Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast Podcast Por Brian Arnall Ph.D. Dave Deken Josh Lofton Ph.D. arte de portada

Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast

Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast

De: Brian Arnall Ph.D. Dave Deken Josh Lofton Ph.D.
Escúchala gratis

The Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast is your source for in-depth discussions on agronomy explicitly tailored for the unique challenges and opportunities in Oklahoma and the Southern Plains. Hosted by a team of university experts, this podcast dives into soil health, crop production, pest management, and innovative farming practices, all with a regional focus. Whether you're a seasoned agronomist, a dedicated farmer, or simply passionate about agriculture in the Red Dirt region, this podcast offers practical advice, expert insights, and the latest research to help you thrive in your field. Tune in and stay connected to the heart of agronomy in the Southern Great Plains.2026 - Ag Now Media LLC Ciencia Historia Natural Naturaleza y Ecología
Episodios
  • The New Rules Of Wheat Weed Control - RDA 509

    The New Rules Of Wheat Weed Control - RDA 509
    Mar 10 2026
    What actually works in wheat weed control when the old spray plan starts slipping? In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy, Dave Deken, Brian Arnall, and Josh Lofton sit down with Liberty Galvin at AgriFest in Enid to talk through the real-world decisions that separate a clean wheat field from a frustrating one. The conversation covers pre-emergent herbicides, burndown programs, delayed planting, competitive wheat canopies, and why one weed-control strategy rarely fits every field. Liberty also breaks down why producers need to think beyond chemistry alone. From no-till residue and seedbank behavior to variety selection, tillage timing, and even the role of fire and chaff lining, this episode is packed with practical ideas for Oklahoma wheat producers facing ryegrass, brome, cheat, and other tough weed problems. It is a sharp, funny, highly useful discussion about managing weeds with better timing, better systems, and fewer assumptions. Top 10 takeaways Wheat weed control has to be system-specific now; one standard program no longer fits every field.Delayed planting can be a real weed-control tool because it lets producers target the first flush before or near planting.Variety selection and crop competition deserve more attention as weed-management tools, not just yield tools.A dense, fast-closing wheat canopy can suppress weed emergence and make herbicides work in a friendlier environment.In heavy-residue no-till systems, burndown programs may sometimes outperform soil-applied pre products because of poor soil contact.Bare ground at green-up is not always a disadvantage; it can create an opening for spring residual herbicides.Herbicide timing and rotating modes of action matter as much as product choice when resistance is in play.Weed seedbanks behave differently by species; many grasses are shorter-lived than broadleaf weeds, which can persist much longer.Occasional strategic tillage may have value in long-term resistance management, but timing, moisture, and erosion risk all matter.Fire and chaff lining are not silver bullets, but they may become useful post-harvest tools in integrated weed-management systems. Detailed Timestamped Rundown00:00–01:34 — Dave opens Episode 509 and frames the show around a question many wheat producers are asking: what do you do when the old reliable spray program is not getting the job done anymore?01:34–03:03 — The crew records live from AgriFest in Enid, with a quick round of banter before introducing Liberty Galvin and setting up the conversation around current wheat weed-control challenges.03:03–05:06 — Liberty gives an update on building her program at OSU and describes her “spaghetti plate method” of trying multiple ideas until a clearer research direction starts to form.05:06–06:06 — She explains a pre-emergent herbicide study funded by the Wheat Commission, including trials at Lahoma, Perkins, and Chickasha, and how dramatically different those environments behaved.06:06–07:15 — Liberty shifts to a cultural weed-control and IPM study, comparing multiple systems, including variety selection, to see which wheat types compete best against weeds.07:15–09:28 — The discussion turns to delayed planting. Liberty explains how cooler temperatures and moisture patterns affect winter weed emergence, and why delaying planting can help knock out the first flush.09:28–11:02 — Josh and Brian push on the tradeoffs: smaller, later wheat may conserve resources for spring, but more open soil can also invite weed emergence.11:02–15:13 — The group digs into species-specific weed behavior, especially Italian ryegrass, and talks through spring residual opportunities, bare ground at green-up, and mixing herbicide timings and modes of action.15:13–17:34 — Economics enter the picture. Liberty points out how hard it is to recommend multiple passes in a $4 wheat market, while Brian argues that badly infested fields can still justify stronger programs.17:34–20:21 — They compare delayed planting, tillage, roundup burndown, and no-till systems, with Liberty sharing observations that residue-heavy no-till fields may not always favor soil-applied pre products.20:21–24:23 — The conversation moves into tillage in long-term no-till, including when precision tillage might help, how moisture affects the operation, and how occasional soil inversion could influence resistant weed problems.24:23–28:01 — Dave asks how long weed seeds persist. Liberty gives a great primer on seedbanks, explaining why many grasses tend to have shorter dormancy while some broadleaf seeds can remain viable for years or even decades.28:01–31:44 — Josh shares a story about deep flipping fields and unexpectedly bringing crabgrass back. That leads into a broader point from Liberty: selection pressure drives weed problems, so no single tactic can carry the whole load.31:44–35:14 — Josh asks Liberty to explain her identity as a weed ecologist rather than a purely ...
    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Insurance Basics That Keep You Farming - RDA 508

    Insurance Basics That Keep You Farming - RDA 508
    Mar 3 2026
    Tight margins and wild market swings are back in the driver’s seat—and producers are feeling it. Recorded at the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater, Episode 508 features Clay Burtrum (Farm Data Services) walking through why insurance matters even when you hope you never use it. The crew digs into Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) basics, how price protection actually works, and what producers often misunderstand when they start using these tools. On the crop side, Clay outlines the deadlines and decisions that can make or break your coverage—plus how to think about programs like PRF (Pasture, Rangeland, Forage), annual forage, and stacking options without getting lost in the fine print. Bottom line: in a $4 wheat world with 2026 input costs, staying “bankable” means planning ahead and knowing what you bought. Top 10 takeaways Insurance is about staying bankable, not just getting a payout.LRP is price protection, not mortality/disaster coverage—know what it does.Documentation matters (example: “unborn” coverage needs validation like preg-check/bred purchase records).Stocker operators often treat LRP as all-or-nothing because margin risk is concentrated.Cow-calf operations can sometimes phase coverage, spreading risk across calf crop timing.Crop insurance complexity is real—stackable options exist, but basics come first in tight years.Deadlines drive everything (in this area, March 15 is a big one; waiting too long is a common pitfall).$4 wheat changes decisions—coverage, hail policies, and whether you even harvest vs graze-out.PRF is “rainfall interval” insurance—pick when you need rain and spread risk; it won’t cover every scenario (like quality loss from too much rain).Know your cost of production—break-even won’t keep you in business; cash flow clarity is survival. Detailed timestamped rundown 00:00–01:46 Dave tees up the episode: why insurance matters, recorded at Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference (Stillwater).01:46–02:57 Clay Burtrum intro: Farm Data Services (Stillwater), management accounting + 25+ years insurance; LRP and crop insurance, plus helping producers see bottom line year-round.03:16–04:45 Big-picture ag economy: grain-only operators squeezed; modern costs with “1970s prices”; crop insurance complexity (stackable programs) and need to keep it basic.04:45–08:43 LRP deep dive: example of insuring a 900-lb steer; why margins need protection; common misunderstandings (full load, unborn coverage requirements, validation); “don’t let it burn down” analogy; all-or-nothing for many stocker operators vs partial strategy for cow-calf.08:43–10:27 First-time client conversation: goals, where they want to be, staying bankable; traps include ignoring USDA/FSA programs and missing support.10:27–11:25 Clay as producer: he uses the products himself; emphasizes knowing cost of production and that break-even won’t keep you in business.11:26–12:50 Crop insurance pitfalls: calling too late; major dates in the area—March 15 sales closing; July 15 reporting; flow of deadlines through the season.12:50–14:18 $4 wheat vs $7 wheat decisions: changes appetite for added coverage/hail; producer mindset shifts (harvest vs graze-out).14:18–15:38 Dual-purpose wheat and insurance: need to notify agent by March 15/short-rate timing; cannot just “leave cattle out” without process; consider double-crop rules to avoid uninsured crop risk.15:38–17:14 Policy/program landscape: farm bill uncertainty and “rules”; emphasis on working with FSA and not missing deadlines/opportunities.17:14–18:51 Specialty crop/alternative ideas: limited locally; examples like hemp market issues; unusual inquiries (tulips) and regional eligibility realities.18:51–21:45 PRF pasture coverage: sales closing Dec 1; choosing rainfall intervals; premiums and changing rules; spreading risk across intervals; limits (doesn’t cover “missed cutting” quality loss).21:45–24:05 Talking to policymakers: how programs hit local bottom lines; input costs for grazing/forage; how rural communities feel downstream impacts; even equipment/emissions issues affect harvest reality.24:05–25:43 Oklahoma risk reality: rapid weather swings; questions like quarantine/screwworm, wildfire loss—what LRP does/doesn’t cover; importance of understanding what you actually bought.25:43–27:20 “Bring one program back”: Clay wants simplicity—too many stacked options; focus on basics and bottom-line impact. Wrap + thanks. RedDirtAgronomy.com
    Más Menos
    28 m
  • The Hidden Herd Thieves: Biting Bugs - RDA 507

    The Hidden Herd Thieves: Biting Bugs - RDA 507
    Feb 24 2026

    Flies, ticks, and parasites don’t just annoy cattle—they steal gain and profit. Recorded live at the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater, OK, this episode features Dr. Jonathan Cammack (OSU Extension livestock entomology & parasitology) breaking down what producers should know about common pests like horn flies, how researchers test control tools, and why day-to-day management matters more than most folks think.

    The team also tackles two headline issues: New World screwworm and the invasive Asian longhorned tick. Dr. Cammack explains why screwworm is such a serious wound pest, how sterile insect technique works, and why animal movement can spread risk faster than the fly ever could. Then they pivot east—where Asian longhorned ticks have been detected in Oklahoma—and discuss why explosive tick populations and tick-borne disease threats are a growing concern across the region.

    Top 10 takeaways for producers

    1. Pests “steal” performance quietly—stress and blood-feeding divert energy away from gain.
    2. Screwworm isn’t a nuisance fly: it targets living tissue in wounds and can escalate fast.
    3. Time matters: screwworm eggs can hatch in 12–24 hours, so delayed checks can get costly.
    4. Animal movement beats fly movement—trailers move risk hundreds of miles in a day.
    5. Sterile insect technique works because females mate once; scale and logistics are the challenge during outbreaks.
    6. Asian longhorned tick can explode in numbers because it can reproduce without mating (parthenogenesis).
    7. High tick loads can cause real blood loss, and tick-vectored disease is a growing regional concern.
    8. Feedlots are a special concern due to animal density and the difficulty of visually monitoring every animal.
    9. Good management beats extremes: not “once a year,” not necessarily “daily,” but consistent eyes-on and quick response.
    10. Research behind the scenes is constant—colonies, susceptible/resistant strains, and field tests inform what works on your operation.

    Detailed timestamped rundown

    00:00–01:06 Dave Deken tees up Episode 507: flies, ticks, parasites; guest Dr. Jonathan Cammack; recorded at the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater.
    01:06–02:42 “Trip around the table” intros: Brian Arnall and Josh Lofton; setting the scene at the Payne County Expo Center.
    02:42–06:56 Cammack’s role: OSU Extension livestock entomology/parasitology; what he covers across livestock species; why they keep fly colonies (houseflies, blowflies) for research and pesticide trials.
    06:56–10:51 Colony realities: genetic bottlenecks, refreshing genetics from field populations; why “susceptible” vs “resistant” strains matter for chemical testing.
    10:51–14:54 How trials work: planning population numbers; counting flies on cattle with visual estimates + photos; students doing image-based counts; “2000+” becomes the practical ceiling.
    14:54–20:01 Screwworm basics: obligate parasite of living tissue; eggs hatch fast (12–24 hours); damage can be severe; regulatory questions around response/harvest are still evolving.
    20:01–27:44 Control strategy: sterile insect technique; females mate once; sterile males overwhelm wild males; program history and why scaling facilities matters as the “front” widens northward.
    27:44–30:40 Beyond cattle: wildlife, pets, and people can be affected; reminder that wildlife movement can complicate containment; key deer example in Florida Keys (2016–2017) discussed.
    30:40–33:36 Other big concern: Asian longhorned tick found in northeast Oklahoma (summer 2024); parthenogenetic reproduction; potential for heavy infestations and disease-vector risk.
    33:36–35:27 Wrap-up: “safe from the west (for now)” tone; thanks to guest; where to find resources (reddirtagronomy.com).

    RedDirtAgronomy.com
    Más Menos
    36 m
Todavía no hay opiniones