Advertise on podcast: XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

“Cover crops won't work on my farm.” Kelly Garrett has heard that one plenty of times. After more than a decade of growing cover crops, he knows there's usually more to the story. In this episode of Cover Crop Conversations, Kelly joins TJ Kartes of Bio-Till in a newly seeded field to tackle five of the biggest myths farmers have about cover crops. Do they steal moisture? Hurt corn and soybean yields? Create a spring termination nightmare? And how do you justify the expense on rented ground? From managing water to dealing with stubborn cereal rye, Kelly and TJ have some real-world experience to share. Turns out, some of those coffee shop arguments might not hold up quite like you'd think.

What does it take for a farmer to ditch the familiar and give a new product, practice, or technology a shot? Damian Mason sits down with Kelly Garrett, Adam Ullrich, and Trey Cutts of Tidal Grow to debate what really drives innovation on the farm. Is it university research? On-farm trials? ROI? A recommendation from a trusted farmer? Or does seeing the neighbor make it work carry more weight than a stack of data? The crew digs into why controlled research doesn’t always translate to real-world farming, the “snake oil” label surrounding some crop inputs, and why ease of use can make or break adoption. They also explore how AI could help farmers sort through mountains of information—and whether digital modeling might someday change the way products are tested. When you only get so many growing seasons in a career, how much proof is enough to try something new?   Presented by Tidal Agro AgriScience

Why would you spend money planting a crop you can't sell? That's the question Kelly Garrett is asking as he kicks off XtremeAg's new Cover Crop Series with TJ Kartes of Bio-Till. Standing in a five-way cover crop mix on Kelly's western Iowa farm, the two get into what these plants are actually doing below ground and whether the benefits justify the cost. Kelly's got cattle to graze his covers, but what about farmers who don't? And when it comes to corn-on-corn acres, could choosing the right species make more of a difference than just getting something green in the field? Kelly and TJ dig into some interesting possibilities that might have you rethinking your cover crop plan.

Agriculture has plenty to worry about—but are we focused on the right things? Damian Mason sits down with Chad Henderson, Matt Miles, and Tommy Roach for a wide-ranging conversation about the issues that could have a lasting impact on American agriculture. They dig into agriculture’s shrinking political influence, the growing disconnect between farmers and consumers, fragmentation within the industry, questions surrounding land-grant universities, and whether agriculture needs a better approach to public communication. Along the way, the crew debates food policy, social media misinformation, consumer expectations, and agriculture’s role in national security. And somehow, a serious discussion about the future of farming also turns into an investigation of one of modern food’s great mysteries: How exactly do you milk a cashew? Pull up a chair for a candid look at the challenges agriculture may need to start paying more attention to.   Presented by Nachurs.

Calls for American agriculture to diversify sound great—but what exactly are farmers supposed to grow instead? Damian Mason sits down with Kelly Garrett, Adam Ullrich, and Galynn Beer (Tidal Grow) to dig into the economics and realities of moving acres away from corn and soybeans. From wheat, oats, rye, and sorghum to sweet corn and even a little talk about flax and buffalo, the group explores where diversification might actually pencil out. But growing another crop is only half the battle. Farmers still need buyers, storage, transportation, infrastructure, and enough demand to keep a promising alternative from becoming the next oversupplied commodity. The conversation also tackles marginal farmland, government support, regional advantages, water limitations, logistics, and why the smartest diversification strategy might look completely different from one farm to the next. So, can American agriculture really diversify—or are corn and soybeans simply too deeply rooted in the system? This episode is presented by Tidal Grow AgriScience

“That won’t work here.” It might be one of the most common phrases in farming—and one of the most dangerous. Damian Mason joins Matt Miles, Chad Henderson, and Todd Kimbrell to talk about what happens when farmers challenge conventional wisdom and try something anyway. From Y-drops and liquid fertility to cover crops, strip-till, planter setups, and pushing planting dates, they’ve all seen ideas dismissed because they supposedly wouldn’t work in a particular region. Sometimes the skeptics were right. Other times, those “crazy” ideas changed the way they farm. The guys dig into regional differences, learning from other growers, managing risk, and why being willing to fail is part of finding the next thing that works. After all, there’s only one good way to find out whether “that won’t work here” is actually true.   Presented by Nachurs.

Are nutrient regulations headed for American agriculture? Damian Mason sits down at The Granary table with Kelly Garrett, Todd Kimbrell, and Tommy Roach to dig into a topic farmers may want to get ahead of. From nitrate concerns in Iowa and Nebraska to phosphorus issues around Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay, the guys discuss why nutrient management is attracting more attention—and what future regulation could actually look like. Pounds-per-acre limits? Water monitoring? Application restrictions? More recordkeeping? But regulation isn’t the only reason to rethink fertility. The conversation turns to nutrient use efficiency, cutting unnecessary nitrogen, drainage tile, soil mineralization, and the dollars that leave the farm every time nutrients leave the field. Can farmers maintain yield while applying less—and could better nutrient management actually improve the bottom line? Pull up a chair. This one gets into the water, the soil, the regulations, and, naturally, a little manure. This episode is presented by Nachurs.

Kelly Garrett is joined by Iowa's Lobe Rangers—Matt Bormann, Zack Smith, and James Hepp—to discuss what they call regenerative farming's third iteration: dramatically reducing synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus while maintaining yield and improving profitability. Moving beyond cover crops and no-till, the conversation explores on-farm nitrogen trials, nutrient management strategies, Iowa State research on reducing nitrate loss, and the emerging opportunities surrounding the 45Z tax credit. The group emphasizes that reducing fertilizer inputs is first and foremost a business decision that can improve return on investment while delivering environmental benefits as a byproduct.

Reducing synthetic nitrogen is becoming increasingly important as the USDA's updated 45Z carbon intensity calculator places greater weight on nitrogen use. XtremeAg is testing how far nitrogen rates can be reduced while maintaining yield through on-farm trials featuring Agricen's N-FINITY. Kelly Garrett is evaluating nitrogen programs ranging from 140 to 45 pounds per acre. The combination of lower fertilizer costs and potential 45Z tax credit eligibility makes nitrogen efficiency one of the biggest financial opportunities for corn growers.

Many farmers focus on maximizing crop yields, but far fewer realize their farm business structure could affect how much they receive from USDA safety net programs. In this episode, Kelly Garrett sits down with Jared Creed of JC Ag Financial Services to discuss the changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill, including the new $155,000 payment limitation per eligible individual for ARC and PLC programs. They explain how entity structure, C corporations, and ownership arrangements can impact government payments, why larger farming operations should review their eligibility, and what producers need to know before the mid-July deadline.

In this episode of XtremeAg’s Cutting the Curve, Damian Mason interviews agronomist Mike Evans of Calibrated Agronomy about the importance of R-stage fertility management in corn and soybeans. The discussion focuses on why growers should reserve part of their fertility budget for reproductive growth stages, when nutrient demand is highest and yield potential can still be influenced. Evans explains the value of sap analysis for identifying nutrient deficiencies, discusses timing considerations for corn and soybean fertility applications, highlights key nutrients such as potassium, boron, sulfur, and zinc, and outlines practical application methods including aerial, drone, ground rig, and pivot fertigation. The conversation emphasizes measuring results, adapting programs to local conditions, and making informed fertility decisions that improve yield and profitability.

USDA has released key guidance for the 45Z Clean Fuel Tax Credit, bringing farmers closer to receiving payments for regenerative farming practices. Ryan Pearcy of ARVA joins XtremeAg founder Kelly Garrett to explain how ethanol and biodiesel plants can reduce their carbon intensity (CI) scores by sourcing grain from farmers using practices such as no-till, cover crops, and reduced synthetic fertilizer. Farmers who qualify could see an estimated $30–$40 per acre in additional value, with even greater opportunities for operations that already have low CI scores. While Treasury must still finalize implementation rules, producers are encouraged to calculate their carbon intensity score now through the USDA FDCIC. Click Here to Find Your CI Score with the USDA's Calculator

Damian Mason and Art Graves of Vive Crop Protection discuss how farmers can manage fungicide, fertilizer, fuel, and financial pressure without sacrificing crop performance. The episode covers fungicide timing, planting-time decisions, V5 applications, disease risk from residue and soil pathogen load, and ways to reduce input costs while protecting yield potential.

This episode explains how Section 180 of the tax code may allow farmers and landowners to deduct a portion of soil fertility value from taxable income after buying or inheriting farm ground. Gunnar Bodvarsson and Austin Koch of Earth Optics join Damian Mason to outline the information required, including soil data, purchase details, and agronomic analysis, and explain how a report can be used by a CPA to support the deduction.

Agronomist Jared Cook of Calibrated Agronomy discusses why profitable crop production starts with healthy plants rather than reactive crop treatments. He explains that strong soil biology, balanced fertility, and proper water management allow crops to resist stress and disease naturally, reducing the need for costly inputs. Cook emphasizes that farmers should move beyond symptom-based agronomy and instead use a complete agronomic toolbox focused on plant health from the soil up. He shares an example from an Idaho dairy farm that spent heavily trying to correct crop problems with inputs before discovering that improving plant health fundamentals provided a far more cost-effective solution.