge - what do farmers need to know about staying safe when working with manure? Oh, and how do you prevent sample jars from exploding in the mail? This, and lots of manure info on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

More Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN): How is this N rec calculated?

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:11:10 -0500

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series, Brad and Dan tell us how the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to N rate recommendations is calculated. What does the MRTN actually measure for farmers? What's the reason the MRTN recommendations were created? What kind of / how many rate trials are used to build the dataset? Does the MRTN rate recommendation approach work well in all Minnesota regions? Brad and Dan cover this and more on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Conducting on-farm research: Four Midwest experts weigh in on design tips, planning and more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 28 May 2025 12:50:39 -0500

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss on-farm research. On-farm research has been here for decades - so what's new about it? What are management practices that might be easier to evaluate and which might be more difficult? What are the design criteria that farmers need to have in place in order to be successful? What kinds of problems have the panelists encountered while conducting on-farm research, and how might those problems have been avoided? How can farmers participate in University of Minnesota on-farm research projects, and how might it benefit them? All of this and lots more on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Matt Pfarr, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional Resources:

Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Accounting for soil and weather conditions: Methods and tools to help fine-tune your N

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 14 May 2025 10:33:32 -0500

On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart we discuss methods and tools to account for soil and weather conditions as you execute your nitrogen management strategy. Which tissue and nitrate testing options are the most beneficial, and when should you test? How does understanding the nitrogen cycle help you interpret these results? How do drought and /or saturated conditions affect available nitrogen? What can be reasonably achieved with rescue treatments? Why is it important to end your season with the right amount of residual nitrogen in the field? Brad and Dan discuss this - and much more - on today's show.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Why understanding the nitrogen cycle is key to managing soil fertility

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:29:30 -0500

Today on Advancing Nitrogen Smart we’re talking about the nitrogen cycle and managing soil fertility. What does 'the nitrogen cycle' mean, and how does it affect your management strategy? In what ways do temperature and moisture slow down or speed up nitrogen's window of usability? What are nitrification, denitrification, volatilization, mineralization and immobilization? How well do inhibitors work, when should they be applied? How does organic matter affect the nitrogen cycle? All these answers and more on today's episode.

Guests

Brad Carlson, Extension educator
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist

Additional Resources

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Cation exchange capacity & nutrient management: What does the data say?

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 12:53:08 -0500

Cation exchange capacity and cation balancing are the topics of the day in this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are the definitions of cation exchange capacity and cation balancing? How is CEC measured, and are those estimates reliable? What does the research say about CEC and CB and their role in a nutrient management strategy? What should farmers remember about cation exchange capacity and cation balancing for their own operations?

Guests:

Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrogen fertilizer management & surface water: Context, successes and challenges

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 10:29:30 -0500

Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we discuss nitrogen fertilizer management and surface water issues. When did we first become aware of nitrates appearing in surface water? What are some of the effects, and who is being affected? What are Minnesota's current nitrate-reduction strategy benchmarks - and are we on target to meet them? What are some of the challenges and success stories Minnesotans should know about? Which organizations can I contact if I'd like to become more involved?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator and water quality specialist (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

2025 Spring Fertilizer Outlook: What should MN farmers consider, avoid?

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:26:28 -0500

It's the end of March, which means it's time for the annual Spring Fertilizer Outlook. What are field conditions like throughout Minnesota? What early fertilizer application options might MN growers want to consider? Which early fertilizer application practices might MN growers want to avoid, and why? What are growers excited - or hesitant - about? What about N carryover credits in this more typical season? Our four panelists weigh in.

Guests:

Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrogen management & groundwater: What to know

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 13:01:33 -0500

A lot of the conversation about nitrogen management centers around environmental issues, and in particular, nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water in Minnesota. Today we’ll discuss N management and nitrate levels in groundwater. What are some effects of elevated nitrate levels in both infants and adults? When were elevated levels first discovered in Minnesota? How do different soil types factor into nitrogen loss to goundwater? What's being done to address this issue at state, county and municipal levels? How do changing climate conditions affect how we proceed? All this and more on today's episode.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nutrient management & cover crops: A research update across Minnesota

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 12:54:54 -0600

Today we talk with four panelists throughout Minnesota about nutrient management and cover crops. What are some results of new research looking into incorporating covers into a nutrient management strategy? What are some of the specific rotations being measured, and why? What do farmers need to know about new manure management regulations and cover crops? How much of MN has incorporated covers? This and more on today's episode.

Guests:

Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Bailey Tangen, Extension educator (Farmington)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrogen-fixing biologicals: What farmers should know

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:30:34 -0600

Today we’re talking all about nitrogen-fixing biologicals. What's the best definition of a biological or biostimulant? Are they fertilizers, pesticides - or neither? In what ways do they interact with nitrogen in the field? Where and how are biological products tested? Which environmental factors might impact biologicals? How should they be properly transported and stored? How can farmers assess whether biostimulants might be right for their operation? All this and more on today's episode.

Guests:

Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

NCERA103.org
Nitrogen-fixing biological products: Four Midwest experts weigh in on industry claims, on-farm research tips, and more
Nitrogen-fixing biological products: New report summarizes research from across the Corn Belt
"Fixation" in the soil: What you need to know (article talks about fixation in the context of P and K)

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Variable rate nitrogen: What farmers should know

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:57 -0600

Today we’re talking all about variable rate nitrogen. What underlying information do we need to make decisions about VRN? What areas in the field might be prone to N loss? Should you only add extra N to high-yielding areas, or could a low-yielding zone also show positive responses? What effect could your overall management strategy have on a variable rate response? All this and more on today's episode.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

25 Years of nutrient management: How have practices changed and evolved?

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 13:59:56 -0600

Here we are in 2025. Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast, our panelists talk about how the practice of nutrient management has changed over the last quarter century. How have precipitation levels - and perceptions about precipitation - changed? What came before the current Maximum Return To Nitrogen management model, and what did the change address? How has U of M research contributed to sulfur nutrient management understanding? How has awareness of ground and surface water quality evolved? Finally, how has tech changed (or not changed) the practice of fertilizer management over the last quarter century? This and much more on today's show.

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrogen conservation and water quality, Part 1: Tech, edge-of-field, & proactive management solutions

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:00:39 -0600

Nitrogen conservation and water quality are the subject of today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart episode. There's lots to cover so we're splitting the episode up into two parts. Today in Part 1, Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch unpack different conservation solutions, and what might be achieved from their adoption. In what situations might buffer strips, cover crops, and corn genetics play their part? What about using technology-such as active and passive sensors? How do any reactive mitigation costs compare with proactive nutrient management planning? This and much more on today's episode.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Jeff Vetsch, researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nitrogen conservation and water quality, Part 2: Precision conservation, and future efficiencies

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:55:59 -0600

We continue our conversation about nitrogen conservation and water quality on Advancing Nitrogen Smart. Today in Part 2, Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch continue discussing new technologies that may help address nitrogen loss, such as passive sensors and crop modeling systems. How might future tools such as AI play a part? How is precision testing affected by timing? In what ways can hybrid engineering, and further efficiencies in inhibitors be leveraged? This and much more on today's episode.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Jeff Vetsch, researcher at the Southern Research and Outreach Center (Waseca)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Soybean nutrient management: IDC concerns, a research wrap-up, and looking ahead to 2025

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:30:34 -0600

Today on the podcast we focus on soybean nutrient management. Our four soybean and nutrient management panelists from across Minnesota and North Dakota explain their research trials, and discuss some preliminary results in the region. Also, what should growers keep in mind as we transition into 2025? What are the panelists' concerns about IDC? That and much more on our last episode of 2024.

Guests:

Lindsay Malone, Assistant professor, Climate Smart Approaches to Agriculture (NDSU)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, and to our YouTube channel. Be sure to like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), and of course visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Predicting nitrogen rates: Factors and resources for Minnesota farmers

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 12:59:48 -0600

After spending last episode talking about the background and history of nitrogen rate recommendations in Minnesota, today on episode 14 we’re talking about what to keep in mind as you begin predicting your nitrogen rate needs. How do yield, and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) factor into decision making? Are there any N rate databases available to Minnesota growers? What are the pros and cons of a variable rate strategy, or cover crops for example? Brad and Dan talk about that and much more on today's episode.

TRANSCRIPT

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

The history of N rate recommendations in Minnesota: What farmers should know

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:32:47 -0600

Today Brad and Dan explore the background and rationale behind nitrogen rate recommendations in Minnesota. How have Minnesota's N rate recommendations evolved over time? What data does the MRTN approach take into account? How are these N rates organized?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nitrogen loss: Lessons learned from the 2024 growing season

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:36:37 -0600

Nitrogen loss: Lessons learned from the 2024 growing season is the big topic on today's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast. What N application practices looked particularly bad in 2024? Some farmers are saying they are no longer going to apply fall N based on how 2024 played out. Is this warranted, or is it an overreaction? Is there any data back from split-application trials, or evaluations of rescue treatments? What did it tell us? In hindsight, what would have been ideal practices to have used this past year? Moving forward, what can we take away from the 2024 growing season with respect to how to manage fertilizer?

Guests:

Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional Resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrification inhibitors in detail: Important information to help delay N loss

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 11:37:27 -0500

In episode 12 of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series Brad and Dan talk in detail about nitrification inhibitors. What are the two types of inhibitors, and what are best practices for incorporation? How do soil type, temperature, and precipitation factor into farmer decision-making? How much time does a nitrification inhibitor buy you? In what circumstances should inhibitors be avoided altogether? These answers and many, many more on today's episode.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

A difference in degrees: Fall application efficiency at 50 Fahrenheit

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:13:45 -0500

Today we’re talking all about fall application. What's the first thing farmers should know about applying in fall? What’s the difference in N efficiency at 50 the degree threshold versus even a 55 degree threshold, and then when have those degree dates happened historically?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Liming and pH: Timing, economics, materials, and more

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 12:33:15 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, our panelists discuss liming in detail. What kind of variation is there in liming recommendations? Since pH changes aren’t instant, when is the best time to apply limestone? Is lime application economically justified, and in what circumstances? What should growers know about selecting liming materials? What other bits of advice do our panelists recommend?

Guests:

John Jones, Soil Fertility, plant nutrition, and nutrient management research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, (Urbana-Champaign, Il)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Click here to listen to all Nutrient Management Podcast episodes.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Fall manure application: Optimal strategies for Minnesota farmers

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 11:52:52 -0500

In this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart, Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist joins Brad Carlson to discuss fall manure application. What are the most important dos and don'ts of fall application? How much time can nitrification inhibitors buy you after application? What's the optimum soil temperature for application, and what if you can't wait? What are characteristics of manure from different sources, and how can they work to your advantage?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Melissa Wilson, Extension manure management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Your optimal N rate: Understanding its impact on yield, water quality, and the bottom line

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:32:03 -0500

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we discuss probably the most important topic for many farmers - rate. What makes both over-application and under-application of nitrogen counter-productive in terms of yield? How does a Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN) rate approach differ from a yield-based approach? What are long-term environmental consequences of over-application, and how does this relate to a farmer's operation? What are some ways to address in-field variability when determining rate?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Fall fertilizer outlook for 2024: Current conditions, soil testing, and farmer finances

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:09:28 -0500

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our annual fall fertilizer outlook. After such a challenging growing season throughout most of the state, how do things look headed toward harvest? Since most of the state went from being too dry last year to too wet this year, how should this affect the approach to fertility management? What role will fertility play in sound financial management this fall? What advice do our panelists give growers as we head into the fall?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast and never miss an episode. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, and to our YouTube channel. Be sure to like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), and of course visit our website.

We want to hear from you. If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Timing nitrogen efficiently: How to maximize yield while mitigating risk

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:34:21 -0500

In the 8th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re taking about timing. What makes understanding timing crucial to using nitrogen efficiently? Should growers apply in fall, and if so, what source should be avoided? Between which growth stages does corn take up the bulk of a field's N? What do weather extremes teach us about optimal timing? Do some timing decisions negatively affect farmers' finances? In what ways?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nitrogen pools: Our experts talk timing, testing and uptake

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:12:53 -0500

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, our two experts discuss nitrogen pools. What are nitrogen pools, and where do we find them? How is N actually consumed by the plant, and what forms of N will plants take up more readily? What are some potential signs of N deficiency in the plant? How do nitrogen pools relate back to the 4R's, like timing?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Phosphorus fertilizer guidelines: Four Midwest experts talk profit, yield, soil tests & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 21 Aug 2024 13:23:05 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about phosphorus fertilizer guidelines throughout Minnesota and the Midwest. What are current state guidelines throughout the region, and are they satisfactory? Should farmers forgo taking a soil test to measure their P levels, or should the test be prioritized? Might state phosphorus guidelines need to be revised, and if so, in what ways? What guidance or advice pertaining to phosphorus guidelines would our panelists tell growers?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Antonio P. Mallarino, Professor emeritus, nutrient management, Iowa State University (Ames, IA)
John Jones, Soil Fertility, plant nutrition, and nutrient management research, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, (Urbana-Champaign, Il)
Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, KSU Professor, Soil fertility and nutrient management, Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast here and never miss an episode. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, and to our YouTube channel. Be sure to like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X, and of course visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrogen transformation up close: Key details for efficient fertilizer management

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 13:02:00 -0500

In this 6th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re taking an up-close look at the nitrogen transformation process. We’ll talk more about temperature conditions, rainfall versus drainage, and what makes knowing these details so valuable to Minnesota farmers and producers, as well was to growers around the world.

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Manure application in 2024: Value for growers, long-term research, and what's on the horizon

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 08:33:14 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about manure application in 2024. What’s the value of manure today, given that fertilizer prices are still elevated compared to 2018 and 2019? What does long-term research show us about manure’s value, and how might this information benefit growers and producers? Which manure best management practices (BMPs) help growers be most efficient? In what ways has ManureDB benefited farmers since its launch one year ago? What’s on the horizon for manure management?

Guests:

Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Chryseis Modderman, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (Morris, MN)
Mary Keena, Extension livestock environment management specialist, North Dakota State University (Carrington, ND)
Amy Schmidt, Livestock manure management engineer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Lincoln, NE)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, and to our YouTube channel. Be sure to like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and of course visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

How soil water storage, temperature, and the nitrogen cycle help MN farmers make key decisions

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:26:31 -0500

In the 5th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking about the ways the soil stores water, and how nitrogen transforms in that soil under different climate conditions. We’ll discuss field saturation and the water budget, heat units and how to track them, and how these trends have changed throughout MN over the last 60 years.

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional Resources

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Sidedressing nitrogen: What should growers keep in mind when applying in-season?

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 11:35:03 -0500

In the 4th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking in-depth about sidedress. What are the growth stages critical to growers when sidedressing? What are options for assessing whether to add supplemental N, and how should they be used? How do wet conditions affect yield, and are rescue treatments economically advantageous? What sensing methods are available (such as drones) and what are their pros and cons?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Supplemental nitrogen fertilizer: Is it time to pull the trigger?

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 12:47:59 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about supplemental nitrogen fertilizer. What are conditions like around the state? What practices do the worst looking fields seem to have in common? How does a producer assess their situation? What are some recommendations moving forward?

Guests:

Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Nitrogen-fixing biological products: Four Midwest experts weigh in on industry claims, on-farm research tips, and more

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 08:08:34 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking all about biologicals. What should companies consider as they test their biological products? Can growers reduce their nitrogen requirements due to biological use? Is there new research out there that tells us about biologicals’ effectiveness? What should growers watch out for when they consider companies’ claims about biological products?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Emerson Nafgizer, Extension agronomist, retired (Champaign, IL)
Dave Franzen, Extension soils specialist, North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast and never miss an episode. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Carryover nitrogen: A potential credit for N fertilizer reduction in Minnesota

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:24:03 -0500

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series, we’re talking all about carryover nitrogen. Our two panelists explain what carryover nitrogen is, how and when to test for carryover nitrogen, and what to keep in mind with this potential N fertilizer credit for Minnesota growers.

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Statewide best management practices for nitrogen: A valuable resource for Minnesota growers

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 22 May 2024 12:20:07 -0500

In this episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series, we’re talking in-depth about nitrogen best management practices. How are BMPs calculated, and how do they change over time? What should growers keep in mind regarding regional adjustments in the BMPs? What kinds of risks are these BMPs designed to address? How do the 4 Rs figure in to Minnesota's nitrogen best management practices?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Advancing Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nitrogen Smart is going digital! Podcasts, videos will help more farmers improve N fertilizer practices

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 14 May 2024 19:25:49 -0500

Understanding how nitrogen behaves in the environment is more important than ever. Having access to unbiased, research-based information is crucial for growers as they try to make the most efficient input decisions for their farms, maximizing profits while at the same time minimizing nitrogen loss to the environment.

For the last decade, the Nitrogen Smart curriculum at University of Minnesota Extension has been examining and unpacking the latest in nitrogen research. This program is now being presented in short, topic-specific podcasts and easy-to-watch videos. The new program, Advancing Nitrogen Smart, will feature timely topics for Minnesota farmers and agricultural professionals.

The defining principle of Nitrogen Smart has always been that participants are not told what to do; instead, they are given the information necessary to make their own best decisions.

In this short episode, U of M Extension educator Brad Carlson introduces the Advancing Nitrogen Smart series and some of the topics to be discussed in future episodes, such as nitrogen fundamentals and how N behaves in the environment, nitrogen recommendations and the research that went into them, adapting management practices, and more.

Sign up to receive the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series here at the U of M Extension Nutrient Management Podcast station. Watch our videos on YouTube at @UMNcrops. Have a question? Email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

To find additional resources and our past curriculum, please visit our Nitrogen Smart webpage at: z.umn.edu/NitrogenSmart.

Nitrogen Smart is proud to be supported by the farm families of Minnesota and their corn check-off investment through Minnesota Corn.

Nitrogen placement: What Minnesota farmers should know about depth, incorporation, loss pathways, and more

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 08 May 2024 12:34:26 -0500

Understanding how nitrogen behaves in the environment is more important than ever. And when growers have access to unbiased, research-based information, they’re better equipped to make farm-specific nitrogen management decisions.

Here at Advancing Nitrogen Smart, we unpack and examine the latest up-to-date nitrogen data to help farmers maximize their profits while at the same time minimize nitrogen loss to the environment. We cover topics that are timely and relevant for Minnesota farmers and agricultural professionals, just as we’ve been doing for the last 10 years with our in-person and online Nitrogen Smart courses.

We’re starting off this series with a discussion about placement, and what Minnesota farmers should know about depth, incorporation, loss pathways, and more!

Nitrogen and sulfur: In-season application, nutrient interactions, precision tech & more

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 07 May 2024 07:22:16 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about nitrogen and sulfur application. What does current nitrogen and sulfur research mean for Minnesota growers? What do we know about the relationship between N and S in crops? What -if any- considerations should farmers make when applying S? Do N application rates need to be changed? With an earlier planting window this year will there be any issues related to N and S growers should be concerned about?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Yuxin Miao, Assistant Professor of Precision Agriculture and Nutrient Management (St. Paul)
Jeff Coulter, Extension corn agronomist (St. Paul)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Soybean fertilizer management: IDC, sulfur, P and K soil tests, and more

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 11:47:31 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about soybean fertilizer management. What should farmers who are growing soybeans this year be thinking about, including IDC concerns from last year? What does new research tell us about soybean and sulfur? Are there other nutrients or practices that our panelists do or don't suggest for soybean based on current research? What tips do our panelists have for Minnesota soybean growers looking to increase yield?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu

Spring fertilizer outlook: Key decisions after a warm winter

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 18:46:55 -0600

This episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is our 2024 Spring fertilizer outlook: Key decisions after a warm winter. What are the field conditions our panelists are seeing across the state? What options for early fertilizer application should Minnesota growers consider? What practices should be avoided-and why? Should growers be concerned about nitrogen carryover? What economic practices should growers keep in mind as the season begins?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Cover crops in Minnesota: Recent challenges and future solutions

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:46:39 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we’re talking about cover crops in Minnesota: Recent challenges and future solutions. What were the cover crop issues for 2022 and 2023? Based on the conditions right now and from last spring, what might some good management practices be going forward? What was the decision-making process for a panelist adjusting rye seeding rate requirements in the fall of 2024 when drilled. What advice would the panel have for someone brand new to cover crops, and who has concerns that were exacerbated by this last cycle?

Guests:

Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Jared House, Grant County Soil & Water Conservation District (Elbow Lake)
Ryan Buetow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu!

AFREC research roundup: 2023 nutrient management findings

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 11:17:56 -0600

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 researcher (Waseca)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Nitrogen management in southeast Minnesota: What's the situation and what's being done?

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:53:33 -0600

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 educator (Mankato)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)
Greg Klinger, Olmsted County Soil and Water Conservation District (Rochester)

Additional resources:

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Edge of field N and P reduction strategies: What to know about conservation drainage practices

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:43:05 -0600

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 Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Laura Christianson, researcher, U of M Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul)
Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton)

Additional resources:

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Fall soil sampling

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 10:36:27 -0500

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 specialist (Crookston)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Fall manure best practices

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:10:01 -0500

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 manure?

Guests:

Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Kevin Erb, Director, Conservation Professional Training Program, University of WI - Madison
Daniel Andersen, Extension specialist and assistant professor, Iowa State University

Additional resources:

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2023 Fall Fertilizer Outlook

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:11:14 -0500

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 fall?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Strock, Extension soil scientist (Lamberton)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)

Additional resources:

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Measuring and building soil carbon

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 11:42:04 -0500

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 challenges? Is Minnesota uniquely positioned in any way to contribute to solving these issues?

Guests:

Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)
Jessica Gutknecht, faculty, U of M Department of Soil, Water, and Climate (St. Paul)
Gregg Sanford, research scientist, U of Wisc Department of Plant and Agra Ecosystem Sciences (Madison)

Additional Resources:

Contact information for Anna Cates: catesa@umn.edu
Contact information for Gregg Sanford: gsanford@wisc.edu
SOCNET
MN Farmers Union Guide to Carbon Markets
Carbon markets: Paying farmers to reduce tillage, plant cover crops
Minnesota Office for Soil Health
SPRUCE

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In-season nitrogen decision tools

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 07:50:00 -0500

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?

Soybean fertilizer management

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 08 May 2023 11:04:26 -0500

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 agronomist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetch, U of M researcher (Waseca)

Additional resources:

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2023 Spring fertilizer outlook

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 08:50:45 -0500

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 (bcarlson@umn.edu), Extension educator (Mankato).
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca)

Additional resources:

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Fertilizing lawns and gardens

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:35:53 -0500

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 Hoidal, Extension educator - local foods and vegetable crops
Jon Trappe, Extension educator - turfgrass
Christy Marsden, Master Gardener Volunteer Program

Additional Resources:

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Watershed planning and nitrate reduction

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 08:09:54 -0600

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 scientist (Lamberton)

Additional Resources:

Advanced Nitrogen Smart, Feb. 13 - March 17 at various locations around the state
Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy (MPCA)
One Watershed, One Plan (MN BWSR)
Where Can I Get Support? (MN BWSR)
Minnesota State Programs (USDA FSA)

Variable Rate Technology

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:38:32 -0600

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?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetch, Extension nutrient management researcher (Waseca)

Additional resources:

Biostimulants

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:55:41 -0600

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?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient management specialist (NWROC - Crookston)

Additional resources:

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Soil Test Myths

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 11:19:51 -0600

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.

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

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Sugarbeet nutrient management

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 12:28:48 -0500

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?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Melissa Wilson, Extension manure nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)
John Lamb, professor emeritus, Department of Soil, Water and Climate (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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P and K Guidelines

Daniel Kaiser, Jeff Vetch, Antonio Mallarino, Dorivar Ruiz Diaz — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:25:01 -0500

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?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetch, nutrient management specialist (Waseca)
Antonio Mallarino, soil fertility and nutrient management specialist (Iowa State University)
Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, soil fertility specialist (Kansas State University)

Additional resources:

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Cover crops

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 09:24:55 -0500

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?

Guests:

Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Lizabeth Stahl, Extension crops educator (Worthington)

Additional resources:

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Annual fall fertilizer outlook

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 15:56:00 -0500

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?

Guests:

Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Jeff Vetch, Extension nutrient management researcher (Waseca)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist (Crookston)

Additional Resources:

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Iron Deficiency Chlorosis (IDC) in soybean

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 10:38:17 -0500

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?

Guests:

Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Seth Naeve, Extension soybean agronomist (St. Paul)
Maykon Junior de Silva, U of M graduate research assistant (St. Paul)

Additional Resources:

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Challenging spring weather

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 02 May 2022 10:05:27 -0500

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?

Guests:

Brad Carlson, Extension educator - nitrogen management & water quality (Mankato)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist - NWROC (Crookston)
Jeff Strock, U of M soil scientist - SWROC (Lamberton)
Anne Nelson, Extension educator - water resources (St. Cloud)

Additional resources:

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Spring nutrient management decisions

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 08:07:49 -0500

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?

Guests:

Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)
Fabian Fernandez, Extension nitrogen management specialist (St. Paul)
Lindsay Pease, Extension nutrient and water management specialist - NWROC (Crookston)
Brad Carlson, Extension educator - nitrogen management & water quality (Mankato)
Chryseis Modderman, Extension educator - manure management (Morris)
Jeff Vetsch, Soil science researcher - SROC (Waseca)

Additional resources:

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For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode! And don't forget to subscribe to Minnesota Crop News' daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and visit our website.

Kernza

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 09:24:41 -0500

Guests:

Jake Jungers, U of M Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
Jared Goplen, Extension educator - crops
Brad Heins, U of M Associate Professor of Animal Science, West Central Research and Outreach Center

Additional resources:

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Carbon markets

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:55:44 -0600

Guests:

Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist
Jodi DeJong Hughes, Extension educator, Willmar
Amy Robak, crop advisor, Centra Sota Co-op

Additional resources:

Maximum Return To Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to corn N rate guidelines

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 15:13:06 -0600

Guests:

Dan Kaiser, Extension soil fertility specialist
Fabian Fernandez, Extension soil fertility specialist
Jeff Vetsch, U of M SROC researcher
Brad Carlson, Extension educator

Additional resources:

Fertilizer prices and supply chain issues

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 13:24:57 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss fertilizer prices and supply chain issues. Extension educator Brad Carlson is joined by: Jim Carlson, Vice President of Agronomy at United Farmer's Co-op in Winthrop, Minnesota; Russ Quinn, ag market reporter for DTN/The Progressive Farmer and a farmer in eastern Nebraska; and Josh Linville, Director of Fertilizer at StoneX Financial. Where are fertilizer prices right now and how do they compare to the recent past? Why are fertilizer prices so high right now? What are price ratios and why is this an important metric to watch? How are farmers reacting to the high prices and fertilizer availability concerns? What should growers be thinking about in terms of fertilizer purchasing decisions and nutrient management planning this fall and next spring?Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Soil management and nutrient issues

University of Minnesota Extension — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 16:19:54 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss soil management and nutrient issues.How do erosion and tillage practices impact nutrients in the soil and nutrient management? After a dry spring and summer, what should growers know about soil and nutrient management heading into the fall? How can farmers better manage soils to avoid nutrient issues? Are cover crops a good idea this year?Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Sulfur

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 11:45:56 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss sulfur.How has atmospheric sulfur deposition changed over time and why does it matter for farmers?How did the dry conditions this year impact sulfur availability? Do dry soils mean sulfur responses will be greater? Do dry soils affect which source of sulfur growers should use? What do we know about interactions between sulfur and other nutrients? What should farmers thinking about applying sulfur for the 2022 crop keep in mind?Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Fall fertilizer outlook

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 12:41:32 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss fall fertilizer decisions. With rising prices, what are some ways growers can save on fertilizer costs this fall and next spring? With the dry conditions, is there anything growers need to be thinking about regarding nutrient availability or soil testing that might arise this fall if conditions stay dry? Is this a year that a soil nitrate test might be useful? Is there anything related to changes in the U of M fertilizer guidelines that growers should be aware of? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Starter fertilizer issues

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 10:05:22 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss starter fertilizer issues. What makes liquid starter fertilizers risky when applying on or near the seed? Should growers adjust their liquid in-furrow application rates in dry years? Is it a good idea to mix liquid fertilizer with fungicides or insecticides?Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Irrigation

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 16:46:39 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss irrigation and nutrient management.What is deficit irrigation and could there be an important role for it this year if it stays dry?What's the best approach to nitrogen fertilization in irrigated corn, and what should farmers keep in mind when applying N in irrigated fields?Is there an advantage to using fertigation over traditional fertilizer applications?What should growers know about variable rate irrigation and variable rate fertigation?Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Potassium management

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 04 May 2021 09:15:45 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss potassium management. What key factors impact potassium availability in soils? Currently, Minnesota suggests banding potassium is more efficient than broadcast application. What are your thoughts on the band versus broadcast debate? There have been some questions over the winter related to potash application on soybean. What are some key takeaways from your research and should farmers consider alternative forms of potassium fertilizer?Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Continuous corn nutrient management

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 07:53:20 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss continuous corn nutrient management. What are the most challenging aspects of continuous corn production? Which key nutrients are impacted by residue breakdown and how can continuous corn growers manage residue to limit nutrient tie-up? What has recent research told us about how to maximize yield in a continuous corn system? Are there any other practices, not specifically related to fertilizer management, that may interact with a soil fertility program that growers should be aware of for continuous corn production? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Wheat nutrient management

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 22:23:55 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, two U of M researchers and Dave Franzen from North Dakota State University discuss wheat nutrient management. Why is nitrogen important for wheat production? What makes managing nitrogen more challenging for wheat than for corn? What was the rationale behind recent changes to the wheat nitrogen guidelines in North Dakota? What are the best management options for ensuring high wheat yields that maintain protein near 14%? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Drainage research

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:32:00 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, five U of M researchers discuss drainage research. Could there be different nitrogen guidelines in the future based on drainage status? Is older research in Minnesota on drainage systems still valuable or have changes in climate and crops mean we should re-look at some of these topics? Where do conservation drainage technologies such as bioreactors fit economically in our cropping systems? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

On-farm research and nitrogen rates

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 27 Jan 2021 09:56:36 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers and independent agronomist Matt Wiebers discuss on-farm research and nitrogen rates. Matt walks us through his AFREC-funded on-farm research project and what he's seen the last few years with regards to nitrogen rates. University researchers weigh in with their thoughts on Matt's research and how recent university data compare. Then the group discusses where the nitrogen guidelines might be heading and the future of on-farm research. Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Nutrient interactions

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 17:48:20 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss nutrient interactions. What are nutrient interactions and how important are they to crops? Which nutrient interactions are of concern to crop producers? What can you do to avoid misinterpreting plant tissue analysis results due to nutrient interactions? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Manure nitrogen guidelines

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:01:18 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss our manure nitrogen guidelines. What are the most important considerations when making a nutrient management plan for manure application? Is it possible to put a value on the nutrients in manure? How does manure fit in with the maximum return to nitrogen (MRTN) approach used in the current nitrogen fertilizer guidelines? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Liming

University of Minnesota Extension — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 15:44:33 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss liming. Which crops benefit the most from lime application? What should growers look for in a liming material? How are the university's lime recommendations developed? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Fall fertilizer outlook

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 17:36:34 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss fall fertilizer management. What were summer growing conditions like across Minnesota? Is there any nutrient management research currently underway that crop producers may be interested in? What should growers consider when making fall fertilizer decisions? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Manure update: Research, events, and fall management tips

University of Minnesota Extension — Sun, 02 Aug 2020 12:52:47 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, two U of M researchers discuss manure management. What manure-related events and educational programming are coming up? What's the latest on the liquid swine manure sidedressing research project? How is the manure N & P credit study going? What should farmers keep in mind about manure management heading into fall? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Growing conditions and research update

University of Minnesota Extension — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:44:36 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, four U of M researchers discuss current growing conditions around the state and give us an update on their research projects. What questions have Extension researchers been getting this year from Minnesota growers and consultants about nutrient management? Is there anything growers should be aware of when making nutrient management decisions for 2021 based on this year's growing conditions? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Alfalfa nutrient management

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 09:25:39 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss alfalfa nutrient management. Why is managing soil inputs important for alfalfa producers? What are some key points that growers should consider when making nutrient management decisions for alfalfa? Does timing matter with alfalfa fertilizer application? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Nitrogen economics

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 26 May 2020 10:29:50 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers and a special guest from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture discuss nitrogen economics. How does the sale of nitrogen fertilizer in Minnesota break down by source, and what trends have we seen in nitrogen use for crops in Minnesota? Are farmers shifting towards more on-farm storage of nitrogen fertilizer, and what do farmers interested in storing and applying their own fertilizer need to be aware of? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Biostimulants

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 11:33:10 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss biostimulants. What are biostimulants and what products are currently on the market? What classes of products are gaining a larger foothold in agriculture? What does research in Minnesota say about these products? Should farmers be taking a greater look at biostimulants? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Optimal phosphorus and potassium levels in the soil

University of Minnesota Extension — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 12:25:45 -0500

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss optimal phosphorus and potassium levels in the soil. What are some key takeaways that growers should know about interpreting soil tests? Environmentally, what is the threshold at which we should avoid applications to prevent significant nutrient loss? Is there really an optimal soil test level that farmers should shoot for? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Nitrogen management

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 15:21:59 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, three U of M researchers discuss nitrogen management. Should growers consider split-applying N? Is fall urea too risky? Is ESN worth the cost? Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

2020 research update

University of Minnesota Extension — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 11:24:27 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, five U of M researchers discuss their 2019 research projects and what they'll be studying in 2020. Topics include sulfur sources, urea timing, split application of N, banding P and K, soil health tests, cover crops, irrigation management, variable rate N technologies, the pre-plant nitrate test, and more. Thank you to Minnesota's Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for supporting the podcast.

Precision agriculture and nutrient management

University of Minnesota Extension — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 16:13:50 -0600

In this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we discuss precision agriculture and nutrient management. What is the current state of precision agriculture? Which areas can growers benefit the most from incorporating precision ag technologies into current farming systems? Is precision agriculture part of the answer for reducing nutrient loss to ground and surface waters? Thank you to the Minnesota Agricultural Fertilizer Research and Education Council (AFREC) for their support of this podcast.