While it may seem early to start thinking about the 2026 growing season, this time of year can actually offer the best indication of some of the things you may want to change, particularly when it comes to planter and seeder mechanics. Whether it is seeding depth, fertilizer targeting, stand counts, or a range of other issues, Andrew finds out what growers should be scouting for with a goal of making sure the crop gets the best potential start every year. Helping find those answers are Ben Rosse...
Jun 26, 2025•25 min•Ep. 48
When you hear a corn yield over 400 bushels per acre, or a soybean yield over 200, it can feel hard to imagine how a grower can reach such incredible numbers consistently. But for David Hula and Alex Harrell, the corn and soybean yield champions in the US, it's all about the details. Both David and Alex won the competition in previous years, and both won again in 2024 thanks to their relentless passion for trying to solve the limiting factors of yield potential. In this episode of the podcast, A...
May 08, 2025•34 min•Ep. 47
When it comes to technology, the options that you can invest in for your farm are almost endless. It can even be hard to know where to start. One of the education sessions from the 2025 Commodity Classic asked the question, “How can I be sure technology investments are profitable?” Joining Andrew on the podcast is Assistant Professor from Purdue University Chad Fiechter as well as Emeritus Professor, also from Purdue, James Mintert. Also joining in on the discussion is Trenton Brisby, Corteva's ...
Apr 23, 2025•22 min•Ep. 46
Pioneer's Yield Hero contest continues to evolve in Canada, which includes a grand prize trip for two to the Commodity Classic. From the 2025 show, Andrew Campbell speaks with growers Maggie McDonnell & Dallas Dau as well as Area Agronomists Greg Stopps and Colleen Redlick about how growers can get involved in the contest, what they are doing to push yield on their farms, and how growers from across Canada can take part and try to win a trip to Commodity Classic themselves.
Apr 09, 2025•18 min•Ep. 45
With the growing season just around the corner, the Enlist E3 soybeans are taking a big leap in 2025 with Pioneer growers across the country moving to Enlist traited beans. On this episode, Andrew Campbell looks to the lessons from the past couple of years as growers have transitioned to the Enlist system about what works and what to watch out for. Joining him is Pioneer Area Agronomist Chris Robson, Pioneer Sales Rep Aaron Bowman and Jevin Vyn, a farmer from Southwestern Ontario.
Mar 06, 2025•28 min•Ep. 44
The number of growers who have to consider the impacts of Tar Spot in corn continues to grow, with the 2024 growing season being one of the most obvious that if you don't manage it properly, the yield hit can be catastrophic. On this episode of the podcast, Andrew speaks with Pioneer Area Agronomists Greg Stopps and John Seliga about what their experiences in tar spot were in 2024 and more importantly what can be done to manage it in 2025 as the disease shows no signs of slowing down its spread ...
Dec 17, 2024•28 min•Ep. 43
Whether it's a beef or dairy operation, making sure the best forages are harvested is one of the most important steps to profitability. For corn silage that starts with the right hybrids. In this episode, Andrew talks with Greg Frank, a Pioneer Rep in Southern Alberta, Ashley Knapton, an Associate Pioneer Rep in Eastern Ontario, and Dr Bill Mahanna, Global Nutritional Services Manager based in Iowa about what you should consider when choosing a hybrids, what labels are important to look for, and...
Dec 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 42
No matter what the crop, it always seems like there is a disease that needs your attention in order to make sure you can get as close to a hybrid's yield potential as possible. In Alberta, while Clubroot and Sclerotinia weren't as prevalent in the 2024 canola crop, Blackleg and Verticillium were. In fact, when it came to verticillium in particular, Pioneer Sale Rep Shawna Hogg saw more incidences of verticillium this year than she's seen before. In this episode, Andrew talks with Shawna about Pi...
Nov 06, 2024•24 min•Ep. 41
When it comes to growing seasons for soybeans, 2024 provided plenty of challenges for Ontario grower Chris Bell. Rain was the biggest one, as it never really stopped; but that also brought others challenges like white mould and the need for a very flexible weed control system. In this Brew with an Agronomist episode, Andrew talks with Chris and Pioneer Agronomist Rebecca-Jo Cellini about what he faced with a field of the new Z-Series genetics, and what all growers are looking for when it comes t...
Oct 09, 2024•16 min•Ep. 40
When it comes to leaf diseases in corn, growers are working hard to learn the best ways to manage Gibberella Ear Rot and Tar Spot, given the devastating impact they can have on yield and grain quality. The good news is the strategies to combat both diseases are similar. On today's episode, Andrew Campbell learns about those management strategies which include hybrid selection and fungicide timing from Albert Tenuta, a plant pathologist from Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and AgriBusines...
Sep 23, 2024•34 min•Ep. 39
When it comes to the start of growing seasons, Area Agronomist Chris Olbach may have had one of the most variable in Ontario. From growers that saw a strong start to their soybean crops, to growers that struggled to even get soybeans in the ground, he's seen it all this year. Talking with Andrew, Chris not only describes the growing season, but also how soybean genetics can help overcome those challenges, along with how drone technology is assisting Pioneer agronomists and Pioneer customers get ...
Aug 02, 2024•20 min
Whether it is sclerotinia in canola or white mould in soybeans, the impact can be equally severe. After all, the impact is usually greatest when yields are looking most promising and that foliage is trapping moisture in under the plant to help the sclerotia spores thrive. The good news though - there are solutions! In this episode, Andrew finds out what those solutions look like, from choosing the right genetics all the way to fungicide applications with Eastern Ontario Area Agronomist Paul Herm...
Jun 23, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 13
Getting the most from the Enlist herbicide system on E3 soybeans is the key to maximizing soybean yields in 2024. To help with that, Andrew talks with Grace Jones, a Territory Manager from Corteva as well as Pioneer Area Agronomist Holly Loucas about what lessons they've learned as growers have adopted the Enlist system. Whether it's spray timing, modes of action, tank mixing or what to watch for when the weather doesn't cooperate - this conversation covers everything you need to know to make su...
May 22, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 12
When it comes to producing the best yields possible, having the top hybrids can only go so far. Soil fertility is a key metric to producing and maintaining the high yields that today's corn and canola hybrids are able to reach. What's the best way to manage that fertility? Pioneer Sales Rep and former Area Agronomist Lindsay Alberts of Yorkton, Saskatchewan joins Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Soil Specialist Colin Elgie to discuss the best approach for managing fertility levels, particularly a...
Apr 03, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 11
With spring of 2024 approaching quickly, one of the challenges that every grain grower is looking at facing is commodity prices that are lower than the last several years. Then the question to answer is 'What do you do about it?'. With the help of Pioneer Area Agronomist Jenna Gregoire and Pioneer Sales Rep Scott Fife, Andrew asks whether seeding intentions should change, whether fertility should be cut back or what other mechanisms do some of Canada's top growers do in order to make sure they w...
Mar 06, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 10
When it comes to growing soybeans, growers are looking for every advantage they can find. That may come in the form of disease tolerance, flexibility in spray timing and of course in yield potential. But when all of those options become available in one bean, it's worth taking a close look. That's what the new Z-Series soybeans offer from Pioneer® brand seed. In this episode, Andrew talks with Corteva Agriscience soybean breeder Evelyn Valera-Rojas, Pioneer's Portfolio Marketing Manager Chad Gar...
Feb 25, 2024•19 min•Season 5Ep. 9
With drought conditions on the top of many minds in Western Canada, how to handle conditions is what this episode is all about. Joining Andrew is Independent Agronomist Jenny Seward from Cronkite Ag Consulting in Foremost Alberta and Manitoba Area Agronomist for Pioneer Derwyn Hammond. From seed selection to fertility plans and setting the drill to spray programs, Andrew finds out where a grower might be able to cut costs and where trying to cut too much could cost you.
Jan 23, 2024•32 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Tis the season to be - optimistic! In our annual Year in Review episode that's exactly what Andrew is thinking as he checks with Pioneer Area Agronomists Paul Hermans and Greg Stopps. After all, farmers know there are always ways to improve in order to have a more successful year in the next growing season, and heading into 2024 is no different. In this episode the three talk about what growers in Ontario took away from planting conditions in the spring, wet conditions that brought significant d...
Dec 22, 2023•34 min•Season 5Ep. 7
Seven years ago, Alberta Pioneer Sales Rep Greg Reesor was told he'd need to sell corn with his new dealership. He wondered how, but seven years later there's 10,000 acres in his area with many more on the way. Growing more corn and soybean acres in Western Canada is something that's been discussed for years - but with new hybrids, better equipment and real profit on the table, Greg along with Manitoba Pioneer Sales Rep Jake Ayre discuss with Andrew Campbell why growers are choosing corn and soy...
Dec 11, 2023•31 min•Season 5Ep. 6
What drives Corteva Canada's leadership? In this episode of the Pioneer Made to Grow Podcast, Andrew finds out it's the growers! In a conversation with Corteva Canada's new leader Jeremy Dirks and Seed Marketing Leader April Nichol, the two talk about what they see as driving growers' decision making, what drives the R&D pipeline and how to keep up with the speed of innovation.
Nov 20, 2023•20 min•Season 5Ep. 5
With Pioneer moving their soybean lineup to be Enlist exclusive in 2025, our host Andrew Campbell is asking the question: is this the year to make the move? With the help of Pioneer agronomist John Seliga, Pioneer Territory Manager Phil Emmott and Corteva Territory Manager Chris Robson, Andrew asks questions like how to pick the best yielding variety as well as what all growers need to keep in mind when planning out their spray program.
Oct 30, 2023•27 min•Season 5Ep. 4
When it comes to clubroot, those with it, know the toll it can take on canola yield. It's why stacking genes to build the strongest resistance against the impact is key to the long term profitability of canola. But that's only one piece of the puzzle. In this episode, Andrew talks with Corteva Research Scientist Dan Stanton about the history and impact clubroot has had in Western Canada as well as what his team is working on to breed clubroot resistant hybrids. Then growers Garan Rewers and John...
Oct 13, 2023•35 min•Season 5Ep. 3
The Pioneer Made to Grow Podcast’s road trip continues, this time landing in Southwestern Ontario to talk grain markets. From a Pioneer Rep’s Grower Agronomy and Appreciation Day, Andrew Campbell took the stage with Cargill Grain Trader Justin Merner to talk where grain markets might be headed this fall. After all, there’s been a bearish adjustment to the grain markets since the 2022 harvest, so what should grain growers have in mind when they are marketing their 2023 crop? Andrew and Justin tal...
Oct 01, 2023•21 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Live from Saskatchewan! When it comes to weed control in canola, ideal timing for herbicide application is one thing but the reality of weather is another. It’s why flexibility for canola growers is key to make sure that those weeds stay under control. In this first episode of our fifth season, Andrew talks with Corteva’s Canola Breeder Greg Gingera about how new traits like Optimum GLY can help, as well as Trevor Herzog, Corteva’s Western Canadian Agronomy Lead, about how that flexibility in sp...
Sep 16, 2023•23 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Our 2022 Year in Review is here! In this episode, Andrew is joined by Ontario Area Agronomists, Paul Hermans and Greg Stopps, to take a look back at the 2022 season and learnings to take into 2023. Follow along as we go through the wins and challenges of the past year including fertility, growing conditions, compaction, drought, and disease and insect pressure for corn, soybeans and wheat. Plus, get our recommendations on how to set yourself up for success in the new year.
Dec 27, 2022•26 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Your farm deserves the highest quality seed. So, how does Pioneer ensure that? In this episode, Andrew takes us through the seed production and rigorous testing processes that get your seed from the lab to the bag. Hear from guests Aaron Schwarte, Seed Production Research Scientist at Corteva Agriscience, and Monica Garcia, Seed Quality Testing Lab Manager at the Corteva lab site in Chatham, ON about the hard work that goes into meeting the highest quality standards, legal requirements and plann...
Dec 13, 2022•24 min•Season 4Ep. 5
This episode tackles the ever-important topic of mental health in agriculture. With about 85% of producers living with high stress levels, Andrew welcomes Megz Reynolds, Executive Director of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, to discuss how you can identify and help yourself or a loved one who might be struggling with their mental wellbeing. Corteva Canada President Bryce Eger then shares how the company is helping farmers improve their mental health, providing practical tips you can employ to...
Nov 29, 2022•21 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Go West, young man! In our first-ever episode focused on Western Canadian farming, Andrew learns all about the ups and the downs of Saskatchewan’s 2022 growing season. Joined by Jenna Gregoire, a Pioneer Area Agronomist based in the northwest of the province, and Pioneer Sales Representative and farmer Kyle Laturnus, the three discuss the weather and disease challenges like clubroot, as well as the work being done to continually improve canola hybrids and yields for the Prairies.
Nov 15, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Soybean and corn yields are increasing by 1% or more annually. How’s this possible? Who’s responsible? Corteva Crop Scientist, Dr. Lucas Borras, and Dave Harwood, Technical Services Manager in Eastern Canada for Corteva, join Andrew to discuss just how far agronomy and genetics have come in the past 40 years and where they’re headed. The guests chat about the many factors contributing to the yearly yield increases, as well as new challenges that could limit yield gains in the future.
Nov 01, 2022•30 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this premiere episode of Season 4, host Andrew Campbell welcomes OMAFRA’s Soil Management Specialist, Anne Verhallen, and Pioneer Reps Dan Petker and Andy Van Niekerk for a conversation on growing cover crops - the benefits, watch-outs, and expert tips for success. They discuss how cover crops are a great means to preserve soil health, reduce erosion, suppress unwanted weeds, become a feed source and build organic matter. If you’re thinking about getting into cover crops, this is the episode ...
Oct 18, 2022•27 min•Season 4Ep. 1
