Advertise on podcast: Agronomy Highlights

Recorded: 10/7/26  This episode of the Agronomy Highlights Podcast explores the PA and Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association and how its programs help farmers improve nutrient management through the principles of applying the right source, rate, timing, and placement of fertilizers. Host Justin Brackenrich and co-host Dwane Miller are joined by Jenell McHenry and Mitchell Shirk to discuss practical strategies for increasing nutrient use efficiency, improving profitability, protecting water quality, and leveraging voucher programs that reduce the financial risk of trying new practices. The conversation highlights the importance of trusted advisors, sound agronomic fundamentals, and small, data-driven changes that can help farmers build more resilient and profitable operations.  Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller Guests: Mitchell Shirk, Agronomist with Rosetree Consulting, and Jenell McHenry, Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Program Executive Director Photo credit: Penn State Extension  Links: Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association 4R Voucher & Implementation Program: Winter Enrollment Opens August 18 Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 9/24/26 Join Penn State Extension Agronomy Educators for a timely and practical conversation on current crop conditions across Pennsylvania. In this episode, the team shares on-the-ground observations from fields spanning multiple regions. They highlight how recent weather patterns, soil moisture variability, and crop growth stages are shaping corn, soybean, and forage performance. The discussion wraps up with a review of the 2026 Statewide Crop Conditons Tour, summarizing yield trends in corn and soybean fields across Pennsylvania.  Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller Guest(s): Erin Cuprinka, Heidi Reed Photo credit: Justin Brackenrich Links: 2026 Crop Conditions Tour Summary Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 9/10/26  In this episode of the Agronomy Highlights Podcast, Penn State climatologist Kyle Imhoff joins the team to break down Pennsylvania’s 2026 growing season, from spring freeze events and summer rainfall patterns to what producers can expect heading into harvest and winter. The discussion explores how weather has affected crops across the state, explains the science behind El Niño and its influence on regional weather, and outlines potential implications for field conditions, precipitation, and harvest timing. Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest: Kyle Imhoff, Penn State Links: The Pennsylvania Observer Newsletter NOAA Weather Forecast Homepage Weather Outlook Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 8/25/26  Join Penn State Extension Agronomy Educators for a timely and practical conversation on current crop conditions across Pennsylvania. In this episode, the team shares on-the-ground observations from fields spanning multiple regions. They highlight how recent weather patterns, soil moisture variability, and crop growth stages are shaping the performance of corn, soybean, and forage.  The discussion includes two questions about timely decisions happening on the farm: how to conduct a yield estimate on corn and soybean, and keeping an eye on silage moisture levels. Educators will outline practical tools and approaches farmers can use right now. Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guests: Erin Cuprinka and Heidi Reed, Penn State Extension Links: S3E19: Silage Inoculants & Small Grain Silage Photo credit: Zack Curtis, Penn State Extension Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 8/5/26 Join Penn State Extension Agronomy Educators for a timely and practical conversation on current crop conditions across Pennsylvania. In this episode, the team shares on-the-ground observations from fields spanning multiple regions. They highlight how recent weather patterns, soil moisture variability, and crop growth stages are shaping corn and forage performance.  The discussion includes two questions about timely decisions happening on the farm: soil testing and seeding fall forages. Educators will outline practical tools and approaches farmers can use right now.  Host: Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension Guests: Erin Cuprinka and Heidi Reed, Penn State Extension Links: How Late Can Cool-Season Perennial Forages Be Planted? Grain Drill Calibration S4E7: Back to Basics: Soil Fertility Testing Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 7/1/2026 Join Penn State Extension Agronomy Educators for a timely and practical conversation on current crop conditions across Pennsylvania. In this episode, the team shares on-the-ground observations from fields spanning multiple regions. They highlight how recent weather patterns, soil moisture variability, and crop growth stages are shaping corn and forage performance. The discussion includes a question about one of the most critical in-season decisions: cover crops following small grains. Educators will outline practical tools and approaches farmers can use right now.   Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guests: Erin Cuprinka and Heidi Reed, Penn State Extension Links: A Cover Crop Selection Tool for Northeast US Farmers Crop Protection Network Agronomy Highlights S1E4: Tarspot in Corn Agronomy Highlights S4E16: Double Crop Soybeans Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 6/22/26  As we prepare for small grain harvest, join us as we talk with Penn State experts about the latest approaches to assessing small grain health and productivity. In this episode, we dive into head scab (Fusarium head blight), including how to identify it and understand its impacts.  Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guests: Dr. Daneila Carrijo, Dr. Alyssa Collins, Penn State Links: Home Stretch: Evaluating Your Small Grain Crops Crop Protection Network Fusarium Head Blight of Wheat Scab Risk Tool Fungicide Efficacy for Control of Wheat Diseases Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 6/2/26 Join Penn State Extension Agronomy Educators for a timely and practical conversation on current crop conditions across Pennsylvania. In this episode, the team shares on-the-ground observations from fields spanning multiple regions. They highlight how recent weather patterns, soil moisture variability, and crop growth stages are shaping corn and forage performance.  The discussion includes a question about one of the most critical in-season decisions: nitrogen management in corn. Educators will outline practical tools and approaches farmers can use right now.   Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest(s): Erin Cuprinka and Heidi Reed, Penn State Extension Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 5/21/26  What should growers look for when evaluating early-season corn and soybean stands to decide whether replanting is worth the time and cost? In this episode, expert Zack Curtis discusses replanting decisions for corn and soybeans, emphasizing the importance of objective assessment, cost analysis, and strategic planning to optimize yields and profitability.  Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest: Zack Curtis, Penn State Extension Links: Assessing Corn and Soybean Populations and Replanting Decisions Photo credit: Dwane Miller Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 5/11/26  Rising fertilizer prices are top of mind for producers this spring. As we approach first cutting, how should you be thinking about fertility management to ensure successful hay production throughout the season? Join us for a discussion with Andrew Frankenfield as he shares strategies to help you maximize your fertility inputs and get the most out of your hay crop. Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest(s): Andrew Frankenfield, Penn State Extension Links: First-Cut Forage Considerations Manure N-P-K Economic Value Calculator University of Georgia Fertilizer Calculator Photo credit: Dwane Miller Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 3/16/26  Grain sorghum is gaining attention as a resilient, drought-tolerant crop with potential to diversify crop rotations across Pennsylvania. In this episode, Justin and Dwane are once again joined with Dale Stoltzfus, Sorghum grower and owner of Specialty Grains LLC. They will continue to dive deeper into grain sorghum management and discuss some opportunities and challenges of producing high-yielding grain sorghum. Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest(s): Dale Stoltzfus  Links: Specialty Grains Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 3/30/26  As planting season approaches, preparation and decision-making can set the tone for the entire growing year. In this episode, the hosts invite Del Voight, Lebanon County Agronomy Extension Educator, to discuss key considerations for planting corn and soybeans. Topics include evaluating planting conditions, deciding how early to start planting, and optimizing planter setup for uniform emergence and strong early-season growth.  Hosts: Ryan Spelman, Justin Brackenrich, and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest: Del Voight, Penn State Extension Links: Planter and Drill Maintenance Growing Corn and Corn Silage on a Budget Assessing Corn and Soybean Populations and Replanting Decisions Sponsor: Call/text Mark  1-618-521-6805 Photo credit: Tosh Mazzone  Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 3/16/26  Grain sorghum is gaining attention as a resilient, drought-tolerant crop with potential to diversify crop rotations across Pennsylvania. But how well does it really fit our climate and management systems? In this episode, Justin and Dwane are joined by Dale Stoltzfus, sorghum grower and owner of Specialty Grains LLC, to explore the opportunities and challenges of growing grain sorghum in Pennsylvania. Hosts: Justin Brackenrich and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest: Dale Stoltzfus Links: Specialty Grains Sorghum: Herbicide Options and Considerations if Corn Crop Fails Sponsor: Call/text Mark  1-618-521-6805 Photo credit: Ryan Spelman Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 3/6/26 As spring is coming fast, it is time to start making our fertility management plans! In this episode, we dive into the P of N-P-K. Penn State soil fertility management specialist Dr. Charlie White and Chief Administrative & Sustainability Officer of Phospholutions, Stephen Levitsky, join us to discuss phosphorus management, selecting fertilizers, and new high-efficiency phosphorus fertilizer technology.  Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Dwane Miller, Penn State Extension Guest(s): Dr. Charlie White, Stephan Levitsky Links: Soil additive devised by Penn State researchers may cut farm phosphorus runoff Managing Phosphorus for Crop Production Phospholutions Photo credit: Charlie White, Penn State Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!

Recorded: 2/23/25  Are you looking for opportunities to pack more crops into your rotation? Double crop soybeans may be for you! Double-cropping soybeans refers to growing soybeans immediately following a cereal grain crop. In this episode, we invite Dr. Carrie Knott of the University of Kentucky to discuss the agronomics of growing double-crop soybeans and the potential for double-cropping in Pennsylvania.   Hosts: Ryan Spelman and Justin Brackenrich, Penn State Extension Guest: Dr. Carrie Knott, University of Kentucky Links: Carrie Knott Considerations for Double-Crop Soybean Production Financial Considerations for Double-Cropping Photo credit: Del Voight, Penn State Extension Sign up for our newsletter, Field Crop News, and follow us on Facebook!