Ask Better Questions of Your Soil - RDA 506
About this episode
The episode discusses soil testing and fertility decisions with insights from experts at the Oklahoma Wheat Commission and EnviroAg Laboratories.
In Episode 506, the Red Dirt Agronomy crew opens with a crop update from the Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater—where wheat and canola are starting to move, moisture is “patchy,” and the big theme is staying flexible with fertility decisions until weather and markets give clearer signals. Then the episode shifts into a soil-nerd deep dive from the Oklahoma Wheat Commission booth at AgriFest: OSU Extension’s Brian Arnall and Josh Lofton visit with Jace Whitehead of EnviroAg Laboratories, a 2017 OSU Plant & Soil Sciences graduate who built a soil testing lab back home and now serves producers across the region. The conversation breaks down what soil test “extractions” really are, why phosphorus results can look wildly different between Mehlich-3 and Bray (especially in acidic soils), and why “saturated paste” is less like math and more like mixing the perfect brownie batter. They also tackle common buzzwords—base saturation, calcium-magnesium ratios, and micronutrient hype—and bring it back to what pays: solid sampling, trusted advisors, and understanding your soil’s rooting depth and limitations before you chase shiny add-ons.
More episodes of Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast
- OSU Agronomy Farm: What Changes, What Stays
- What This Wheat Year Taught Farmers
- Oklahoma Crops: Small Isn’t Bad
- Bring Pastures Back Fast: Recovery That Lasts - RDA 511
- How Soybeans Shape Oklahoma - RDA 510
- The New Rules Of Wheat Weed Control - RDA 509
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast podcast page.