Wild Bee Sunflower Nectar Preferences with Dr. Jarrad Prasifka
Field, Lab, Earth
“Wild bee visitation unaffected by disparate nectar phenotypes in a sunflower inbred line population” with Dr. Jarrad Prasifka. Bees are important pollinators for sunflowers. But, just like humans, they also have preferences, which means it’s important for sunflower breeders to breed the kinds of sunflowers that bees like best. In this episode, Dr. Jarrad Prasifka joins me to discuss sunflower nectar and how much it affects wild bee preferences for sunflower lines. Tune in to learn: · How sunflower lines are bred ...
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Living Mulches in Organic Corn with Ben Brockmueller
Field, Lab, Earth
“Mechanical management strategies improve corn production in organically managed living mulch systems” with Ben Brockmueller. Organic farming is a rich and rewarding challenge for farmers, but without the use of herbicides and other conventional methods, weed suppression can be a problem. Cover crops functioning as living mulches can be one way to overcome this challenge, but what works in one crop may not necessarily work in another. In this episode, Ben joins me to discuss cover crop management in corn as a means of weed suppression. Tune in to learn: ...
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Connections February 2026, A Life in Viticulture with Dr. Paul Skinner
Field, Lab, Earth
Dr. Paul Skinner discusses his career in viticulture and his time as a member of the Soil Science Society of America. Contact us at or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if you have comments, questions, or suggestions for show topics, and if you want more content like this don’t forget to subscribe. If you’d like to see old episodes or sign up for our newsletter, you can do so here: . If you would like to reach out to Paul, you can find him here: Resources Transcripts: Sequum Wine: Field, Lab, Earth is Copyrighted by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of...
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Sorgoleone with Drs. Sakiko Okumoto, Bill Rooney, and Guntur Subbarao
Field, Lab, Earth
“Synthesis, function, and genetic variation of sorgoleone, the major biological nitrification inhibitor in sorghum” with Drs. Sakiko Okumoto, Bill Rooney, and Guntur Subbarao When we fertilize our crops, some of the nitrogen from that fertilizer gets converted into different forms through processes called nitrification and denitrification. When non-plant available forms of nitrogen exit the soil through water or as gas, it's a serious environmental problem. Thankfully, plants have some pretty nifty ways to prevent nitrification, such as biological nitrification inhibition or BNI, a process...
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Connections, January 2026 with Drs. Wade Thomason, Felix Fritschi, and Aaron Daigh
Field, Lab, Earth
We’re trying something a little bit different. In addition to our regular episodes with Abby, we’ll be adding a monthly bonus episode with Jim Cudahy, the CEO of the Societies. In this first episode, Jim has a chat with the three Society presidents, discussing current challenges and opportunities for the Societies, including ways that members can get the most out of our programs, but guests will vary a lot from there! Please give a listen and let us know what you think. If there are specific guests or topics you want us to cover, let us know! Contact us at or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if...
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Rescuing Potato from Buckwheat Volunteers with Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill
Field, Lab, Earth
“The critical period of cover crop management: A framework for maximizing biomass potential and minimizing volunteers with buckwheat” with Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill Buckwheat can be a powerful driver of ecosystem services in potato rotations grown in Canada, but with its long-lived seeds and ability to make a whole lot of them in a short time, it can also pose a serious volunteer problem. In this episode, Andrew joins me to discuss how creating a framework to reduce volunteers can help keep this helpful plant from turning into a fearsome weed. Tune in to learn: ...
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Optimizing Genomic Selection in Strawberry with Dr. Joshua Sleper
Field, Lab, Earth
“Within-family genomic selection in strawberry: optimization of marker density, trial design, and training set composition” with Dr. Joshua Sleper If plant breeding were a poker game, you’d have to play a lot of hands to beat the house. Quantitative genetics hopes to give players an advantage by recognizing patterns that can point to future success. In strawberry, a genetically complex and labor-intensive plant, this is particularly important. This episode, Joshua join me to discuss his work using quantitative genetics to help give strawberry breeders a hand. Tune in to learn: ...
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Giant Ragweed Suppression with Guilherme Chudzik and Dr. Rodrigo Werle
Field, Lab, Earth
“Cereal Rye Biomass Effects on Giant Ragweed Suppression Inform Management Decisions” with Guilherme Chudzik and Rodrigo Werle. For farmers in the Midwest, giant ragweed can be a giant problem. In Wisconsin, where long emergence windows, aggressive growth, herbicide resistance, and power-packed seeds make suppression difficult, farmers are always looking for more hammers to hit this nasty nail on the head. In this episode, Guilherme and Rodrigo join me to discuss their work investigating cereal rye as an additional tool in this long-running fight. Tune in to learn: ...
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Halloween Special: Spring Dead Spot with Dr. Wendell Hutchens
Field, Lab, Earth
“Fifteen years of findings: Advancements in spring dead spot research from 2009 to 2024” with Dr. Wendell Hutchens Spring dead spot is a disease that lies in wait before going after your turfgrasses, transforming your favorite golf course into the set of your favorite PG-13 slasher. This episode, Wendell joins me to discuss the mega gains made in the last 15 years of spring dead spot research, in hopes that someday we can turn this slow-moving monster into just the stuff of legend. Tune in to learn: · What symptoms point to spring dead spot ...
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Genomic Selection with Dr. Jianming Yu
Field, Lab, Earth
“Genomic Selection: Essence, Applications, and Prospects” with Dr. Jianming Yu Genomic Selection is a plant breeding innovation that aims to speed plant breeding by using predictions from a training model enabled by genomics and statistics to guide the breeding decisions. With around thirty years of history around this innovation, it was about time to develop a review on it. Enter Dr. Jianming Yu and his team of coauthors. This episode, we skate the surface of a topic that could go down for miles, covering key areas of genomic selection, what it is, how to use it, and where we can aim to...
info_outline“Shallow water habitat management influences soil CO2 efflux from agricultural fields in the Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB), USA” with Amitava Chatterjee.
The Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) serves as a critical stopover habitat for migratory birds traveling between Canada and Central and South America, presenting both challenges and opportunities for habitat conservation. To support these birds, farmers in the region flood agricultural fields in the winter, creating temporary wetlands that provide habitat and essential food sources. This practice has increased bird stopovers but raises concerns about soil health, as flooding can alter soil properties. In this episode, Dr. Amitava Chatterjee shares his insights on research related to the effects of flooding on soil properties in agricultural lands in the LMRB and how it contributes to maintaining sustainable stopover habitats for migratory birds.
Tune in to learn:
· What migratory bird stopovers are
· How flooding of agricultural lands helps migratory birds
· How flooding of agricultural land affects soil health
· How flooding affects soil microbial activity
· What are the long-term impacts of agricultural land flooding
If you would like more information about this topic, this episode’s paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20365
This paper is always freely available.
Contact us at podcast@sciencesocieties.org or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if you have comments, questions, or suggestions for show topics, and if you want more content like this don’t forget to subscribe. If you’d like to see old episodes or sign up for our newsletter, you can do so here: https://fieldlabearth.libsyn.com/.
If you would like to reach out to Amitava Chatterjee, you can find him here: amitava.chatterjee@usda.gov
https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/ames/nlae/people/amitava-chatterjee/
If you would like to reach out to Sourajit Dey from our Student Spotlight, you can find him here: sdey@ksu.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sourajit-dey-100208215
Resources
“Flooding Fields May Be a Win-Win For Farmers and Birds in the Mississippi Delta” article: https://tellus.ars.usda.gov/stories/articles/flooding-fields-may-be-win-win-farmers-and-birds-mississippi-delta
“Flooding Fields in the Mississippi Delta Helps Crop Yields—and Shorebirds” article: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/flooding-fields-in-the-mississippi-delta-helps-crop-yields-and-shorebirds/#
“Soil carbon mineralization, enzyme activities, and crop residue decomposition under varying soil moisture regime” article in Soil Science Society of America Journal: https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20601
https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/18529.wba
Conservation Incentive Program: Winter-Flooded Rice Fields for Waterfowl Habitat: https://youtu.be/yzOFy0weIx0?si=QoTRQHwHdwF5ZGo9
MDWFP Waterfowl Program - Mississippi Land Conservation Assistance Network: https://www.mississippilandcan.org/local-resources/MDWFP-Waterfowl-Program/20187
https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/waterfowl-program.aspx
https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/ames/nlae/
Thank you to Om Prakash Ghimire for help with the shownotes and other assets.
Field, Lab, Earth is Copyrighted by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.