How the Calgary Stampede Connects Global Agriculture
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Release Date: 07/29/2025
Tapping Into Crop Conversations With Biosensors
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Can your crops really talk? On this episode of The Dirt, host Mike Howell sits down with Co-Founder and Director of Vivent Biosignals, Nigel Wallbridge, to uncover how biosensors are helping farmers tap into the hidden communication networks inside their plants. Nigel shares how tiny electrodes and AI algorithms work together to detect internal crop signals before they are visible in the field. From early warnings of drought, disease, and nutrient deficiencies to real-time insights that improve irrigation and soil fertility planning, this technology is giving farmers a new...
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Nitrogen Management: Lessons from the Prairies
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
What does nitrogen management look like in the Canadian Prairies? Find out as host Mike Howell sits down with Retired Agronomist, Ray Dowbenko, to explore how nitrogen is lost, managed and applied in Western Canada. From the primary sources of nitrogen used and how they're applied, to fall application considerations and the value of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers, we explore the ins and outs of nitrogen loss and nitrogen management in the North. Dig into how Canadians prevent nitrogen loss, the increasing value of urea, controlled-release nitrogen products and tips for...
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Managing and Maintaining a Natural Grass Field
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Ready to change the way you look at football fields forever? It's not as simple as managing an acre of grass. In this episode of The Dirt, Dr. Bryan G. Hopkins joins Mike Howell to break down the art and science of sports turf management. From irrigation timing and mowing height, paint and shade, to compaction and crowns, you'll hear what really goes into the fields our athletes play on. Explore why natural grass has become the turf of choice, how stadium layouts affect growth and uncover innovative technologies that have changed the turfgrass management game for NFL and college...
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Resilient By Design: A Look Inside Canadian Dairy
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
What does dairy farming look like in Canada, and what does it take to keep a farm thriving for over six generations? Find out with your host, Mike Howell, as he sits down with Jason Crozier, an Alberta dairy farmer whose family has been farming on the same land for almost 130 years. From growing their own feed and embracing innovations like robotic milking to managing costs and minimizing waste, Jason shares the thoughtful and steady approach that has kept their operation resilient, through COVID, rising input costs and labor shortages. Dive into Canada's unique supply-managed...
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Tight Tassel Wrap: The Latest Challenge in Corn
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
This season has brought one of the most puzzling problems in corn production, the tight tassel wrap. Tight tassel wrap is an uncommon phenomenon that occurs when the uppermost leaves refuse to unfurl, keeping the tassel trapped and preventing pollination. The result? Pollination problems that can quietly reduce your yields, even in fields that look picture-perfect from afar. Tune in as Mike Howell sits down with Dr. Dan Quinn, Purdue University's extension corn specialist, to explore this new challenge and the importance of getting timing and synchrony right throughout corn...
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Managing Sulfur: Timing, Sources and Tools
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Canada has been managing sulfur throughout every stage of crop production for decades. Today, we're uncovering the lessons you can learn from their playbook. On this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell is joined by Ray Dowbenko, a retired senior agronomist with over 30 years of experience across the Canadian Prairies. Together, they unpack how to manage this essential nutrient and offer us lessons we can take back to our own soil. You'll uncover the critical role that sulfur plays in our crops (from supporting amino acid production to nitrogen use efficiency), why canola has such a...
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Fertilizer Storage: Protecting Quality and Flowability
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
Fertilizer supply chains have been anything but stable this year. For many growers, that makes on-farm storage not just a convenience, but a strategic advantage. But storing fertilizer isn’t as simple as putting it in a bin and forgetting about it. So how do you preserve its quality over time, especially in humid conditions? Find out on this episode of The Dirt with your host, Mike Howell, and Nutrien Senior Agronomist, Lyle Cowell. Join them as they explore the real-world challenges and benefits of fertilizer storage, from managing product blends and minimizing moisture risks to...
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How the Calgary Stampede Connects Global Agriculture
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
The Calgary Stampede is known for its legendary rodeo and riveting chuck wagon races, but it's so much more than that. In this episode of The Dirt, Mike Howell sits down with Chair of the Calgary Stampede's International Agriculture and Agri-Food Sub-Committee, Scott Exner, to discuss the Stampede's evolving role in international collaboration, networking and connection. Scott shares his insights into why thousands of international guests make the trip to Alberta for this iconic event every year. It's not just for the rodeo—it's a gathering place where they can participate in...
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The Calgary Stampede: A Gateway to the Future of Agriculture
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
What's next for Canadian agriculture, and what role does the Calgary Stampede play in helping us get there? Sit down with Mike Howell and Canadian Agriculture Hall of Famer, AdFarm Founder and Canadian agriculture advocate, Kim McConnell, as they explore food and farming at one of Canada's most iconic events - the Calgary Stampede. Tune in to uncover the Stampede's history and roots in cattle country and its evolving role as a platform for policy, connection and education - helping to bridge the gap between Canadian producers and consumers. Explore the challenges and...
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Smarter Sulfur Management
The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast
In agriculture, we tend to look at each nutrient in isolation. It's time to break down our silos and take a closer look at how nutrients work together in our fields. Join Mike Howell and special guest, Eve-Lyn Hinckley, as they explore Hinckley's recent research on sulfur. From increasing nitrogen use efficiency to changing soil pH, we explore sulfur's critical role in our soil and how it works together with various nutrients to support crop production. From the rising need for sulfur to tips for better and smarter sulfur management, we explore it all. We also dig into the first...
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