A Better Way To Farm Podcast

After a disappointing 2024 season, Joe knew something had to change.

By rethinking his fertilizer program, soil testing, and nitrogen management, he increased his corn farm average from 151 to 251 BPA and pushed his soybeans to nearly 75 BPA!

In this episode, Rod talks with our client Joe. He shares what he changed, what he learned, and how he achieved these incredible results.

What You'll Learn:

• Why more fertilizer doesn’t always mean more yield
• How Joe increased soybean yields by changing his planting approach
• How he grew 251 BPA corn using just 180 pounds of nitrogen

Is your soil test giving you the right information to make better decisions for your farm?

In this episode, Andrew shares simple tips to help you get more value from your soil testing. He explains how to choose between zone and grid sampling, why testing depth matters, and what to look for in a soil testing lab.

The goal is simple: Test your soil right, make better fertilizer decisions, and give every acre a better chance to perform.

What You'll Learn:

• How to choose between zone and grid sampling based on how you manage your fields
• What to look for in a soil testing lab to get a clearer picture of your soil nutrients
• How to turn soil test results into a practical fertility plan that fits your crop and yield goals

In this episode, Rod and Kayla share lessons from recent business events, farm visits, and field days. We talk about making better use of your time, learning from other farmers, and staying open to new ideas.

We share why soil conditions matter, why testing is important, and how farmers can plan ahead to get more from every acre. The goal is bigger than yield or profit. It is about building a farm that the next generation can carry forward.

What You'll Learn:

• How asking for help and outsourcing tasks can free up time for more important work
• Why sharing real farm results helps everyone learn and improve
• How soil testing, field trials, and early planning can help prepare your farm for the next season

Are you losing valuable nutrients in the field after harvest? 🌽

Corn stalks hold more value than you may realize. Rod explains how residue management, soil biology, and carbon can play a role in next year’s crop.

Before you decide what to do with your stalks know your numbers.

What You'll Learn:

• Why the fungi-to-bacteria ratio matters for soil health
• When to apply a stalk digester for better coverage
• How to calculate the value of nutrients left in your residue

What can you learn from walking your own fields, testing new ideas, and seeing what actually works?

In this episode, Kayla talks with farmers Scott and Brian about field days, tough growing conditions, farm trials, and the lessons they keep bringing back to their own operations.

What You'll Learn:

• Why seeing results in the field can change the way you think
• Why early seedling and root development matter
• How tissue and soil sampling can help guide decisions

In this episode, Andrew sits down with a first-generation farmer from Minnesota who talks about how he started questioning the dry broadcast program he was using. Wyatt then began researching agronomy and found a different approach through a field day. His story is a great reminder that farming is always a learning process.

What You'll Learn:

• Why a complete fertility system matters more than simply adding products
• How soil testing can help create more precise micronutrient recommendations
• What foliar feeding can add to a fertility program

In this episode, Rod and Kayla look back on the past few weeks and the lessons they picked up from farmers, field days, and business owners.

From learning to focus on what matters most to seeing what other farmers are testing, the message is simple: keep learning, keep looking, and always find ways to do better.

What You'll Learn:

• Why doing great things may require you to do fewer things
• How outsourcing the right tasks can give farmers more time to focus on higher value work
• Why field days and farmer to farmer learning can lead to better decisions

This episode shares an Iowa farmer's journey of making small changes, learning more, and improving step by step. From better soil testing to better fertilizer use and new ways to apply products, each improvement helped move the operation forward.

What You'll Learn:

• How to improve your farm even when you cannot do everything you want
• How better planning and soil testing can help you make better decisions
• Why small changes can lead to big improvements over time

Sometimes better farming starts with one simple decision: be willing to change.

In this episode, we sit down with an Iowa farmer who grew up farming the traditional way. As he started managing his own ground, he began exploring no till, cover crops, and a different approach to fertility. The results gave him plenty of reasons to keep going.

What You'll Learn:

✓ How changing fertility practices helped improve farm yields

✓ Why no till and cover crops can improve soil structure and water infiltration

✓ How liquid fertility can complement a soil health system

In this episode, we talk about upcoming field days and why hands on learning matters so much. We share what farmers can see in the field, from liquid fertilizer systems and drones to root pits, soil testing, and real-world crop trials.

What You'll Learn:

• How deep roots can access nutrients beyond the normal soil sample
• Why field trials can reveal lessons for the next crop
• How better nutrient management can improve efficiency and long-term soil health

Sometimes the biggest test isn't choosing between right and wrong. It's choosing between something good and what God has called you to do.

In this episode, Rod walks us through Numbers 32 and the story of Reuben and Gad, who found good land and wanted to settle there before reaching the Promised Land.

A farm is more than acres and equipment. It is a business, a family, and a legacy.

In this episode, Rod sits down with Kayla to talk about growing up in the family business, the lessons that shaped her, and what it takes to build a stronger future for farmers and their families.

So, how do you create enough opportunity for the next generation to come home?

The message is simple: you don't have to follow someone else's blueprint. Find what works for your farm, your family, and your future.

What You'll Learn:

• Why every job on the farm and in the business matters
• How education and leadership can strengthen a farm business
• Why adding revenue streams can create opportunities for the next generation

High input costs, high interest, and uncertain markets are putting more pressure on farmers than ever. So how do you protect the farm when you can't control the price of grain, the weather, or interest rates?

You start with what you can control.

In this episode, Rod challenges farmers to stop relying on "plant and pray" and start looking closely at what each input is doing for the farm. The goal isn't simply to grow more bushels.

It's to grow profitable bushels.

What You'll Learn:

• Why chasing yield alone doesn't guarantee profit
• How knowing your numbers can change farm decisions
• How small decisions today can help protect the farm for the next generation

Every season brings a new list of products promising bigger yields. They sound impressive. The real question is simple: will it make you money?

In this episode, Rod encourage farmers to look past the marketing and dig into the numbers. He explains why field days, soil testing, and real field results can help farmers make better decisions for 2027.

What You'll Learn:

• Why there is no one silver bullet for higher yields
• How to question new products before spending money
• How field days and grower results can lead to better ROI

Farming is more than raising a crop. It's building a business that can support your family today and for generations to come.

In this episode, we sit down with Illinois farmer and banker Isaac to discuss farming from both sides of the table. We talk about improving return on investment, making better input decisions, and why lenders value farmers who have a clear plan for improving profitability.

What You'll Learn:

• What lenders look for when evaluating farm operations
• How better input decisions improve ROI

The markets are looking stronger, and advice is coming from every direction. It can be hard to know what is worth your money and what is just another sales pitch.

In this episode, Rod shares why every product is not right for every field or every growth stage. He explains how reading the label, understanding your crop, and making informed decisions can protect your wallet and improve your profits.

What You'll Learn:

• How to avoid spending money on products that do not fit your crop stage
• What to look for before adding products to your spray pass

Key Takeaway!

🌱 The best results come from using the right product at the right time.

The finish line matters just as much as the starting line. A strong crop can still lose yield if late-season nutrition is ignored.

In this episode, we discuss how soil testing, tissue testing, and targeted foliar nutrition help farmers make the right decisions during the final stages of the growing season. We explain why guessing with nutrients costs money, how to support crops through pollination and grain fill, and why healthy plants are better equipped to handle disease.

What You'll Learn:

• Why tissue testing takes the guesswork out of late-season nutrition
• Which nutrients matter most during pollination and grain fill
• How healthy crops are better equipped to fight disease

Key Takeaway!

🌱 The best harvests aren't left to chance. They're built by making good decisions all season long, especially in the fourth quarter.

There are no shortcuts to building a profitable farm. The biggest gains often come from understanding your soil, making smarter decisions, and improving a little every season.

In this episode, a Minnesota farmer discuss the lessons he learned from years of testing, field trials, and education. From breaking compaction and improving soil health to fine-tuning nitrogen, tissue testing, and late-season nutrition, we explain why strong fundamentals continue to outperform guesswork.

What You'll Learn:

• Why healthy soil is the foundation of higher yields
• How split nutrient applications improve crop performance
• Why soil and tissue testing remove the guesswork

Key Takeaways!

🌱 Remove limiting factors before expecting higher yields.

🚜 The best farms aren't built on one product. They're built on knowledge, consistency, and a willingness to keep learning.

In this episode, one Wisconsin farmer shares how moving from a one-size-fits-all fertility program to field-specific nutrient management transformed his operation. Through soil testing, tissue testing, foliar feeding, and a focus on micronutrients, he pushed his soybean yields from 75 to 97 bushels while building a system designed for long-term profitability.

His story is a reminder that better yields start with better management, and every season is another chance to improve.

What You'll Learn:

• Why tissue testing improves in-season decisions
• How field-specific fertility helps break yield plateaus
• How foliar feeding boosted soybean performance

Key Takeaways!

🌱 Every field should be managed based on its own needs.

🚜 Investing in the right nutrients pays when they're backed by data.

Foliar feeding can boost yields, yet small mistakes can do more harm than good. In this episode, we break down how to avoid crop burn.

What You'll Learn:

• Why temperature, humidity, and timing matter
• How application overlap and tank mixes affect crop safety
• Best practices for crop staging and foliar applications

Key Takeaways!

🌱 Foliar feeding works best when conditions are right.

🚜 Precision application protects both yield and crop health.