Fertility, Forage & The 4Rs
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
On this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell reconnects with Lyle Cowell, Senior Agronomist at Nutrien, to discuss how you can make the most out of your fertilizer during forage production. Mike and Lyle take a closer look at forage production in North America and how to best maintain soil fertility for maximum production. Learn more about the role of nitrogen in forage crops and best practices for 4R Nutrient Management in this week's episode of the Dirt. For more information on forage production, check out our forage guide: Looking for the latest in crop nutrition...
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12-time Pro Rodeo Announcer of the Year Talks Mental Health
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Join Mike Howell as he chats with Brett Gardiner, 12-time Canadian Pro Rodeo announcer of the year. Brett and Mike continue the ongoing discussion about mental health in agriculture, focusing in on the impacts on males in the agriculture community. They chat stigma, getting over the initial barrier to seeking help and where to go for help when the need arises. For mental health support in Alberta, Canada visit In the United States, you can find your Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network regional information here: Looking for the latest in crop nutrition...
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Optimism Ahead: 2024 Global Weather Forecast
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Mike Howell reconnects with crowd-favorite Eric Snodgrass, Principal Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions to discuss recent weather events like the derecho that hit Houston, wild solar activity and the shift from El Niño to La Niña. Eric then discusses some of the wider climate trends and crop impacts we’re seeing around the world as we head into summer. You won’t want to miss Eric Snodgrass’s depth of knowledge and expertise, so be sure to listen in. Check out for all of Eric’s recent weather content. Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Head to ...
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Sulfur: More Than Just Fertilizer
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Mike Howell connects with Craig Jorgenson, President and CEO of The Sulphur Institute to discuss the wider uses of sulfur. More than just the fourth major crop nutrient, this versatile element is an important industrial material to the mining, chemical and energy industries. It is also essential to producing other fertilizers, such as phosphate. Learn more about The Sulphur Institute at To discover the latest crop nutrition research, visit Subscribe to our YouTube channel:
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Reaching Out: Managing On-Farm Stress
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
On this episode of The Dirt, host Mike Howell speaks with Dr. Florence Becot, a professor at Penn State University and lead of the Ag Safety and Health Program. They dive deeper into the impacts of mental health on the farm, where farmers can reach out for help, who else can help farmers who might be struggling or in a crisis, and how farmers can support other farmers not only in their communities but across the country. Find your Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network regional information here: To discover the latest crop nutrition research, visit ...
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Put Your Soil Test to the Test
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Soil testing offers a great perspective into your soil and nutrient management, but there are some factors to consider for getting the most accurate results. Listen as host Mike Howell visits with Dr. Bryan Hopkins on soil testing and the considerations you should make when testing and analyzing your soil results. To discover the latest crop nutrition research, visit For further resources on soil sampling, check out our Soil Sampling 101 toolkit:
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Decoding the Dicamba Dilemma
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
A recent court ruling essentially took several dicamba-based herbicides off the market for American farmers growing soybeans and cotton. Host Mike Howell and guest Tom Eubanks discuss the impact this will have on US-based soybean and cotton growers, what the courts have stated about remaining stocks of these products, and how growers can voice their concerns. To discover the latest crop nutrition research, visit
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Where Has All the Potassium Gone?
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Tune in with Mike Howell and returning guest Dr. Alan Blaylock, Senior Agronomist at Nutrien as they discuss the current needs of potassium in soils across the country. You'll learn what trends they've seen in nation-wide soil tests and what growers can do to combat those trends. They also chat about the value that potassium can add to crops beyond an increase in yield. For more information on the resources discussed in this episode, check out the links below: Potassium Is Also An Essential Human Nutrient: Rise in Potassium Deficiency in the US Population Linked to...
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How Your Water Source Impacts Your Pesticides
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Host Mike Howell and returning guest Karl Wyant, Director of Agronomy, Nutrien, discuss the impacts your water sources can have on the effectiveness of your spray applications of pesticides and fertilizers. To check out the Purdue University study on the impact of water quality on pesticide performance, visit To discover the latest crop nutrition research, visit
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Agriculture + Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
On this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell connects with Melissa Ploeckelman, Outreach Specialist with the National Farm Medicine Center. They dive into the topic of on-farm mental health and how the stress of farming can impact the mental health of farmers. Mental health can sometimes be a taboo subject, especially in the world farmers operate in. Mike and Melissa speak to how to work past the stigma, who to reach out to in times of crisis and how to help others who might be struggling with mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling, call 988 from anywhere...
info_outlineSoil testing offers a great perspective into your soil and nutrient management, but there are some factors to consider for getting the most accurate results. Listen as host Mike Howell visits with Dr. Bryan Hopkins on soil testing and the considerations you should make when testing and analyzing your soil results.
To discover the latest crop nutrition research, visit nutrien-ekonomics.com
For further resources on soil sampling, check out our Soil Sampling 101 toolkit: https://nutrien-ekonomics.com/agronomics/toolkits/soil-sampling/