FOCUS on Agriculture

Have you ever wondered why some strawberries from the grocery store or farmer’s market taste wonderful while others are relatively flavorless? Do you struggle to produce strawberries in your home garden? We learn about these topics and much more in our latest episode.

Dr. Marvin Pritts is a professor and the director of undergraduate studies, School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section at Cornell. Dr. Pritts has spent four decades studying berry crops, with a recent focus on strawberry production practices and their effects on yield and flavor. Listen to learn about his research as well as his thoughts on the Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list which annually ranks strawberries as being high risk for pesticide residue.

Ambassador Kip Tom served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture from 2019-2020. As a seventh generation farmer, Kip has worked tirelessly as a voice for farmers in the U.S. and around the globe and is a strong advocate for technological advances in agriculture.

In this episode we discuss Kip’s journey from farm boy to becoming an active influencer of ag policy in the U.S. and abroad. Listen in to hear his take on the threats facing agriculture and the need for his fellow farmers to make their voices heard by policymakers. Despite challenges facing farmers, Kip’s optimism about the future of ag shines brightly through.

Congressman Brad Finstad was elected to Congress in a special election on August 9, 2022, and was sworn in three days later with his family by his side as he took the Oath of Office to proudly represent Minnesota’s First District.

Brad is a fourth-generation farmer and resident of the New Ulm area. He and his wife, Jackie, met on the school bus in second grade and they are now the proud parents of seven children. A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Agriculture Education and an emphasis in Rural Leadership Development, Brad and Jackie now operate an agriculture business in New Ulm while working alongside extended family to run their generational family farm.

Brad is proud to have served as State Director for USDA Rural Development in Minnesota where he worked to support infrastructure improvements, business development, homeownership, community services such as schools, public safety, health care, and high-speed internet access in rural areas. He previously served three terms in the Minnesota Legislature. In 2017, he was appointed Minnesota’s State Director of USDA Rural Development and held executive positions with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association and the Center for Rural Policy and Development.

In this episode we discuss the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill, EPA’s Waters of the US rule, and the impact that farmers can have on governmental policy. You can learn more about Congressman Finstad at his official website: https://finstad.house.gov/ or on social media including Twitter: @RepFinstad.

Dr. Donald Ort is is the Robert Emerson Professor in Plant Biology and Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois and Deputy Director of the RIPE (Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency) project.  His research seeks to understand and improve plant growth and photosynthetic performance in changing environmental conditions, such as increasing CO2 temperature and drought.  Don earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Wake Forest University and his doctorate in plant biochemistry from Michigan State University. He has served as the president of the American Society of Plant Biologists, the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, and the International Association of Plant Physiology. He also served as editor-in-chief of Plant Physiology and is an associate editor of Annual Review of Plant Biology. Don has received numerous awards and recognitions, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and being named one of Thomson Reuters’ Most Influential Scientific Minds. He has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers in journals that include Science.

In this episode we discuss Dr. Ort's research and how it impacts crop production.  You can learn more about RIPE at https://ripe.illinois.edu/.  Dr. Ort is also involved with the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI): https://cabbi.bio/ and Renewable Oil Generated with Ultra-productive Energycane (ROGUE): https://rogue.illinois.edu/.

Stu Ellis has been a well-known agricultural communicator in Illinois for 50 years.  He began as the farm broadcaster at WSOY in Decatur and expanded his service to corn belt farmers through radio, television, newspapers, newsletters, and the Internet.  Listen to hear Stu's story - from growing up on the farm, attending college, and through a long, distinguished, and impactful career "helping farmers make money and stay out of jail."

Although he has reached the point in his career at which many people would consider retirement, Stu is busier than ever.  He generates ag related content for the Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Corn Growers, and other organizations and also hosts a daily farm report on WITY radio.  You can read his weekly column in the Decatur Herald and Review.  For the last 20 years, he has published the Cornbelt Update weekly newsletter which is available through a variety of sources.  Follow Stu on Twitter: @farmgatemedia and subscribe to his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@user-gq2ql5im8o/videos.

Joni Stepanov's long career in agriculture has culminated in her current role as horticulture consultant at AmplifiedAg.  In this position, she conducts research to determine how to best manage crops in a completely controlled environment.  Listen in to learn about her research.  For a visualization of the concepts discussed in this podcast, check out the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAhefhLAolQ.  To learn more about this topic, listen to our previous episode with Don Taylor, CEO of AmplifiedAg.

To learn more about AmplifiedAg, visit their website: https://amplifiedaginc.com/.  You can follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter: @AmplifiedAgInc.  Find Vertical Roots products in select grocery stores and follow them on Twitter: @VerticalRoots. You can also interact with Joni on LinkedIn.

The mission of AmplifiedAg is to provide global access to safe food, by growing the indoor agriculture category through innovation, experience, and partnership.  In this episode, we speak with CEO Don Taylor about how the company is achieving this mission.  Listen to learn how a unit of land can produce over 100X the amount of food compared to traditional outdoor methods by taking advantage of a controlled environment.  Don explains how this approach can partner with and complement traditional growing methods.

To learn more about AmplifiedAg, visit their website: https://amplifiedaginc.com/.  You can follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter: @AmplifiedAgInc.  Find Vertical Roots products in select grocery stores and follow them on Twitter: @VerticalRoots. You can also interact with Don on LinkedIn.

Each year farmers are faced with a unique set of challenges, and 2022 was no exception.  In this episode, Preston and Jason recap the 2022 growing season and discuss the future of farming.  For added context to the discussion, check out the following episodes:

Episode 42: Julie Borlaug - Dr. Norman Borlaug and the Green Revolution

Episode 56: Matt Helm - New Tools in the Battle Against Tar Spot of Corn

Episode 64: Megan Dwyer - Managing Fertilizer Costs with Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategies

Episode 66: The Latest Tool in the Battle Against Corn Rootworm - SmartStax Pro®

Episode 68: Paul Mitchell - The Economics of Farming in a Volatile Market Environment

Preston and Jason appreciate feedback from and enjoy interacting with their audience.  Follow the Focus on Agriculture Podcast on Twitter: @Focus_on_Ag.

Dr. Jayson Lusk is an ag economist at Purdue University, where he is a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.  Dr. Lusk studies what we eat and why we eat it.  He is the author of several books, including his latest, Unnaturally Delicious: How Science and Technology are Serving up Super Foods to Save the World.  In this episode, we discuss his book, which discusses the role of innovation in modern food production in the context of history.

You can learn more about Dr. Lusk's work at: www.jaysonlusk.com.  Monthly survey results about consumer attitudes toward food and agricultural issues can be found at the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS): https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/data-resources/consumer-food-insights/.  You can also follow Dr. Lusk on Twitter: @jaysonlusk.  Pick up your copy on Amazon or wherever you get your books.

Duane Simpson is Vice President, Head of North America Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science.  He leads the company's Policy & Advocacy and Industry Affairs teams to bring farmer and value chain perspective to agricultural policy making in North America and around the globe.  Duane is passionate about helping farmers and agribusinesses share their voices in the current political landscape.

In this episode, we discuss the role of lobbyists in the public policy development process, the inner workings of agencies like EPA and USDA, and the impacts of current policy such as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.  Listen in for advice from Duane on how farmers can advocate for positive ag policy.  Duane can be reached through email at duane.simpson@bayer.com.

Bringing a new pesticide to market involves years of research and huge capital investments.  As environmental toxicologists with Bayer Crop Science, Dr. Tim Fredricks and Dr. Dan Schmehl study the effects of these products on the environment to ensure that adverse effects are minimized.  In this episode we discuss the process of evaluating new crop protection products with greater specificity to control target pests while minimizing harm to other organisms.

You can learn more about Bayer for Biodiversity, an initiative to help farmers and others preserve biodiversity at the following website: http://go.bayer.com/biodiversity.

Tara Bohnert is a business development manager with Nedap Livestock Management, a Netherlands-based company that provides monitoring equipment for pigs and dairy cattle.  In this episode we learn about the data that is collected and how it is used to improve farmer profitability as well as animal welfare.  We also discuss the evolution of the dairy industry over the past century and what the future holds.

To learn more about this topic, you can visit Nedap's website: https://www.nedap-livestockmanagement.com/ or follow them on Twitter: @NedapLivestock and facebook: @NedapDairyFarming.

Sri Lanka has been in the news recently due to an economic crisis leading to political instability.  One of the factors behind the civil unrest is spiking food prices caused in part by governmental policy eliminating the use of synthetic fertilizers and crop protection products.  In this episode, we once again chat with Dr. Stuart Smith, professor in ag and resource economics at the University of Saskatchewan about the situation in Sri Lanka and other topics related to modern agriculture.

As an economist, Dr. Smith researches the socioeconomic impacts of innovation in agriculture.  You can learn more about his research through his blog, SAIFood (Sustainable Agricultural Innovations and Food) at saifood.ca or contact him directly though email: stuart.smyth@usask.ca.  Dr. Smyth also advocates for modern ag on Twitter (@stuartsmyth66).  For more from Dr. Smyth, check out our January 2020 conversation: Episode 15: Stuart Smyth - Benefits of GMO Technology to Farmers and Consumers.

Diseases attacking agricultural crops cause millions of bushels of yield loss for farmers across the United States each year.  Farmers battle these diseases in several ways including the use of resistant varieties and hybrids, crop rotation, and fungicides.  To complicate things, new diseases arise from time to time.  One example is Tar Spot, which has become a major yield robber in Midwestern corn fields over the past several years.  In this episode, Dr. Randy Myers from Bayer Crop Science explains how companies develop new tools that farmers can use to protect their crops.

To learn more about fungicides available to growers of various crops, please visit: http://www.cropscience.bayer.us/products/fungicides.

Dr. Jayson Lusk is an ag economist at Purdue University, where he is a distinguished professor and head of the Department of Agricultural Economics.  Dr. Lusk studies what we eat and why we eat it.  He is the author of several books, including his latest, Unnaturally Delicious: How Science and Technology are Serving up Super Foods to Save the World.  In this episode, we discuss the results of consumer surveys about food, and how farmers can positively impact consumer perceptions.

You can learn more about Dr. Lusk's work at: www.jaysonlusk.com.  Monthly survey results about consumer attitudes toward food and agricultural issues can be found at the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS): https://ag.purdue.edu/cfdas/data-resources/consumer-food-insights/.  You can also follow Dr. Lusk on Twitter: @jaysonlusk.

Today we wrap up our series on ag tech with a conversation with Dr. German Bollero.  Dr. Bollero is currently Interim Dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer, & Environmental Sciences and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Illinois.  In this discussion, he describes exciting new opportunities for students to combine their passions for computer science and agriculture.

Learn more about the University of Illinois College of ACES at aces.illinois.edu or on Twitter @ACESIllinois.  More information about the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering can be found at abe.illinois.edu or on Twitter @IllinoisABE.  To learn more about research into developing tools that can communicate with plants, please visit: https://www.igb.illinois.edu/taxonomy/term/1718.

Our Podcast series on the Past, Present, and Future of Ag Tech continues with returning guest Jack Marck, who is managing director of the Illinois Agtech Accelerator.  Located at the University of Illinois Research Park, this program provides mentoring, funding, and office space for Agtech startups.  In today's conversation, we discuss the opportunities for new technologies to improve farmers' operations and strengthen the food supply chain.  You can contact Jack through email at jack@gener8tor.com.

To learn more about the Illinois Agtech Accelerator program, please visit www.gener8tor.com/investment-accelerators/illinois-agtech

Scott Spal is a scientist with The Climate Corporation.  In his current role, he investigates how enhancements to Climate FieldView can improve farmer profitability, as well as transparency and sustainability in agriculture.  Listen to this episode to learn how farmers benefit from the massive amounts of data that they collect in their fields.

To learn more about The Climate Corporation, please visit www.climate.com.

Happy 3rd anniversary to the Focus on Agriculture Podcast.  In this brief update, we discuss the 5 most downloaded episodes from the past year.  Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Dr. Mike Canady is a scientist with a background in plant breeding who is currently director of agronomy for specialty crops at Verdesian Life Sciences.  In this conversation, we learn about how farmers can help plants use nutrients more efficiently.  We also discuss the use of biostimulants to enhance plant production.

To learn more about these types of products, you can visit the Verdesian Life Sciences website at http://vlsci.com/ or contact Mike directly: utcanady@gmail.com.

Dr. Sarah Klopatek is a sustainability and cattle systems scientist at UC Davis.  As a scientist, she explains why it is often difficult to reduce complex questions to a simple answer, leading to her statement, "myopia is the death of sustainability."  Her most recent publication explores the differences in nutritional profiles in beef from cattle raised in a variety of grain- and grass-fed systems.  In our fascinating conversation she explains these differences, as well as the environmental impact of the production systems.

To learn more about Dr. K's work, you can follow her on Twitter @DrBeefBabe or connect on LinkedIn.   

"Before John Deere, Ford, and International Harvester became icons of American business, they were competitors in a forgotten battle for the farm.  From 1908 to 1928, against the backdrop of a world war and economic depression, these brands were engaged in a race to introduce the tractor and revolutionize farming."

Neil Dahlstrom is the author of The John Deere Story: A Biography of Plowmakers John and Charles Deere, and Lincoln’s Wrath: Fierce Mobs, Brilliant Scoundrels, and a President’s Mission to Destroy the Press. Since the release of these two books he’s built a career in corporate archives, agricultural and brand history. Today, Neil is the Manager of Archives and History at John Deere.  

Neil has appeared on The History Channel, NatGEO, PBS, and Book TV. He’s a member of the Kitchen Cabinet, the Food and Agriculture Advisory Board of The Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and was recently chair of the Society of American Archivists Business Archives Section and the Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board.  Listen to this episode in which he discusses the little-remembered story described in his latest book, Tractor Wars: John Deere, Henry Ford, International Harvester, and the Birth of American Agriculture.

You can learn more about this book, as well as Neil's other works at his website, www.neildahlstrom.com.  Follow him on Twitter @neil_dahlstrom or connect on Facebook @authorneildahlstrom.  His books are available through Amazon or other booksellers.

Bret Sill grows diverse crops including alfalfa, corn, wheat, garlic, carrots, walnuts and almonds with his family on their farm which is over 100 years old.  In this episode we discuss the similarities and differences between raising almonds and other crops.  Bret also explains the incorporation of cover crops into his operation and we discuss the annual migration of thousands of honey bee hives into California almond orchards during bloom.

You can learn more about Bret's farm at www.sillproperties.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook: @sillproperties.

Due to a variety of factors, 2021 and 2022 have seen significant increases in both commodity prices and farm input costs.  In this episode, we discuss this market volatility with ag economist Dr. Paul Mitchell, who also offers advice for farmers to maintain or even increase profit margins in a challenging marketing environment.

Dr. Mitchell is director of the Renk Agribusiness Institute at the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. His research focuses on the economics of crop production, emphasizing pest management and risk management for commodity crops, and specialty crop economics.  You can learn more about Dr. Mitchell on his web page: https://aae.wisc.edu/pdmitchell/.  His extension page has resources to help with farmer decisions: https://aae.wisc.edu/pdmitchell/extension/.  If you are interested in learning more about the Renk Agribusiness Institute, please visit: https://renk.aae.wisc.edu/

Randy Oliver sees beekeeping through the eyes of a biologist, building a small commercial beekeeping enterprise in the foothills of Northern California. His sons now manage around 1500 colonies for migratory pollination, and produce queens, nucs, and honey, freeing Randy to engage full-time in beekeeper-funded research projects. Randy analyzes and digests the scientific research, and is in touch with beekeepers and researchers from all over the world, in order to not only broaden his own depth of knowledge, but to figure out best management practices for beekeepers everywhere, which he then happily shares through his various articles in bee magazines, his speaking engagements, and on his website ScientificBeekeeping.com.

Listen to this fascinating episode to learn more about Randy's research and for tips on conducting good research.

For additional bee-related conversations, check out the following previous episodes:

Episode 1: Jerry Hayes - Bees and Production Ag

Episode 27: Jamie Ellis - The Role of Honey Bees in Agriculture

Episode 52: Tammy Horn Potter - Bees in America, Part I

Episode 53: Tammy Horn Potter - Bees in America Part II

Corn Rootworm is the most important insect pest facing corn growers in the United States.  Each year, around $2 billion is spent to manage this problem.  In this episode Preston and I discuss the latest development in the battle against the pest.

To learn more about corn rootworm, you can listen to an earlier episode in which we learned about its biology: https://anchor.fm/focusonagriculture/episodes/Episode-6-Joe-Spencer---Rootworm--the-Billion-Dollar-Bug-e4tgpk.  If you are wondering about the 2022 outlook for the insect, watch this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/-NHRqqogFNs.  You can learn more about SmartStax Pro® on the Bayer website.

We love to interact with listeners and appreciate feedback on this and other episodes.  Please reach out to us on Twitter: @NWILTDR & @prestoschrader.

Over the past several years, farmers in the Midwest have been planting a greater portion of their soybean crop increasingly early each year.  In this episode, Preston and Jason discuss the results of their own research on the risks and benefits of this trend.

Although we plan to return to our normal format of interviewing guest experts on ag topics in a couple of episodes, we would love feedback on the discussions of our own research.  Please contact us through the feedback link on your podcast platform or on Twitter (Jason - @NWILTDR, Preston - @prestoschrader).  Jason and Preston also share their research throughout the year on Twitter, including extensive updates on early planted soybeans.

Fertilizer is the most expensive input that farmers use to produce crops.  The rapidly increasing price of fertilizer in 2020 and 2021 has put additional pressure on producers.  In this conversation with Megan Dwyer, nutrient loss reduction manager for the Illinois Corn Growers Association, we discuss strategies that growers can implement to more efficiently utilize these products.

To interact with Megan, follow her on Twitter: @farmin88.  More information about the topics discussed can also be found at the Illinois Corn Growers website: https://www.ilcorn.org/

There are several organizations that partner with farmers to implement nutrient loss reduction strategies:

American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/

Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership: https://ilsustainableag.org/

The Nature Conservancy: https://www.nature.org/en-us/

Precision Conservation Management: https://www.precisionconservation.org/

Georgia gets a lot of press as The Peach State, but in this episode we learn that it is not even in the top 3 states for peach production.  Listen in to learn where it falls in the rankings.

Ksenija Gasic is a peach breeder at Clemson University and the president of the National Association of Plant Breeders.  In this episode she describes the challenges facing peach producers and how scientists such as herself are combatting those problems with traditional plant breeding and modern technology.  For further information on her research, you can visit https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/gasic/index.html or email her at kgasic@clemson.edu.

If you are interested in further exploration of the subject of plant breeding or the genetic improvement of fruit crops, check out these related episodes:

Episode 57: Neal Carter - RNAi Technology and the Development of the Arctic Apple

Episode 16: Tom Floyd - The History of Plant Breeding Part I

Episode 17: Tom Floyd - The History of Plant Breeding Part II

Episode 18: Devin Nichols - The History of Plant Breeding Part III

The Donald Danforth Center in St. Louis, Missouri is the largest non-profit plant science research institution in the world.  In today's episode, we spoke with Dr. Jim Carrington, who leads the Center in its mission to improve the human condition through plant science.  One topic of conversation was the lack of access to technology in third world countries, and how the Danforth Center is working to alleviate this problem.  Listen to learn about this and other exciting research with the potential to radically change agriculture.

You can learn more about the Danforth Center on their website, www.danforthcenter.org or follow them on Twitter @DanforthCenter.  You can also view Jim's TED talk on The Science in our Food. 

Dr. Chinmay Soman is the co-founder of Earthsense, an ag startup that is developing teams of robots which can collect data on every individual plant in a field.  It may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but is much closer to reality than you might think.  Listen to learn how Chinmay's passion for making a difference in the world has led him to the intersection of technology and agriculture.

You can learn more about EarthSense on their website: www.earthsense.co or by following them on twitter @earthsense_inc.

Brown marmorated stink bugs are the latest in a long line of insect invaders which causes severe damage to agricultural crops.  They were first collected in Pennsylvania in the late 1990s, and since that time, have steadily continued westward across the United States.  This pest not only damages crops, but also likes to congregate in homes and other buildings as fall weather begins each year.

Kelly Estes monitors and studies this and other insect pests for the Illinois Natural History Survey.  In this episode she discusses the biology of the brown marmorated stink bug, and its history and migration within the US.  She also discusses the risk it poses to Midwestern crops and the long-term outlook for its management.

To learn more, you can contact Kelly directly through email: kcook8@illinois.edu or follow her work on Twitter and Facebook (@ILPestSurvey).  Since 1858, the Illinois Natural History Survey has been the guardian and recorder of the biological resources of Illinois.  To learn more about the work of its staff of over 200 scientists and technicians, visit www.inhs.illinois.edu.

John and Eve Ackerman are owners of Ackerman Family Farms which is located in the Pumpkin Capital of the World, Morton, IL.  Each fall, thousands of visitors to this popular agritourism destination are able to choose from an wide range of pumpkin varieties, feed farm animals, or explore a corn maze.

In this episode, John shares the story of the evolution of his family's farm over the past century and describes how he and his wife decided to become involved in agritourism.  He shares advice for other farmers who may be considering diversifying in a similar manner, and we learn a bunch of fascinating pumpkin facts along the way.

If you are interested in learning more about John's operation, please visit www.ackermanfamilyfarmsllc.com.  To learn more about the Morton Pumpkin festival, visit www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org.

John Kowalchuk is a farmer in western Canada who grows canola, malt barley, wheat, yellow peas, faba beans, and red lentils on his 2,000 acre farm.  He enjoys actively sharing the stories of his farming journey and promoting agriculture through social media.  In this conversation, we learn about John's farm and he shares tips to encourage his fellow farmers to become active in sharing their stories with consumers.

You can follow John on Twitter: @kowalchukfarms1, TikTok: @kowalchukfarms, Instagram: kowalchukfarms, or through his blog: http://johnkowalchuk.blogspot.com/.  Check out John's popular TikTok video featuring his dad's tractor: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZM8ADGqw2/.

We're all familiar with the tendency of apples to turn brown shortly after cutting them up in preparation for eating.  Okanagan Specialty Fruits is a biotechnology company that has developed a technique to turn off this browning reaction, allowing apples to maintain a favorable appearance and flavor for extended periods.  Listen to this episode to hear company president Neal Carter describe RNAi technology, and how this process can help reduce the worldwide problem of food waste.

You can learn more about Okanagan Specialty Fruits at their website: www.okspecialtyfruits.com or Arctic Apples at www.arcticapples.com.  You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media platforms.

Tar Spot is a devastating disease of corn that was first identified in the upper midwestern United States in 2015.  The disease led to devastating yield losses in farmer fields in 2018 and 2021.  Dr. Matthew Helm is a research molecular biologist with the Agricultural Research Service arm of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-ARS) and is stationed at Purdue University.  Dr. Helm's current research involves understanding the molecular interactions between the tar spot pathogen and its host to ultimately develop plants that can prevent and/or tolerate infection.

For more information on this topic, follow Dr. Helm on Twitter (@mattdhelm19) or email him at helm6@purdue.edu.

Kato Ssentamu is a farmer from Uganda and visiting researcher at the University of Illinois.  In this eye-opening episode, we compare and contrast farming in the United States to his home country.  Kato's unique perspective allows him to explain the benefits of modern technology in agriculture.

Farmers are aware of the multitude of insects and diseases that attack their crops, but consumers may be unaware of the amount of effort that goes into protecting crops from diseases.  Dr. Dean Malvick is a plant pathologist at the University of Minnesota and conducts research to support farmers in this battle.

One corn disease that has attracted a lot of attention among farmers over the past several years is Tar Spot, which has traveled from Mexico and invaded the upper Midwest.  For this episode, Dr. Malvick joined Preston and Jason to discuss the latest research on the control of this and other diseases.

In this episode, Dr. Tammy Horn Potter, Kentucky State Apiarist, describes the fascinating history of honey bees in America from World War I to today.  Listeners may be surprised to learn that bees were so integral to the war effort in WWI that beekeepers were exempt from the draft.  Listen to also learn how traumatized veterans found mental healing in beekeeping.

Tammy keeps bees with her husband and is the author of several books, Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation (2005), Beeconomy: What Women and Bees Teach us About Local Trade and Global Markets (2012), Flower Power: Establishing Pollinator Habitat (2019), and Work I Knew I Must (2021).  You can email her at tammy.potter@ky.gov.

Dr. Tammy Horn Potter is currently the Kentucky State Apiarist.  Although she grew up on a farm, she was determined never to be involved in science, agriculture, or math as a career.  That all changed when she helped her grandfather with his bees in 1997, and her career shifted to focus on them.  Tammy is the author of several books, Bees in America: How the Honey Bee Shaped a Nation(2005), Beeconomy: What Women and Bees Teach us About Local Trade and Global Markets(2012), Flower Power: Establishing Pollinator Habitat (2019), and Work I Knew I Must(2021).

In this episode, Tammy describes the fascinating history of honey bees in America, through the late 1800s.  In part 2, we will discuss the importance of bees in the 20th century and beyond.

This episode is the second part of our conversation with Dr. Stephen Powles, one of the world's foremost experts on herbicide resistance in weeds.  In this conversation we discuss novel methods of managing herbicide resistant weeds.  Listen for Steve's explanation of his seemingly counterintuitive advice, "When you're on a good thing, change it."  If you haven't listened to Steve tell the fascinating story of his educational and career journey, be sure to check out the previous episode.

To learn more about this topic or to start a discussion with Dr. Powles, follow him on Twitter @sbpowles or email him at stephen.powles@uwa.edu.au.  More information can be found at the University of Western Australia website.

Dr. Stephen Powles is one of the world's most highly respected and cited plant scientists.  He has received countless awards for his pioneering work in the area of herbicide resistance and published over 250 research papers on the subject.  You may be surprised to learn that Steve's career began inauspiciously when he dropped out of high school to help support his family.  In part one of this two-part series, we discuss Steve's fascinating history as his lifelong quest for knowledge carried him across the globe in his educational journey.

To learn more about this topic or to start a discussion with Dr. Powles, follow him on Twitter @sbpowles or email him at stephen.powles@uwa.edu.au.  More information can be found at the University of Western Australia website.

Happy 2nd anniversary to the Focus on Agriculture Podcast.  In this brief update, we discuss the 5 most downloaded episodes from the past year.  Be sure to rate and review us on your favorite podcast app.

Dr. Nick Seiter is an entomology professor and extension specialist at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign.  His research focuses on identifying new ways for farmers to battle insect pests.  Listen as Nick describes his latest research, including the use of parasitic nematodes as a biological control for Corn Rootworm, a pest that is often called the "Billion Dollar Bug" due to the economic impact of the damage it causes each year.  You can learn more about the parasitic nematodes in this article: https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2020/02/03/nematodes-eat-insect-guts-breakfast.

You can get the latest information from Nick and other University of Illinois researchers at Crop Central (go.illinois.edu/cropcentral) or follow Nick on Twitter @nick_seiter.

If you are interested in learning more about Corn Rootworm, check out these earlier episodes:

Episode 6: Joe Spencer - Rootworm, the Billion Dollar Bug

Episode 7: Matthew Carroll & Bill Moar - Future Bug Tech

Dr. Leandro Mozzoni is a soybean breeder with the University of Arkansas. He utilizes conventional plant breeding and advanced breeding tools in the areas of genomics and phenomics to maximize farmer’s profit. His research involves exploring niche-market, food-grade or modified-seed-composition varieties, and identifying breeding solutions for diseases and abiotic stresses of soybean.  Our conversation with Leonardo focuses on his research and advice for students.  We also discussed the similarities and differences between farming in the United States and Argentina, and the unique challenges faced by growers in his native country.

To continue the discussion, you can contact Leandro at lmozzon@uark.edu.

Farmers across the globe face similar challenges, but there are also many differences in their operations.  In this episode we chat with Bernardo de la Vega about his farm in the Mexican state of Sinaloa.  For the past few years, Bernardo has been growing Vitala corn.  Listen as he discusses the unique problems facing Mexican farmers and how the launch of short stature corn has helped address some of those challenges.  You can also learn more about short corn from Bayer Crop Science: www.cropscience.bayer.com/who-we-are/events/how-sustainable-short-stature-corn-can-change-future-food.

Dr. Kelly Gillespie is a crop physiologist with degrees from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois and the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. She currently leads corn and soybean crop efficiency portfolio strategy for Bayer Crop Science.  Kelly also sits on the executive board of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network and the advisory board of the Iowa Soybean Research Council.

Listen in to hear Kelly discuss a revolutionary innovation in corn production, the development of shorter statured hybrids.  In this conversation she explains the benefits that this technology will provide to farmers once it is fully commercialized in the next couple of years.  In the next episode of this two part series we will talk with a Mexican farmer about his experiences with the product.

To learn more, you can connect with Kelly on LinkedIn or Twitter @kmgillespie.  For a deeper dive into the topic of short corn, check out this Future of Farming panel discussion on short corn: https://www.cropscience.bayer.com/who-we-are/events/how-sustainable-short-stature-corn-can-change-future-food.

The World Food Prize was created by Nobel Peace Prize winner and father of the Green Revolution, Dr. Norman Borlaug to honor those who have made significant and measurable contributions to improving the world's food supply.  To date, there have been 50 laureates, with the 2021 World Food Prize winner to be announced in May.

Barbara Stinson was named the second president of the World Food Prize Foundation in 2020.  In a career spanning over 3 decades, she has focused on improving global food security and safety while addressing the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity.  Her work emphasizes policies and programs that support smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, by bringing institutional support and access to new tools, technologies and data to improve the quantity, quality and availability of food.

You can learn more about the World Food Prize at www.worldfoodprize.org.  Visit their website to read about past laureates, programs and events, or to nominate someone for one of the awards described by Barbara in this episode.

To learn more about Dr. Borlaug and the Green Revolution listen to Episode 42 where we discuss the impact of his life and career.

In this episode we chat with Monticello, IL farmer Wyatt Muse.  Wyatt was recently honored with a Young Alumni Award from the college of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois.  He grows both conventional and organic crops on his east-central Illinois farm.  In this interview, he discusses some of the challenges and benefits of each system.  If you want to learn more about this topic, you can email him at wyattmuse@gmail.com or follow him on twitter @wyattmuse1.  At the end of the interview, Wyatt even shares his phone number in case you would like to contact him directly.

Julie Borlaug is vice president of external affairs for Inari.  She is also president of the Norman Borlaug Foundation which continues Dr. Borlaug's work with a mission of fighting global hunger and extreme poverty through international agricultural development.  Dr. Borlaug was known as the father of the Green Revolution which was credited with saving a billion lives.  He received numerous international awards and recognition for his accomplishments and was one of only 5 individuals including Mother Teresa and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Congressional Gold Medals.

In this episode, Julie explains what it was like growing up as Norman Borlaug's granddaughter and how he was once upstaged by a hamster.  She addresses some of the criticisms of the Green Revolution and how Dr. Borlaug's legacy lives on in modern agriculture.  You can interact with Julie on Twitter @julieborlaug.

Chad Leman is a third-generation farmer from central Illinois. He owns Leman Farms Inc. which comprises a 3,200 head sow farm that markets approximately 90,000 pigs annually. In addition, they raise corn & soybeans, and have operated a seed dealership since 1991. Chad also serves on the board of the Illinois Pork Producers Association.  In this episode we discuss pork production and the stress placed on our food supply chain by the COVID-19 pandemic.  You can learn more about Chad's operation by visiting his farm's website, www.lemanfarms.com or following him on Twitter @ChadLeman.

Gregg Sauder has a long history of innovation in agriculture.  Beginning as a farmer simply looking for ways to improve yield, he founded Precision Planting and revolutionized planting technology.   He is currently president of 360 Yield Center.  His latest innovation, 360 Rain, has the same game-changing potential to radically improve farmer's operations by allowing them to address the challenge of unpredictable weather.  In this episode, Gregg describes his career and offers advice for the next generation of young farmers and innovators.  You can learn more about 360 Rain at www.360rain.com or 360 Yield Center's other products at www.360yieldcenter.com.

Jack Marck is managing director of the Illinois Agtech Accelerator.  Located at the University of Illinois Research Park, this program provides mentoring, funding, and office space for Agtech startups.  In today's conversation, we discuss the opportunities for new technologies to improve farmers' operations and strengthen the food supply chain.  You can contact Jack through email at jack@gener8tor.com.

Read about the innovative companies in the gBeta AgTech Spring 2021 Cohort at: https://researchpark.illinois.edu/article/illinois-agtech-accelerator-spring-2021-companies/.

Otrafy applies key disruptive technologies like Natural Language Processing and OCR to food safety processes and information to help quality assurance professionals manage the collection, storage, reviewing and renewal of supplier quality data.

AgVoice, a mobile voice-to-data system, allows agri-food workers to capture and analyze field-level data more efficiently and accurately, hands-free.

ClearLeaf designs and commercializes innovative pre- and post-harvest fungicides and bactericides to create sustainable crop protection strategies mitigating the negative impacts of harmful pests while maintaining balance on the farm, protecting farmers and consumers.

TellTail, Inc develops digital tools to improve the management of pig production systems by bringing together people, pigs and facilities under a single platform. Based at EnterpriseWorks and founded at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Spira uses CRISPR-edited carbon-negative algae to create replacements for artificial colors and animal proteins in the supply chain for food, cosmetic and textile companies.

Tom Jury is head of the North America Field Testing Organization at Bayer Crop Science.  His organization is responsible for growing and collecting data on millions of research plots spread across the United States and Canada.  Listen as Tom describes how the latest biological and technological innovations are used to develop hundreds of new varieties and hybrids each year.  To learn more about plant breeding and Bayer's philosophy, visit https://www.bayer.com/en/crop-science/crop-science-innovations-plant-breeding.

For an in depth history of plant breeding, check out our past series on the topic:

Episode 16: Tom Floyd - The History of Plant Breeding, Part I

Episode 17: Tom Floyd - The History of Plant Breeding, Part II

Episode 18: Devin Nichols - The History of Plant Breeding, Part III

Weaver Popcorn Company was founded by Reverend Ira Weaver in 1928.  Dr. Brad Thada is a commercial popcorn breeder and sales director for the company.  In this episode, we discuss the origins of popcorn and how new hybrids are produced and grown.  Listen for some tips for home gardeners and a little trivia thrown in for fun.  Check out popcorn.org for popcorn facts, recipes, and fun projects.  You can learn more about Weaver Popcorn at their website: http://www.weaverpopcornhybrids.com/ and follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weaver-popcorn-hybrids/.

Farmers and many others are well aware that legumes such as soybeans are able to provide some of their own nitrogen through an association with symbiotic bacteria.  Corn production requires the application of nitrogen fertilizers, which are costly in several ways.  Listen to UC-Davis professor Dr. Allen Bennet describe his team's discovery of corn that is able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, and the future implications of his research.

You can learn more about Dr. Bennett's research at https://bennettlab.ucdavis.edu/.  The Atlanticalso published an interesting article regarding the discovery : https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2018/08/amaizeballs/567140/.  If you are interested in reading the scientific publication, it is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2006352. For further reading about the Haber-Bosch process, check out The Alchemy of Air, by Thomas Hager,

Humans have been battling weeds for as long as crops have been cultivated.  In this episode, we discuss the history and future of weed control with Zach Lancaster, field agronomist with Bayer Crop Science.  You can learn more about the latest biotech innovation for combatting tough-to-control weeds in soybeans at www.roundupreadyxtend.com.  

Charlie Thompson is a sweet corn breeder and Vice President of Illinois Foundation Seeds.  In this episode, we explore the history and development of modern sweet corn, while investigating some common misconceptions regarding this crop.  To learn more about Illinois Foundation Seeds, visit their website, www.ifsi.com or follow them on Instagram: @IFSISweetCorn.  We also encourage listeners to check out our newly launched website, focusonagriculture.com.

In this episode, Preston and Jason discuss the fascinating history of yellow dent corn, beginning with the cultivation of teosinte by Native Americans in what is now southern Mexico.  For those interested in more trivia surrounding the history of corn, follow Jason on Twitter and check out #HistoryOfCorn.  To learn more about plant breeding, check out our 3 part series published early in 2020:

Episode 16: Tom Floyd - The History of Plant Breeding Part I

Episode 17: Tom Floyd - The History of Plant Breeding Part II

Episode 18: Devin Nichols - The History of Plant Breeding Part III

Follow us on Twitter: @Focus_on_Ag

Megan Baskerville is Illinois ag program director for The Nature Conservancy,  the largest conservation organization in the world.  In this episode, we discuss their mission, and how they partner with farmers to protect natural resources.  You can follow TNC on Twitter @nature_org.  Growers interested in improving sustainability in their operations should check out the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership.

Seed treatments are applied to the vast majority of seeds that farmers plant each growing season.  These treatments help protect the vulnerable seeds from the army of pests waiting in the soil to attack them.  Typically the treatments protect against fungi, insects, and nematodes, but modern treatments often also include beneficial microbes that help get the plants off to a strong start.  In this episode, Dr. Nick Tinsley, seed growth agronomist with Bayer Crop Science, explains their important role in maintaining our safe and robust food supply.

Each year, farmers across the US compete in the National Corn Grower's Association National Corn Yield Contest.  Jeff Brown is a central Illinois grower who regularly competes and is the Illinois state record holder at 350 bushels/acre.  In this conversation, we discuss the things that growers do to increase yield and profitability.  You can also follow Jeff on Twitter at @JeffMBrown1 to learn more about his operation.

Eric Ifft is a customer business advisor for Bayer Crop Science.  He has been involved in agriculture his entire life, having grown up on a central Illinois farm.  In this episode, we discuss the reasons behind the use of crop protection products in agriculture and how fungicides help to protect the food supply.  You can follow Eric on Twitter @eric_ifft or email him directly: eric.ifft@bayer.com.  Eric is also chairman of the Illinois Certified Crop Adviser board.  You can learn more about the CCA program at: certifiedcropadviser.org

In this episode, we visited with Dr. Jamie Ellis about the role of honey bees in agriculture and the challenges that are facing beekeepers.  Dr. Ellis is the head of the University of Florida Honey Bee Research and Extension Lab, where in addition to extensive research they produce instructional materials in a variety of formats.  Traditional classes offered are available not only to University of Florida students, but also online to students from other universities and even non-students.  Additionally, Dr. Ellis is co-host of Two Bees in a Podcast and somehow finds time to answer beekeeping questions in his column, The Classroom, in the American Bee Journal.  Follow the UF Bee Lab on Twitter and Instagram @UFhoneybeelab.

You probably know that soybeans are used for animal and human consumption, but did you know that they are used for many other things, including asphalt and running shoes?  In this episode Polly Ruhland, CEO of the United Soybean Board, joined us to discuss exciting new uses that are being explored for this renewable commodity.    You can also learn more about the uses of soybeans at https://www.unitedsoybean.org/ and follow USB on Twitter (@unitedsoy),  Facebook (@UnitedSoybeanBoard), or YouTube.

Today we chatted with legendary broadcaster Max Armstrong, who has been called "The Voice of American Agriculture."  Max began his career with Illinois Farm Bureau before moving to WGN in Chicago, where he has been heard for decades.  Currently, Max co-hosts 'This Week in Agribusiness' on RFD-TV and 'The Morning Show with Orion and Max' on Saturday mornings on WGN radio.  Follow Max on Twitter (@maxarmstrong) or Instagram (@broadcastermaxarmstrong).

Happy 1st year anniversary to the Focus on Agriculture Podcast. We took a break from interviewing amazing guests to take some time and give you updates on our lives, work and focus. 

Follow us on twitter @prestoschrader and @NWILTDR

and be sure to tweet at us with ideas for future podcast guests!

Dr. Joshua Vonk is a central Illinois farmer who recently completed his PhD research on Irrigation and Nitrogen Management of Soybean in Highly Productive Soils at the University of Illinois.  In this episode, we discuss his research and its relevance to growers.  You can access research results from the University of Illinois at ideals.illinois.edu.

This episode is the second part of our interview with Rob Saik about his latest book, Food 5.0 - How We Feed the Future.  It it he explains how bioengineering, precision agriculture, automation, and big data are converging to make farmers more effective at producing food than ever before.  Rob has forty years of experience as a professional Agrologist and an international consultant who's worked with everyone from Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture to Bill Gates.  He has been hailed as an agriculture futurist with unparalleled insight into where the industry is headed.  He is the founder of AGvisorPRO, a platform that "uberizes" knowledge and wisdom., enabling farmers to instantaneously connect with agriculture experts worldwide.  You can learn more about Rob at robertsaik.com and follow him on Twitter @RSaik.  Pick up Food 5.0 on Amazon or at your local bookseller.

In this episode, we chat with Rob Saik about his latest book, Food 5.0 - How We Feed the Future, in which he describes the history and future of agriculture.  Rob has forty years of experience as a professional Agrologist and an international consultant who's worked with everyone from Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture to Bill Gates.  He has been hailed as an agriculture futurist with unparalleled insight into where the industry is headed.  He is the founder of AGvisorPRO, a platform that "uberizes" knowledge and wisdom., enabling farmers to instantaneously connect with agriculture experts worldwide.  You can learn more about Rob at robertsaik.com and follow him on Twitter @RSaik.  Pick up Food 5.0 on Amazon or at your local bookseller.

In this episode we explore digital agriculture, and how its adoption benefits farmers and the environment.  Our guest is Tom Eickhoff, a Nebraska farm boy who is now director of implementation for the Climate Corporation.  You can find additional information on digital ag and the Climate Corporation at Climate.com

This episode was a discussion with David Zaruk. David is a professor at Odisee University and is most widely known as the “Risk-Monger.” He has been an EU risk and science communications specialist since 2000, active in EU policy events from REACH and SCALE to the Pesticides Directive, from Science in Society questions to the use of Precautionary Principle. You can find his Risk Monger blog at: https://risk-monger.com/ and be sure to follow him on Twitter at: @zaruk

This is the third episode in our exploration of the history of plant breeding.  Here we discuss the current state of corn breeding, including how technologies such as Genome Editing (CRISPR) and Genome Wide Selection are being utilized to bring better products to the marketplace.  Devin Nichols is a University of Illinois graduate and corn breeder with Bayer Crop Science.  Devin uses his brains at work, but brawn in his spare time and recently appeared on an episode of NBC's American Ninja Warrior: https://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior/video/cincinnati-city-qualifiers/3983200.  You can interact with Devin on Twitter by following @kiltedbreeder.

Today we continue our exploration of the history of plant breeding.  In this episode we discuss the biotech revolution, and how molecular markers and genetic modification increased the speed and efficiency by which scientists have been able to improve crops.  Tom Floyd is a retired plant breeder who developed hundreds of commercially successful soybean varieties in a career that spanned parts of 5 decades.

In this episode, we explore the history of genetic improvement of plants, beginning with the earliest days of farmers saving seed from the best plants through the discoveries of Gregor Mendel, Rosalind Franklin, Norman Borlaug, and others.  In upcoming episodes in this series, we will discuss molecular markers, the biotech revolution, and the future of plant breeding.  Tom Floyd is a retired plant breeder who developed hundreds of commercially successful soybean varieties in a career that spanned parts of 5 decades.

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of GMO crops to the environment, consumers, and farmers with Dr. Stuart Smyth, professor in Ag and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan.  As an economist, Dr. Smith researches the socioeconomic impacts of innovation in agriculture.  You can learn more about his research through his blog, SAIFood (Sustainable Agricultural Innovations and Food) at saifood.ca.  Dr. Smyth also advocates for modern ag on Twitter (@stuartsmyth66)

We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and look forward to reconnecting with you in January.  We have an exciting slate of topics to discuss in 2020, including the evolution of plant breeding, food and pollinator safety, and digital agriculture, along with many others.  Look for our upcoming episodes starting in early January.

Today we discuss the current and future state of precision agriculture with Brad Stoller, global supply chain manager at Precision Planting.  Learn how advances in precision agriculture benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.  You can investigate Precision Planting products at www.precisionplanting.com.

In this episode, we chat with Lisa Granadino, Vice President of U.S. Technology Development.  Learn about the extensive research that goes into developing recommendations for management and placement of new commercial agricultural products.

In this episode we discuss farming sustainably with Andy Knepp, Vice President, Environmental Strategy & Industry Activation with Bayer Crop Science.

In this episode we discuss agricultural sustainability topics including cover crops, pollinator health, and control of soil erosion with Ivan Dozier.  Ivan is Illinois State Conservationist with the USDA National Resources Conservation Service.  You can contact Ivan at ivan.dozier@usda.gov and follow USDA NRCS on Twitter @USDA_NRCS.

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of cover crops with Dan Towery, crop consultant with Ag Conservation Solutions.  You can interact with Dan through email at dantowery1@gmail.com or on his website, www.agconservationsolutions.com

Today we tried something different and instead of interviewing an esteemed guest, we interview each other and talk about our backgrounds and current work and passions. Follow Jason @NWILTDR and follow Preston @PrestoSchrader 

Today we discuss the future of insect control, specifically the western corn rootworm, with Dr. Matthew Carroll & Dr. William Moar of Bayer Crop Sciences. 

Today we discuss GMOs, organics, and nutrition with Leah McGrath, RDN.  You can follow her on Twitter at @LeahMcgrathRD 

Today we discuss agriculture policy with John Sullivan, Illinois Department of Ag Director. 

Today we had a great discussion with Cody Evans who is a Weed Management Technology Development Rep with Bayer Crop Science. Follow Cody on Twitter @ILWMTechDev

Today we were pleased to have Robb Fraley as a guest to discuss the origins of GMO food technology. Robb is a World Food Prize Laureate and former CTO of Monsanto. Follow Robb on Twitter at @RobbFraley