Farming

Complete trial data for Agricen products as used by the XtremeAg team during the 2021 season, including product names and types, yield response, crop stages, application type, methods, rates, and more.

Lee’s been using Heat Shield every crop year since 2016 with good results. The best part: with three options of application — seed treatment, in-furrow, or foliar — Lee likes the versatility as well as the results. What are the results, you ask? Trials show a 6 to 16 bushel corn yield bump at a cost of about 8$ per acre. Lee is joined by Hefty Naturals' Lead Agronomist Rob Fritz and Brand Manager Matt Thompson to explain the benefits of heat stress mitigation via biologicals. They also discuss handling differences between a living biological product and conventional crop chemistry.

Lee Lubbers brought his notes on the lessons gleaned from last year that he thinks all of us can apply for a more prosperous 2022.

Fertilizer and diesel prices are up considerably. Meanwhile farms are under increasing environmental pressure. These forces combine to create a real opportunity for manure utilization via drip irrigation. Drip irrigation, as we’ve discussed in previous episodes, is a more efficient means of delivering moisture to your crop. But drip is also a very effective means of nutrient management which saves time, machinery hours, and diesel all while eliminating the soil compaction common with manure application.

Your grandfather probably applied boron to his crops but your father very likely didn’t. Why? Because boron was standard chemistry back in the old days, then boron became uncool as agriculture moved away from micro nutrients. But boron is back and proper application of this micro nutrient can make you money with a minimal investment. Wendall Boehlje with U.S. Borax joins yield record setter Chad Henderson to explain boron’s contribution to your yield.

Kelly talks with Netafim's Tim Wolf about how his entire perspective on soil health, nutrients, fertility and biologicals has changed over the last 5 years since first installing drip irrigation on his farm. More than just water, Kelly has used the system to alter PH and improve the soil environment dramatically. The results show in the higher yields he has attained since installing his systems.

No-till farming creates an improved soil environment that is rich with biological activity all year long, but it also adds a blanket of residue that can make planting a challenge at times. Lee shows us what is happening underneath his layer of residue and discusses technique for ensuring seed to soil contact in a no-till environment.

Fertilizer prices are doubling from last crop season as overall Ag input prices are increasing. Savvy farmers understand the need to squeeze every penny out of their input dollars. Biological products like TitanXC — a fertilizer coating — do just that by making phosphorous and potassium more available for crops. Studies show that as much as 60% of your phosphorous goes un-utilized. Can you afford to let that much of your purchase go unused? Brian and Steve from Agricen join Iowa producer Kelly Garrett to discuss the science and the financial return.

Plant Growth Regulators (PGR’s) have been available since 1979 according to Mark Coots, founder and CEO of Teva Corporation. That’s news to a lot of farmers who are still unfamiliar with the products 42 years after their alleged introduction. Mr. Coots and his plant biologist son, Caleb, join Kelly Garrett to explain PGR technology and the results farmers can attain when PGR’s are used in conjunction with other best farming practices.