In this podcast episode, Dr. Isaac Mpanga discuss circular agriculture and its role in sustainability and resource efficiency within modern farming. Isaac explains how regenerative agriculture and nutrient recycling can enhance soil health while reducing the environmental impact of farming. Isaac shares real-world examples of agricultural innovation and the role of food companies in promoting sustainable farming practices. The discussion highlights how growers can maintain profitability while ad...
Feb 04, 2025•37 min
In part two of this Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast series, Dr. Rob Mikkelsen continues the exploration of root health, focusing on the role of key nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and micronutrients in supporting robust root systems. He discusses how these nutrients enhance root architecture, density, and function, emphasizing the critical connection between healthy roots and improved plant productivity. Building on part one’s foundation of soil health and nutrient managemen...
Jan 14, 2025•25 min
Roots are essential for nutrient and water uptake, but how do you know if your roots are healthy and functioning? In this part one of two episodes Dr. Rob Michelson teaches us about the vital connection between soil health, root systems, and plant performance. He emphasizes nutrient management's role in fostering root development, enhancing fertilizer efficiency, and boosting agricultural productivity. The discussion underscores how understanding root health and the rhizosphere can improve susta...
Jan 07, 2025•21 min
Irrigation is crucial in optimizing crop growth, nutrient uptake, soil health, and overall plant health. Part two of a two-part episode discusses the agronomic benefits of adopting efficient irrigation practices. We are joined by irrigation experts Guillermo Valenzuela , VP of Sales and Marketing at WiseConn , and Craig Hornung , Director of Technical Services at AC-Foods , to discuss the vital role of water management in agriculture. In the previous episode, we explored the agronomic value of p...
Oct 08, 2024•29 min
Irrigation is crucial in optimizing crop growth, nutrient uptake, and overall plant health. In this part one of a two-part episode, we will explore the agronomic value of proper irrigation. In this first half of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast, we are joined by irrigation experts Guillermo Valenzuela , VP of Sales and Marketing at WiseConn , and Craig Hornung , Director of Technical Services at AC-Foods , to discuss the vital role of water management in agriculture. The conversation highlights h...
Oct 01, 2024•32 min
In this episode of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast, Yara Regional Sales Manager and grower, Peter DeBoer , helps us understand the critical role of post-harvest nutrition for effective crop management, with a particular focus on almond farming. They emphasize the importance of nutrient sampling and how it can directly influence both crop yield and the economic impact of fertilizer application. The discussion covers common mistakes in post-harvest agricultural practices, the need for transparent ...
Sep 24, 2024•24 min
In this encore episode, we revisit a crucial conversation from 2020 on the importance of nitrogen and sulfur in crop nutrition and how they work together to enhance plant health. The discussion emphasizes the need to go beyond just focusing on nitrogen application rates and to implement the four Rs of nutrient management: right rate, right source, right time, and right place. Our experts, Yara's Dr. Trey Cutts and Markus Braaten , CCA, highlight the benefits of using a homogenous product that en...
Sep 10, 2024•36 min
Welcome to this special throwback episode of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast! We’re revisiting a classic episode from 2019, which is part of a series dedicated to exploring each essential plant nutrient. In this episode, Dr. Steve Petrie , retired Director of Agronomic Services, dives into the vital role of phosphorus in crop nutrition. He breaks down the “Four Rs ” of phosphorus application: the right rate, the right source, the right placement, and the right timing. Dr. Steve also emphasizes t...
Aug 27, 2024•22 min
Biostimulants are a growing trend in agriculture, with their use rapidly increasing worldwide, but there are still some questions about how they play a role in today's agriculture. Yara's Marcio Wally , Biological Senior Manager based in Canada, explains that biologicals are complementary to traditional agricultural inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, enhancing crop nutrition and resilience to stress. Biostimulants can improve nutrient availability and uptake, as well as enhance plant aspect...
Aug 13, 2024•37 min
This video conversation discusses the influence of plant nutrition on root health. Dr. Rob Mikkelsen emphasizes the importance of roots and how they are often overlooked. They explain the impact of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and micronutrients on root growth and health. He provides examples and visuals to illustrate the effects of nutrient deficiencies on roots. The conversation concludes by highlighting the significance of a balanced supply of nutrients for overall plant health a...
Aug 06, 2024•8 min
In this video episode of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast, Dr. Rob Mikkelsen , Director of Agronomy for Yara in North America, delves into the crucial topic of nitrogen nutrition in crops. He discusses the physiological preference of most common crops for nitrate nutrition over ammonium, explaining how the ionic charge of the nitrogen molecule impacts plant growth and soil conditions. Rob highlights various research findings, including those from Dr. Dharma Pichay at Tennessee State University, d...
Jul 30, 2024•7 min
In this episode, Dr. Rob Mikkelsen teaches us about the fascinating and often overlooked world of root health and its crucial role in plant nutrition. He begins by posing a thought-provoking question: Do nutrients influence roots, or do roots influence nutrients? The answer, as Rob explains, is a complex interplay of both. The Hidden Half of Agriculture: Rob emphasizes the importance of roots, which are frequently overlooked despite their critical role in plant health. He encourages agronomists ...
Jul 23, 2024•7 min
In this episode of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast we talk with citrus growing expert John Martzen and Yara Sales Agronomist, Vanessa Dominguez , about the crucial role of micronutrients in citrus health and productivity. They discuss the importance of regular tissue sampling, the risks of over-applying micronutrients, and emerging technologies in nutrient management. John shares success stories that highlight the positive impact of effective nutrient management on crop yields and quality, offer...
Jul 16, 2024•33 min
In this Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast episode, Dr. Isaac Mpanga, Yara's Sustainable Food Solutions Director, discusses the importance of sustainable food systems and agronomic agricultural practices. They explore the role of stakeholders in making sustainable agriculture a reality and how Yara is involved in promoting sustainable practices. Isaac emphasizes the need for coordination and communication among all players in the food chain to achieve transformation and sustainability. He also highligh...
Jun 24, 2024•39 min
We're excited to announce the launch of their sixth incubator farm in North America near Livingston County, New York, focused on improving forage quality and environmental sustainability in dairy feed production. The farm is a 150-acre field separated into strips alternating between corn silage and alfalfa. The goal is to study different crop nutrition programs and their impact on forage quality. The farm also aims to explore the relationship between manure nutrients and Yara fertilizers, as wel...
Jun 18, 2024•21 min
This episode of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast focuses on the vital role of potassium in citrus production and how it can boost yields. Potassium is crucial for water, nutrient, and carbohydrate movement in plants, enhancing leaf size, tree vigor, and overall health. It plays a major role in crop yield and fruit quality in citrus crops. Citrus trees take up more potassium than nitrogen, making it a critical nutrient. The right source of potassium depends on soil type and timing of application. ...
Jun 11, 2024•19 min
In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Tobin Stetson , a seasoned professional with a rich civil engineering and soil conservation background, who recently joined Yara to support our efforts in the Eastern Canadian markets. We discuss the relationship between civil engineering and soil conservation, the importance of water in agriculture, and the projects Tobin has worked on in Prince Edward Island. We also explore sustainable farming practices, the impact of irrigation on crop production, a...
Jun 04, 2024•21 min
This is the 5th and final episode in a series of episodes dedicated to a network of i ncubator farms that Yara North America. These farms are dedicated to find innovative ways to improve farm productivity balanced with sustainable practices that can be implemented by growers to improve their on-farm profits. In this episode the focus is on the Arkansas Delta incubator farm and its efforts to enhance nutrient and water use efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase yields. The stan...
May 28, 2024•38 min
We are in the forth episode in a series of episodes dedicated to a network of incubator farms that Yara North America is using to find innovative ways to improve farm productivity balanced with sustainable practices that can be implemented by growers to improve their on-farm profits. In this episode, Scott Warr and Erika Wagner discuss the Yara incubator farm in the Snake River Valley, Idaho, and its focus on potato production. They explore the differences between potato production for fries and...
May 21, 2024•25 min
We are in the third episode in a series of episodes dedicated to a network of incubator farms that Yara North America is using to find innovative ways to improve farm productivity balanced with sustainable practices that can be implemented by growers to improve their on-farm profits. Today, we're talking about the incubator farm in the Canadian prairies to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Spread across 40 acres, we are studying essential crops like wheat, canola, peas, and barley. Managing the farm is Y...
May 14, 2024•23 min
In this part 2 of our Incubator Farm series, Devin Clarke , takes us to the Yara Almond Incubator Farm in Modesto, California, a pioneering site in the heart of California's Central Valley. The farm is part of a series dedicated to exploring innovative solutions that combine enhanced farm productivity with sustainable practices. This 80-acre farm, which also features a walnut grove, functions as a collaborative research hub. Devin Clarke, Agronomy Solutions Manager at Yara North America and a me...
May 07, 2024•28 min
This is the first in a series of episodes focused on the five incubator farms that Yara is managing in North America. Launched in 2019, the Yara Incubator Farms Network is not just a series of farms; it's a visionary project connecting the dots between farming practices and the global food chain. With over 600 acres across North America, these farms serve as a living laboratory where cutting-edge research in soil fertility and crop nutrient management is conducted. This isn't just about increasi...
Apr 30, 2024•26 min
How important is the thin layer of crust on earth that we call soil? Dr. Rob Mikkelsen , Yara North America's Director of Agronomy, and soil science expert Professor John Havlin help us understand. Dr. Havlin's work has not only revolutionized grape cultivation in North Carolina but also advanced sustainable farming practices worldwide. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of soil fertility practices, the impact of nutrient management on crop quality, and the significance of long-term agric...
Apr 23, 2024•43 min
In this episode of the Yara Crop Nutrition Podcast is a little different. We talk with Taylor Chalstrom , the dynamic managing editor of My Ag Life and host of the My Ag Life podcast. My Ag Life is a cornerstone resource dedicated to enriching the agricultural community in the Western United States with cutting-edge information. We talk about crucial topics such as soil health, the emerging role of biostimulants, advancements in agricultural technology, the intricacies of integrated pest managem...
Mar 19, 2024•35 min
Dr. Jim Camberado discusses nitrogen use efficiency in crop production. Dr. Camberado shares his experience working with crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and the challenges in executing nitrogen use efficiency. He emphasizes the importance of nitrogen use efficiency due to the dynamic nature of nitrogen in the soil and its impact on crop productivity. Dr. Camberado also addresses misconceptions about nitrogen use efficiency and provides insights into optimizing nitrogen application d...
Mar 05, 2024•38 min
What does it take to grow the perfect grape? Find out in today’s episode with Stan Grant , a vineyard specialist with decades of experience in the grape-growing industry. We discuss Stan's journey into grape growing, the biggest issue in grape nutrition, balancing yield and quality, changes in grape growing practices, creating a crop nutrition plan, differentiating grape varieties for wine, table grapes, and raisins, the challenges and future of the grape industry, and Stan's publications and sp...
Feb 27, 2024•45 min
In recent years, we have seen a rise in soil acidification. Today's episode discusses the causes, signs, and effects of soil acidification, as well as strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and prevention (MAP). Joining Yara's Dr. Rob Mikkelsen is Dr. Clain Jones , renowned Montana State University Extension soil fertility specialist and Dr. Manbir Rakkar , Assistant Professor at Ohio State University who help us understand the significance of soil pH changes. Soil acidification can be caused by...
Jan 30, 2024•42 min
This episode explores the history, development, and sustainability of the potash industry. We are joined by Dr. Davide Ciceri , who currently leads innovative R&D at AgroPlantae, Inc. and Yara’s Director of Agronomy, Dr. Rob Mikkelsen . We begin with the origins of potash, which can be traced back to ancient methods of extracting potassium compounds from wood ashes. The conversation then delves into the development of the potash fertilizer industry, highlighting the work of chemist von Liebi...
Jan 23, 2024•47 min
In this episode, the hosts discuss the benefits and challenges of using liquid fertilizers. Dr. Karl Wyant, Director of Agronomy at Nutrien, and Dr. Rob Mikkelsen , Director of Agronomy at Yara, explain how liquid fertilizers offer more flexibility in creating customized nutrient formulations tailored to specific crop needs. They emphasize the importance of understanding compatibility and safety when blending and handling liquid fertilizers. We discuss the concept of suspension and solution fert...
Jan 10, 2024•31 min
In the dynamic world of crop production, staying ahead means understanding not just the 'how' but the 'why' behind effective agronomics. And that's exactly what we're unpacking in this episode. Foliar nutrition is more than just a trend; it’s a pivotal part of modern agriculture, offering targeted, efficient, and quick nutrient delivery to your crops. We'll explore the science behind foliar feeding, how it complements traditional soil nutrition, its role in maximizing crop health and yield. how ...
Dec 19, 2023•27 min
