"If you have corn that you’re counting on for bushels, you need to be pretty proactive about managing southern rust," says Jacob. "The thing that keeps sticking in my mind is just how early it was here and how much heat there has been to build up an inoculum load across it. You don’t see the rust pustules the day it lands on the plant. What you’re seeing is at the tail end of the life cycle. I would assume that everything you’re looking at has more infection than what you can see visually… it ca...
Aug 13, 2025•29 min•Ep. 223
🌽 From tar spot and southern rust in corn to white mold and red crown rot in soybeans, Dr. Telenko shares critical scouting tips, fungicide timing strategies, and insights on using the Crop Protection Network’s tools to make smart in-season decisions. As July heats up, she breaks down what to monitor in the field—and when to act. 🔍 Topics include: Current tar spot activity and risk across Indiana Southern rust tracking and sample submission Fungicide ROI and application timing at tassel and R1...
Jul 16, 2025•40 min•Ep. 222
Listen for: 🌱 Insights on corn and soybean growth stages, including variability in field conditions and the effects of early-season challenges like cool springs and excessive rainfall. 🌿 Tips for managing post-emergence herbicide applications in hot conditions, addressing crop response and weed control challenges. 🌽 Tips and info from Dr. Darcy Telenko on the early detection of tar spot in Indiana, including its implications and management considerations. 💧 From sprayer issues to growth regu...
Jul 02, 2025•34 min•Ep. 221
He discusses the early detection of tar spot in Porter County, its implications for disease pressure across the state, and smart, cost-effective management approaches. Ben also covers the rise in soybean seedling diseases like Phytophthora, what farmers can expect as seed treatments wear off, and the importance of genetic resistance and field tolerance. Finally, he tackles the critical question: how much yield have we lost already? Spoiler alert—there’s still time to turn things around. Listen i...
Jun 18, 2025•15 min•Ep. 220
Join agronomists Brian Schrader, Carl Joern, and Ben Jacob as they break down the latest updates from across Indiana. From soggy fields in the south to progress in the north, the team discusses: Delayed planting progress and the looming deadline Tough decisions around crop insurance and field management The consequences of leaving ground fallow (weed pressure, fallow syndrome, and soil health) Replant concerns and variable crop stages across the state Corn turning purple: what it means, and why ...
Jun 04, 2025•31 min•Ep. 219
From evaluating hail and wind damage to understanding soybean replant thresholds and the resilience of V4-V5 corn, this episode delivers timely, boots-on-the-ground agronomic advice. The conversation also covers maturity switching decisions for delayed corn planting, the role of fungicides post-storm and why patience is a grower’s greatest tool right now. Listen for: • Planting progress updates across Indiana • Tornado and dust storm crop impact reports • Replant decision guidelines for corn and...
May 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 218
We hear insights from the field as the 2025 planting season gets underway, and then Carl dives into the rapid planting progress across northern Indiana, sharing key agronomic updates and what early stand evaluations are revealing. With planting windows tightening and early-season decisions looming, hear actionable advice to help you maximize yield potential from the start from Joern, Quinn and Indiana Field Agronomists Brian Shrader and Ben Jacob. 🔍 In This Episode: - 2025 planting progress and...
May 07, 2025•42 min•Ep. 217
Listen for a boots-on-the-ground update as they break down field conditions, rain totals and emerging weed and insect pressures. They also dive into critical agronomic topics like proper field fit for planting, nitrogen applications, weed control timing and the importance of patience during narrow planting windows. Plus, get insights into planting dates, soybean maturity strategies, and why sticking to your hybrid plan pays off.
Apr 24, 2025•29 min•Ep. 216
The conversation spans a range of timely topics, including: Current spring challenges : Wet and cool weather, delayed fieldwork, and management of early-season weeds like purple dead nettle and henbit dead nettle. Pigweed pressure : Insights on Palmer amaranth and waterhemp control, stressing the importance of residual herbicides and overlapping applications. Technology and weed control : Evaluation of drone and robotics use for herbicide applications, from current capabilities to regulatory con...
Apr 09, 2025•34 min•Ep. 215
1. Planting is the most important pass we make with any of our equipment. Position the right seed, on the right acre, at the right rate, at the right depth, at the right time. 2. Consider applying non-limiting nitrogen reference strips in every corn field. 3. Scout for pests, and apply timely treatments. 4. Monitor for misapplications and costly mistakes. (A tank contamination or mistake mix can cause bleaching, striping and other issues.) 5. Trust but verify new products. There are so many prod...
Mar 27, 2025•39 min•Ep. 214
The first year Nick Hedden started helping growers manage water hemp was 2016. It hasn’t taken long for a variety of products to lose their effectiveness. “It’s definitely been a challenge,” says Hedden, who is an agronomist with Pioneer in Western Indiana. “Water hemp has between 6-8 chemical class resistances. We’ve got to be thorough, and have a good action plan for 20205 water hemp management.” During this episode of the Pioneer Indiana Agronomy Podcast, Hedden talks with hosts Carl Joern an...
Mar 12, 2025•47 min•Ep. 213
During this episode of the Pioneer Agronomy Podcast Ben Jacob talks with Brian Shrader about the rabbit hole he's gone down this winter. He's been reading a lot about the relationship between sulfur and nitrogen. We know we need to apply some, but when and how much? "There's not a lot of research on sulfur in corn. But I did find some in Europe to do with small grains," Jacob says. "There's probably a lot of nutrient interaction that we don't give it [sulfur] credit for." Listen to the full podc...
Feb 26, 2025•37 min•Ep. 212
The Draft includes data from 11 participants across Illinois and Indiana with more than 300 plots represented. The highest performing corn seed hybrids in 2024 were: 1472, 10811, 14830, 13777 and P1222
Feb 12, 2025•22 min•Ep. 211
During this episode of the Indiana Agronomy podcast, hosts Carl Joern and Ben Jacob discuss wheat, the weather, and whether an extreme cold snap can kill tar spot. "I'm not under the impression that cold temperatures have any impact on tar spot. It's a fungus, and I'm not aware of any published research that shows that extreme cold kills off those spores," says Joern. Spoiler alert: Insects are resilient, and they will overwinter. It takes temperatures of -40 degrees celsius to kill off many ins...
Jan 28, 2025•22 min•Ep. 210
Themes in this episode: A "demand plan" is a strategic forecast of how much of a particular crop or livestock product a farmer should produce based on anticipated market demand, taking into account factors like seasonal fluctuations, consumer preferences, and potential market trends, allowing them to optimize production and minimize waste by only growing what is likely to be sold. Demand planning is a supply chain management process that enables a company to project future demand and successfull...
Jan 15, 2025•26 min•Ep. 209
Hosts Brian Shrader and Ben Jacob talk about the 2024 harvest during this episode of the Pioneer Indiana podcast offering some advice for determining whether products used during the 2024 growing season made a difference. Their most important takeaways: It's important to understand how most yield monitors work. Most are just a mass flow sensor, and what they are actually measuring is an impact against a plate. So, a denser sample if going to have more of an impact at the same weight. They are an...
Nov 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 208
In Indiana, the entire state is marked by some kind of drought as farmers finish up this year's harvest. If rain doesn't come yet this fall, Indiana farmers are crossing fingers and toes for good snowfall. Lots of problems, but maybe not crops, can erupt when the ground is too dry. Additionally, many farmers are in their first or second season battling the tar spot fungus. Which raises the question: when do you apply fungicide to combat this pesky new disease? The answer goes back to the weather...
Nov 06, 2024•33 min•Ep. 207
As you start to pivot from 2024 harvest to 2025 planting, it's time to start thinking about soil fertility. During this episode of the Pioneer Agronomy podcast, to soil test or not to soil test in drought conditions? "I wouldn't delay it. There's the option, but if you're usually sampling after Harvest, do it then. Understand that those results might be skewed a little bit. You could make an argument to wait for more moisture in the ground. But if it's my ground and I have the time to get across...
Oct 23, 2024•22 min•Ep. 206
In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, hosts Carl Joern, Brian Shrader and Ben Jacob discuss how harvest is progressing statewide under extremely dry conditions, which have helped keep things moving but pose safety risks for farmers. Agronomists discuss their hybrid and soybean “draft picks” from earlier in the season, highlighting which are outperforming in yield. Growers have raised concerns about crops turning black, largely due to hot, dry weather and disease pressure. Ther...
Oct 09, 2024•24 min•Ep. 205
For those starting to look toward 2025, agronomists are recommending farmers watch the calendar and start planning for herbicide and fungicide treatment early. Lots of early tar spot and other diseases and pests are being found in fields at harvest this fall. During this episode of the Indiana Agronomy Podcast from Pioneer, we hear from Brad Burkhart with a crop protection update.
Oct 02, 2024•45 min•Ep. 204
Soybeans shatter? You betcha. Especially when conditions are dry, say during a flash drought. During this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, we hear more about soybean shatter, performance by maturity, as well as wheat planting best practices. Listen for expert advice from Agronomists Carl Joern, Ben Jacobs and Cale Russler. Preventing Soybean Shatter: https://www.pioneer.com/content/dam /dpagco/pioneer/na/ca/en/files/articles/DF-Reducing-Yield-Loss-from-Pod-Shattering-in-Soybean-N...
Sep 25, 2024•50 min•Ep. 203
Considering trying to get into growing for seed production for Pioneer Seeds? During this episode of the Indiana Agronomy Podcast hosts Brian Shrader and Carl Joern talk with John Hettinga. Hettinga is the production manager at the Pioneer seed production facility in Plymouth, Indiana. If you're interested in getting involved in growing for seed production, Hettinga says it's best to start by getting in touch with your local sales rep or territory manager. Get a look inside Pioneer's breeding pr...
Sep 18, 2024•44 min•Ep. 202
uring this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Podcast host Brian Shrader talks with fellow Pioneer agronomists in different regions of Indiana about how this year's wacky summer weather has affected crops and anticipated yield for 2024. Carl Joern and Ben Jacobs join and talk compounding stress on corn as well as how drastically different rainfall has been from North Indiana to South Indiana. Also in this episode, three agronomists on what the perfect growing season would look like in the Midwest. W...
Sep 11, 2024•49 min•Ep. 201
During this episode, an agronomist's perspective on "corn sweat," also known as evapotranspiration. That's after a conversation about what a flash drought is and how it's affecting corn and soybean crops in Indiana with Pioneer Agronomists Brian Shrader and Ben Jacobs. https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/corn-water-use.html https://www.drought.gov/what-is-drought/flash-drought
Sep 06, 2024•36 min•Ep. 200
In this episode of the Pioneer Agronomy podcast from Indiana, listen in as host Brian Shrader talks with Ben Jacob, both Pioneer agronomists. During this episode, learn about late summer diseases that are effecting crops in South and East Indiana including southern rust, common rust and tar spots. Then, tips on testing stalk quality in late season corn, and a discussion about the absolutely unreal heat we experienced early this week. More about Southern v Common Rust: https://www.pioneer.com/us/...
Aug 28, 2024•40 min•Ep. 199
Later-Season Decisions in Disease Hotbeds In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, hosts Carl Joern and Ben Jacob discuss what happens when you have premature death, whether from disease or from early frost. At what point does that photosynthetic shutdown affect your yield? The short answer is, the earlier it happens in that plant's life, the more yield will be affected. The group also discusses deciding when and where to deploy resources when things get tight. Additional Resourc...
Aug 21, 2024•14 min•Ep. 198
In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, hosts Carl Joern, Brian Shrader and Ben Jacob discuss the rapid development of diseases, including tar spot, Southern rust, White Mold and more. The group also talks about the challenges of scouting, what goes into hybrid development for disease resistance and when fungicide applications should be made. Additional Resources: Fungicide Calculator: www.cropprotectionnetwork.org/fungicide-roi-calculator Tar Spot in Corn: https://www.pioneer.c...
Aug 14, 2024•54 min•Ep. 197
In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, host Brian Shrader is joined by fellow Indiana Agronomists Jason Geis and Kyle Quick to talk about Red Crown Rot. The disease has been in the U.S. since the 1970s, but it is relatively new to the state of Indiana. The group talks about how to identify Red Crown Rot and its differences from Sudden Death Syndrome. They also discuss potential management, yield impact and how to submit samples to Purdue University. Additional Resources: Red Cr...
Aug 07, 2024•35 min•Ep. 196
In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy podcast, hosts Brian Shrader and Carl Joern discuss the dog days of summer, including corn aphids and how to differentiate them from their soybean cousins, the effects of wildfire smoke on crops, Southern Rust and rescue nitrogen applications after wet weather. Resources Article - Corn Leaf Aphids: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/corn_leaf_aphid_cropfocus.html Article - Southern Rust of Corn: https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/southern_rust_cr...
Jul 31, 2024•39 min•Ep. 195
In this episode of the Indiana Pioneer Agronomy Podcast, host Carl Joern discusses crop conditions following recent weather events and a scouting update. He offers management tips for Phytophthora root rot, sudden death syndrome (SDS) and brown stem rot (BRS). Corn fields are coming into pollination which is the most sensitive part of the plants' lifecycle. Resources Article: https://www.corteva.us/Resources/crop-protection/disease-mgmt/prevent-control-soybean-diseases.html Article: https://www....
Jul 24, 2024•19 min•Ep. 194
