The Growing Point Podcast
by thegrowingpointpodcast
Welcome to The Growing Point, the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission’s agronomy focused Podcast. Our goal with the podcast is simple; to provide Alberta farmers and agronomists with timely, relevant and valuable agronomic knowledge sourced from science-based research and projects funded by the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions.
Episodes
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Episode 1: Welcome to Beyond the Yield + What's Shaping Crop Decisions in 2026
In our very first episode, we introduce Beyond the Yield with hosts Jeremy Boychyn, director of research, agronomy and extension, and Shannon Sereda, director of government relations, policy and markets at Alberta Grains. They discuss what listeners can expect from the podcast and how it will...
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Episode 39: Battling Kochia with crop selection, seeding rate, and row spacing
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Charles Geddes, a weed research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Lethbridge. Geddes discusses with us the challenges of managing kochia and some tactics producers can implement to fight back. Geddes discusses the impacts of different crop types as...
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Episode 38: Nitrogen release, the birch effect, and managing the unknown
In this episode, we chat with Edgar Hammermeister. Edgar is the Manager of Professional Agronomy at Western Ag. I chat with Edger about what the birch effect is, how it works, and how it affects farmers nitrogen decisions. We discuss the impacts that variable nitrogen release from soil organic...
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Episode 37: Smart Nitrogen Management: Insights from Dr. Mario Tenuta
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Mario Tenuta, the Senior Industrial Research Chair in 4R Nutrient Management and Professor at the university of Manitoba, to discuss strategies for optimizing nitrogen use in farming. Dr. Tenuta outlines nitrogen losses and the benefits of enhanced efficiency...
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Episode 36: The Wheat Midge Forecast: Emerging Management Strategies
In this episode, we discuss tools being investigated for future wheat midge control, featuring entomologist researcher Dr. Tyler Wist, from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon. We talk through current pest biology, impacts, and distribution as well as what is currently being…
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Episode 35: Late Season Diseases with Dr. Kelly Turkington
We speak with Dr. Kelly Turkington (AAFC Lacombe) about late-season diseases. Specifically, we discuss sooty moulds and other disease with similar features. We discuss disease for producers to watch and what management practices help mitigate their impacts.
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Episode 34: Resistant Wild Oat Action Committee: Tackling the Resistance Challenge Head-On
Explore the issue of wild oat resistance management in Western Canada in this podcast episode, highlighting the work of the Resistant Wild Oat Action Committee. Hear from Dr. Breanne Tidemann (Co-Chair and Research Scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada), Nathan Eshpeter (Project…
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Episode 33: Navigating Regional Variety Trials: Dr. Sheri Strydhorst’s Expert Insights on Wheat & Barley Selection in Alberta
In this episode, we discuss the Alberta Regional Variety Trials (RVT) for wheat and barley, with guest Dr. Sheri Strydhorst, the RVT Coordinator. We explore the role of RVT data in guiding wheat and barley growers in Alberta to make informed decisions. Dr. Strydhorst provides an overview of the…
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Episode 32: Breeding for wheat stem sawfly resistance in spring wheat – Dr. Richard Cuthbert (AAFC Swift Current)
Dr. Cuthbert shares his knowledge of the history and challenges surrounding breeding for stem solidness and wheat stem sawfly resistance in spring wheat. He discusses how solid stemness breeding compares to fusarium head blight advances. Cuthbert also discusses genetics that may be available for...
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Episode 31: Resilient rotations on the prairies - Dr. Sheri Strydhorst
Today we chat with Dr. Sheri Strydhorst. Sheri shares insights into crop rotations on the prairies. We discuss the results of a recently completed research project led by Dr. Kui Lui (AAFC Swift Current) that investigated various types of rotation (Control, Diversified, Intensified, Market…
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Episode 30: Updated Kochia resistance survey for Alberta – Dr. Charles Geddes
We chat with Dr. Charles Geddes of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Lethbridge). Geddes shares the results of the recent kochia resistance survey in Alberta, why kochia is such a challenge, and management tactics to mitigate resistance, among other things. More details on the results of the survey can…
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Malting barley quality: quality and on-farm management impacts on the malting process
In this episode of The Growing Point podcast, we chat with Sherwin Santiano, a malting and brewing technician of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre and Peter Watts, the managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. We discuss what malt barley is, what the malting...
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Malting barley varieties and markets: now and into the future
In this episode of The Growing Point podcast, we chat with Peter Watts, the managing director of the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre. We chat with Peter about the current status of the malt barley market, where the majority of Canadian malt barley is sold, and where there are future...
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Creating clarity around alkali, alkaline, and saline soils with Wes Anderson
In this episode, we speak with Wes Anderson, Vice President of agronomy with Croptimistic Technology. Anderson discusses the terms alkali, alkaline, saline, and saline-sodic and how they impact land and crop management.
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Nitrogen losses and loss mitigation with Dr. Jeff Schoenau
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jeff Schoenau, Professor of Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Schoenau provides a breakdown of the major pathways that nitrogen can be lost to the environment. He also discusses management practices producers can implement to mitigate loss and...
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Professor Myles Dick and the Breton Plots Legacy
In this episode, we speak with Myles Dick professor of soil science in the Department of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. I chat with Myles about the legacy of the Breton Plots, a long-standing plot research location in Alberta, Canada that has been conducting trials since 1929.…
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Mineralization, immobilization and developing nitrogen recommendations – Dr. Don Flaten & John Heard
With high fertilizer prices, ongoing drought, and potential for nitrogen carryover from the 2021 season, it is important we assess nitrogen is available in the soil for the 2022 growing season. Dr. Don Flaten (Retired University of Manitoba professor) and John Heard (Soil fertility specialist…
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Tillage and soil health with Dr. Martin Entz
On this episode of The Growing Point Podcast, I speak with Dr. Martin Entz, a professor at the University of Manitoba. Entz describes tillage as it relates to soil health and crop production in western Canada. We discuss how much tillage is too much tillage, the types of tillage and their impacts...
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Parasitism of Wheat Midge and what you can do to help with Jennifer Otani (AAFC Beaverlodge)
In this episode we chat with Jennifer Otani (AAFC Beaverlodge) regarding wheat midge on the prairies and in the peace region. We chat about the wheat midge life cycle, damage, and mechanisms tools for producers. We also delve into the complex relationship that wheat midge has with Macroglenes...
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Identifying Spring Wheat Varieties that Improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency – Dr. Kate Congreves
We chat with Dr. Kate Congreves (Assistant Prof at the University of Saskatchewan) regarding some exciting work she is currently conducting. Partially funded by the Alberta Wheat Commission(AWC) to conduct this research, Congeves is working with breeders to investigate Nitrogen Use Efficiency…
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Preventing selection of herbicide-resistant weeds with Dr. Breanne Tidemann (AAFC)
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Breanne Tidemann about why weeds are jerks. We chat about the current state of weed resistance in Western Canada, how we got here, and what it means for farmers' pockets. We also chat about what weed resistance looks like in a field, how it develops in a plant…
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Plant Growth Regulators on Barley – Which option is preferred? (Dr. Sheri Strydhorst)
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Sheri Strydhorst (Agronomy Research Specialist - Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions) about plant growth regulators (PGRs). Over the past couple of years, the PGRs available for use in Western Canada have changed. Producers now have multiple options to select...
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Closing Yield Gaps in Western Canada - A discussion with Dr. Brian Beres (AAFC)
In this podcast, we chat with Dr. Brian Beres regarding his current research on closing yield gaps in Western Canada. Part of his research involves capturing management information from producers through a survey. We discuss the survey and research value to western Canadian producers and how it...
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Bacterial disease in Western Canada - A discussion with Dr. Michael Harding (Pathologist with Alberta Agriculture & Forestry)
In this episode of The Growing Point Podcast we chat with Dr. Michael Harding (Pathologist with Alberta Agriculture & Forestry) about bacterial disease in western Canada. Harding breaks down the life cycle, various forms, impacts, management tactics, and environmental conditions conducive for...
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Growing malt for feed – A discussion with Laurel Thompson (Crop researcher at Lakeland College)
In this episode of The Growing Point Podcast we chat with Laurel Thompson, a crop researcher at Lakeland College in Alberta, about her recent malt barley projects. The first project looks at the economics of producing malt barley varieties for feed end use. The second project investigated the...
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Farming without glyphosate - A Conversation with Dr. Hugh Beckie (AHRI) Part 2
Continuation of the conversation with Dr. Hugh Beckie. Loss of glyphosate as a tool in our toolbox is a growing concern. Countries around the globe are already planning on removing the product from use. In this podcast, I chat with Dr. Beckie about his recent research paper which outlines…
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Farming without glyphosate - A Conversation with Dr. Hugh Beckie (AHRI) Part 1
Loss of glyphosate as a tool in our toolbox is a growing concern. Countries around the globe are already planning on removing the product from use. In this podcast, I chat with Dr. Beckie about his recent research paper which outlines potential impacts that would come with the loss of glyphosate…
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Breeding for fusarium head blight resistance with Dr. Anita Brûlé-Babel (UoM)
In this episode we talk with Dr. Anita Brûlé-Babel, a professor at the University of Manitoba, who focuses her research on breeding for disease resistance in wheat. We discuss the challenges of breeding for FHB, how it differs from other diseases, how resistant varieties play a role in disease...
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Fusarium head blight timing tactics with Dr. Kelly Turkington of AAFC Lacombe
We chat with Dr. Kelly Turkington regarding how to best time fusarium head blight (FHB) applications in relation to crop staging, environment, and other risk factors. Recent research has shown that the infection window for FHB is wider than initially thought. How does this affect your in-field...
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Early season wheat fungicide applications with Dr. Sheri Strydhorst (AF)
In this episode of the podcast, we chat with Dr. Sheri Strydhorst regarding her research on early season fungicides in wheat. This practice, which is common in some areas of Alberta, likely doesn’t provide the value that some producers and agronomist hope it would. Sheri delves deep into her...
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Brian Beres, Hiroshi Kubota, Laurel Thompson - PCS PODCAST
This episode of The Growing Point podcast includes 3 short interviews conducted in December 2019 at Prairie Cereals Summit (PCS) in Banff. Interviews include i) Dr. Brian Beres (AAFC Lethbridge) on the topic of ultra-early seeding ii) Dr. Hiroshi Kubota (AAFC Lacombe) on the topic of nitrogen…
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Seed testing and results management with Dr. K Turkington (AAFC) and Carey Matthiessen (2020 Seedlabs)
The episode includes a conversation with Carey and Kelly regarding how seed testing occurs and what that means for managing that seed lot and your crop. Germination rates, vigour, disease and more can all affect your crop establishment and in-crop concerns. We go into detail about how these tests...
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The Prairie Pest Monitoring Network with Meghan Vankosky (AAFC)
Dr. Meghan Vankosky of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada discusses the Prairie Pest Monitoring Network (PPMN). Who is involved, what information you can find, and how it can help with making on farm decisions. Meghan outlines why this is such a valuable tool for producers and agronomists in…
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Dr. Richard Cuthbert (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) on Falling Number (FN)
On this episode we chat with Dr. Richard Cuthbert (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) about Falling Number (FN), a topic that is growing in attention and challenges it is bringing to prairie producers. Cuthbert is a wheat breeder from Swift Current, Saskatoon and brings a wealth of knowledge…
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Dr. Breanne Tidemann (AAFC) – The Harrington Seed Destructor
Dr. Breanne Tidemann(AAFC) joins us to talk about weed management in western Canada. We discuss challenges around wild oats, the Harrington Seed Destructor’s potential, weed resistance, and potential future tools in the weed management toolbox.
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Winter wheat seeding best management practices with Dr. Brian Beres (AAFC)
Dr. Brian Beres (AAFC) joins us the discuss the nuances of seeding for a successful winter wheat crop. We discuss moisture concerns, seeding best management practices, nitrogen management, new varieties, stubble options, and much more.
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Dr. Sheri Strydhorst (AF)
Fungicides, in-crop nitrogen, and PGRs can help increase yields. But do they always pay? What varieties respond? What environments are best for stacking agronomic practices. Dr. Sheri Strydhorst (AF) discusses her research on these topics.
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Shannon Sereda from Team Alberta
Recent wet, delayed, and challenging harvests in Alberta increase the value of on-farm drying systems. But how much energy does it take and how efficient are they? Shannon Sereda from Team Alberta discusses an upcoming study to answer these questions.
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AAFC researcher Dr. Brian Beres
In crop nitrogen application during early summer on spring wheat can be beneficial for yield. But what considerations around products, equipment, and timing need to be discussed. AAFC researcher Dr. Brian Beres give us some helpful tips.
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Dr. Haley Catton
Discussion with research scientist Dr. Haley Catton who focuses on cereal crop Entomology, plant-insect interactions, insect ecology, biological control and integrated pest management at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge research station. Dr. Catton studies the lifecycle and...
About this show
Welcome to The Growing Point, the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission’s agronomy focused Podcast. Our goal with the podcast is simple; to provide Alberta farmers and agronomists with timely, relevant and valuable agronomic knowledge sourced from science-based research and projects funded by the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions.
Hosted by
thegrowingpointpodcast
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