The Crop Science Podcast Show

In this episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, Shawn Feikema, co-owner and operator at Feikema Farms and Circle F Farms in Luverne, Minnesota, shares how a diversified family farm connects cattle feeding, manure management, crop rotation, and cover crops. He discusses farm transition, precision manure application, small grains, soil erosion control, and goal-driven cover crop decisions. Learn how integrated systems support long-term farm resilience. Listen now on all major platforms!"Progress often comes from repeated failures, rapid learning, and the willingness to test new ideas despite uncertainty and changing agricultural conditions."Meet the guest: Shawn Feikema is co-owner and operator of Feikema Farms Inc. and Circle F Farms in Luverne, Minnesota. As part of a third-generation farming operation, he manages diversified crop production, livestock integration, precision agriculture, manure utilization, cover crops, and conservation-focused systems. Shawn is passionate about improving productivity and soil health through practical innovation and long-term farm sustainability. Learn from Shawn Feikema on The Crop Science Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love!What you will learn:(00:00) Highlight(01:24) Introduction(03:24) Farm transition(08:02) Feedlot integration(09:19) Manure fertility(14:53) Crop rotation(21:52) Cover crop goals(25:10) Final questionsThe Crop Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like:- Loam Bio𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.Website: The Crop Science Podcast ShowInstagram: The Crop Science Podcast ShowLinkedIn: The Crop Science Podcast Show

In this episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, part of our special series on corn, Dr. Scott Irwin from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shares deep insights into how grain markets truly work. He explains how policy uncertainty, biofuels, and global trade shape corn and soybean prices. The conversation explores market efficiency, forecasting accuracy, and why timing grain sales is so challenging. Dr. Irwin also reflects on decades of market evolution and decision-making. Listen now on all major platforms. "If you want to try to understand what’s driving corn and soybean markets over the last 15 years, the first place you need to start is biofuel policy." Meet the guest: Dr. Scott Irwin https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthirwin/ is the Laurence J. Norton Chair of Agricultural Marketing at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a global leader in agricultural economics. His work focuses on commodity markets, biofuels policy, and grain price behavior. Dr. Irwin is also the creator of the farmdoc project, supporting farm-level decision-making across the United States. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+crop+science+podcast+show What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:55) Introduction (04:29) Market uncertainty (06:25) Sales strategies (07:42) Market evolution (13:55) Information quality (22:46) Market lessons (30:52) Final three questions The Crop Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: - KWS (https://www.kws.com/us) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.wisenetix.com/croppodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cropsciencepodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-crop-science-podcast-show/

In this special rerun episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, we revisit a focused discussion with Dr. Emerson Nafziger, professor emeritus of crop sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, on improving how nitrogen fertilizer rates are set for rainfed corn. The conversation addresses why defining optimal nitrogen rates remains difficult, the limits of crop, soil, and weather modeling, and the real potential of variable rate nitrogen to improve nitrogen use efficiency and profitability. The episode also examines whether improved weather forecasts can meaningfully support nitrogen management decisions. Revisit this episode and listen now on all major platforms. "The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated." Meet the guest: Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+crop+science+podcast+show What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:48) Introduction (01:58) Dr. Nafziger's background (07:03) Soil nitrogen variability (10:18) Nitrogen rate strategies (12:56) Root development factors (25:48) MRTN historical changes (31:00) Closing thoughts The Crop Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: - KWS (https://www.kws.com/us) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.wisenetix.com/croppodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cropsciencepodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-crop-science-podcast-show/

In this episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Connor Sible from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign talks about managing residue and understanding corn root architecture in today’s high-yield systems. He shares how farmers can balance tillage, biological tools, and conservation practices, and explains how root traits affect nutrient use and drought tolerance. Get practical, research-based insights to fine-tune your corn management strategies. Listen now on all major platforms! "Wider angle roots are more responsive to split-applied nitrogen because they’re positioned right where nutrients accumulate." Meet the guest: Dr. Connor Sible https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-sible-0a4651103/ is a Research Assistant Professor in Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on corn and soybean production systems, studying how management practices influence crop growth, development, and yield. His current work explores residue management, corn root physiology, and nutrient efficiency across production environments. Liked this one? Don’t stop now — Here’s what we think you’ll love! https://www.wisenetix.com/blog?tag=the+crop+science+podcast+show What you will learn: (00:00) Highlight (00:58) Introduction (04:20) Residue management (07:24) Conservation tillage balance (10:28) Strip tillage systems (12:53) Root system variation (17:48) Hybrid influence (22:27) Final three questions The Crop Science Podcast Show is trusted and supported by innovative companies like: - KWS (https://www.kws.com/us) 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺. Website: https://www.wisenetix.com/croppodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cropsciencepodcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-crop-science-podcast-show/