Intro 0:00

Podcast 01:12

We hit the fields with Scott Dickey, Regional Agronomy Manager, to see how the early-season corn and soybeans are holding up after a stretch of heavy rain and cool temperatures. Despite the challenging weather, the fields are looking promising! In this update, we dive into the "boots on the ground" reality of early-season growth, covering:

The Corn Coleoptile: Understanding how much pressure it can withstand in a crusting environment and what it means for your stand.

The GDU Factor: How many Growing Degree Units it actually takes to get corn and soybean seeds out of the ground.

The Power of Patience: Why waiting another week is crucial before making any final calls on emergence. The coleoptile acts as a protective spear for the first true leaves. In a "crusting environment," if the soil surface becomes too hard due to rain followed by quick drying, the coleoptile can buckle or grow horizontally (corkscrew) if it cannot break through.

For soybeans, emergence is different because they have to "pull" the cotyledons through the soil, which often requires more energy and specific GDU accumulation compared to the "spearing" action of corn.

A big thanks to Scott for sharing his expertise!

#Agronomy #Corn2026 #Soybeans #Farming #CropUpdate

To get a FARMserver account for yourself to use its agronomy AI feature go to: https://www.farmserver.com and sign up for your account.

TOP Ag Services is a Beck's Hybrids seed dealer as well as a franchise partner for Sweetwater Technologies. We provide Hybrid Corn Seed, Soybean Seed, and Wheat Seed. Beck's has access to the best genetics and trait technologies from suppliers worldwide. Through Sweetwater Technologies we have access to industry standard name brand herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and many others! We have access to biological stress mitigators, biological fertility foliar, and many other products in the category of crop protection and stress prevention. Through our business associates Dirks Bros, we offer fertilizer, soil sampling, and a whole suite of crop nutrition solutions. We are the first to market with the best products & provide the latest, most accurate agronomic information through proven research. If you need agronomic assistance or want to be added to these updates, feel free to reach out via the messaging feature or contact us at topagservices.com/contact or call us at 417-684-5301 to be connected with someone who can help you.

All information here is for informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation for your farm. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this presentation without seeking other professional advice. The contents of this presentation contain general information and may not reflect current agronomic or developments or address your situation. We (Wendell Koehn and all of his affiliates, guests, or assistants) disclaim all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content in this presentation.

George Sims joins me after a break to talk about the second part of our two part series on carbon. This time we dive into the products and their use on your corn & soybean crop. They are used in nitrogen and herbicide applications. CarbonWorks’ philosophy centers on delivering three essential elements—Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen—to support the soil’s biological system, rather than relying solely on synthetic NPK inputs.

1. CarbonWorks CetaiN® (Nitrogen Efficacy) CetaiN is a nitrogen enhancement additive designed to stabilize nutrients and prevent loss through leaching or volatilization. How it works: It uses carbon as a "bridge" to hold nitrogen molecules to the soil. Unlike traditional stabilizers that may kill soil bacteria to slow conversion, CetaiN provides molecular oxygen to feed aerobic microbes (Nitrosomonas and Nitrobactor). Benefits: Stabilizes all three forms of nitrogen: Holds Ammonium, Nitrite, and Nitrate in the soil. Microbial Boost: Keeps microbes active even in saturated, oxygen-deprived soils, preventing corn from turning yellow after heavy rains. Versatility: Can be mixed with UAN (28% or 32%) or impregnated onto Urea. Reported Results: Studies have shown yield increases of approximately 10.4 bu/ac when added to urea and 7.0 bu/ac when added to UAN.

2. CarbonWorks Replenish (Herbicide & Spray Efficacy) Replenish is a salt-free water conditioner and spray adjuvant used to "torch" stubborn weeds and maximize the performance of tank mixes. How it works: Minerals in hard water (like calcium and magnesium) often bind to herbicides, making them 30–50% less effective. Replenish binds and neutralizes these "antagonizers." Benefits: Enhanced Absorption: Because it is salt-free, it keeps plant leaf pores open, allowing the spray to enter the plant more effectively than salt-based conditioners like AMS. Faster Mobility: Carbon molecules move through the plant faster than salts, leading to a quicker "kill" of target weeds. Residue Breakdown: It stimulates soil microbes to speed up the decomposition of weed carcasses and crop residue. Usage: Typically applied at 12–16 oz per 100 gallons of water.

3. CarbonWorks RSTC 17® (formerly Restore) This is a carbon-based starter technology applied in-furrow to improve germination and early plant vigor. How it works: It creates a "seed sphere" rich in carbon (food), hydrogen (energy), and oxygen. This environment helps seeds germinate faster in cool or wet soils. Benefits: Uniform Stands: Promotes "picket fence" stands where every plant emerges at the same time. Root Development: Significantly increases root mass and hair growth, allowing the plant to access more nutrients naturally. Reduced Salt Stress: Unlike traditional high-salt starters, RSTC 17 is safe to place directly on the seed. Reported Results: Has shown a 3-year average yield increase of 9.2 bu/ac in corn and consistently high ROI in soybeans and specialty crops like potatoes.

4. CarbonWorks Renew (Manure Management) Renew is designed for farmers using manure as a primary nutrient source. Purpose: It maximizes the nutrient content of manure while reducing environmental impacts. Benefits: It helps stabilize the nutrients within the manure and reduces the odors and harmful gasses associated with storage and application.

TOP Ag Services is a Beck's Hybrids seed dealer as well as a franchise partner for Sweetwater Technologies. We provide Hybrid Corn Seed, Soybean Seed, and Wheat Seed. Beck's has access to the best genetics and trait technologies from suppliers worldwide. Through Sweetwater Technologies we have access to industry standard name brand herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and many others! We have access to biological stress mitigators, biological fertility foliar, and many other products in the category of crop protection and stress prevention. Through our business associates Dirks Bros, we offer fertilizer, soil sampling, and a whole suite of crop nutrition solutions. We are the first to market with the best products & provide the latest, most accurate agronomic information through proven research. If you need agronomic assistance or want to be added to these updates, feel free to reach out via the messaging feature or contact us at topagservices.com/contact or call us at 417-684-5301 to be connected with someone who can help you.

All information here is for informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation for your farm. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this presentation without seeking other professional advice. The contents of this presentation contain general information and may not reflect current agronomic or developments or address your situation. We (Wendell Koehn and all of his affiliates, guests, or assistants) disclaim all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content in this presentation.

Intro 0:00 Podcast 01:12

In this episode, we sit down with George to talk about his deep dive into soil fertility. George argues that if we want to master agriculture, we have to stop looking at soil as a chemistry set and start looking at it as a living, breathing carbon-based system.

Key Takeaways The Carbon-Water Complex: George breaks life down to its simplest form. Human bodies and plants alike are essentially carbon/water complexes. Atmospheric Perspective: We often think of "air" as oxygen, but George reminds us that nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%) dominate the sky. Carbon dioxide is a tiny fraction, yet plants pull that carbon down to build glucose (C6H12O6).

The Forest Blueprint: Why does a natural forest grow vibrantly without man-made inputs? Because it is a closed-loop carbon cycle.

Soil Respiration vs. Photosynthesis: Respiration is the silent partner. It is the process where biology breaks down sugars to create energy, releasing CO2 and water as byproducts.

Dynamic Organic Matter: George dispels the myth that soil carbon is like gold coins in a safe. It is a living, changing system that must be recycled by soil biology to remain healthy.

The Big Idea "Carbon isn't just a nutrient; it is the food for the biology that makes the whole farm function. If we interfere with the natural design for short-term gains, we are sacrificing the long-term health of the soil."

What's Next? George hints that while carbon products are flooding the market, they aren't all created equal. Next time, we will be peeling back the label on these supplements to see which ones actually help.

TOP Ag Services is a Beck's Hybrids seed dealer as well as a franchise partner for Sweetwater Technologies. We provide Hybrid Corn Seed, Soybean Seed, and Wheat Seed. Beck's has access to the best genetics and trait technologies from suppliers worldwide. Through Sweetwater Technologies we have access to industry standard name brand herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and many others! We have access to biological stress mitigators, biological fertility foliar, and many other products in the category of crop protection and stress prevention. Through our business associates Dirks Bros, we offer fertilizer, soil sampling, and a whole suite of crop nutrition solutions. We are the first to market with the best products & provide the latest, most accurate agronomic information through proven research. If you need agronomic assistance or want to be added to these updates, feel free to reach out via the messaging feature or contact us at topagservices.com/contact or call us at 417-684-5301 to be connected with someone who can help you. All information here is for informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation for your farm. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this presentation without seeking other professional advice. The contents of this presentation contain general information and may not reflect current agronomic or developments or address your situation. We (Wendell Koehn and all of his affiliates, guests, or assistants) disclaim all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content in this presentation.