UMN Extension Nutrient Management Podcast
by University of Minnesota Extension
Welcome to University of Minnesota Extension's Nutrient Management Podcast. Each month we bring you the latest research in nutrient management for crops and how you can incorporate the latest tips and best management practices to your farm.
Episodes
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Fall manure outlook: Updated application rates and best practices
It's early / mid October in Minnesota, which means it's time for the fall manure outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Minnesota's manure application rate guidelines have been updated for corn-corn and corn-soybean rotations. What are some of the results of theses changes? What was the…
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Complexity in manure nutrient availability: Nitrogen, species & bedding
Manure nutrient management is uniquely complex, and we discuss some reasons why on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart episode. What specific factors make manure management far more complex than applying standard chemical fertilizer? How do digestive systems and diets cause nitrogen availability to...
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Managing dry edible beans: Insights from four Midwest experts
Dry edible beans are an important Minnesota crop, and we explore them further on today's Nutrient Management Podcast. We talk with four experts from around the Midwest about your dry bean questions: What are some similarities and differences managing for dry edible bean versus soybean, for…
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Reducing N loss to water with land management principles & the 4Rs
How do soil health practices—such as minimizing disturbance, maintaining ground cover, and promoting biological activity—interact with the 4Rs of nitrogen management to reduce runoff and nitrate leaching into water sources? How does nitrogen release (mineralize) or become tied up (immobilize) in...
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2026 Fall fertilizer outlook: Crop results, current input prices & future options
August is in full swing, which means it's time for the Fall Fertilizer Outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Our panelists recently returned from Minnesota's annual Farm Fest where they heard directly from farmers. How did crops do during the 2026 field season? What are current fertilizer...
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"A multivitamin for your soil": Some of the benefits (& challenges) of manure use
The benefits and challenges of manure use in general is the topic on this 40th episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series. What is it about manure that makes it good for the soil - and what makes livestock bedding an important addition? What's in manure that's organic but isn't…
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Manure under a microscope: What variables affect nutrient value? (hint: they all do)
Today on Advancing Nitrogen Smart we ask an unusual question: What is manure, really? We all know manure is made of the liquids and solids that pass through an animal's digestive system, but what has to happen for manure to become usable? Is all manure created equal, or do differences in animal...
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Heavy June rain & nutrient management: 3 Minnesota experts weigh in
We're examining the effect of recent heavy rainfall on input decision-making in today's Nutrient Management Podcast. What adverse or severe weather conditions did parts of Minnesota recently experience? How does it compare to past events? It's currently mid-July; what did the Minnesota Drought...
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Nitrate reduction with perennials: Possible candidates, strategies, & benefits
Nitrate reduction with perennial plants is the topic on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast. What are some pros and cons of covers like rye, oat and alfalfa for reducing nitrate? How do they compare in terms of biomass or establishment? What sets alfalfa apart as a cover crop candidate? How...
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Irrigation practices in MN: Benefits and risks, partnerships & the importance of nutrient management
Irrigation is the topic of discussion of today's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are current irrigation conditions in Minnesota? How is the aquifer in the Central Sands region recharged, and why is it so important to manage nutrients efficiently when irrigating? What new…
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Sidedressing nitrogen: The rationale, past research & potential risks in split-applying
Brad Carlson and Dan Kaiser discuss sidedressing in today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. What's the big-picture rationale behind sidedressing? How can sidedressing or split-applying be beneficial in terms of avoiding nitrogen loss? Since nitrogen uptake isn't linear, what growth…
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Sugarbeet nutrient management: Best practices, guidelines & new research for MN growers
Minnesota is the nation's top producer of sugarbeets by acreage. Today we're discussing sugarbeet nutrient management on the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are the fertilizer guidelines for sugarbeets right now, and how are they revised? What sugarbeet research studies are currently underway…
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Nitrates & placement: Factors for reducing nitrogen loss to water
We’re talking all about nitrate management and placement as important factors for reducing nitrogen loss to water on today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast series. Different forms of nitrogen have their own potential for loss. How does nitrogen already in the nitrate form differ...
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The pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT): Sampling, standards & values to know
Brad and Jeff continue their discussion about variable rate nitrogen technology by zeroing in on the pre-sidedress nitrate test (PSNT). What are key differences between the PSNT and the pre-plant nitrate test (PPNT)? What growth stage should the crop reach before taking a PSNT? How have sampling...
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Spring fertilizer outlook: How is price volatility impacting input planning in 2026?
Early April means it's time for the Spring Fertilizer Outlook here on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Our panel of four specialists and researchers begin by discussing current field conditions throughout Minnesota. World events affecting farmers and other ag professionals are top-of-mind right...
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Active sensors & variable rate nitrogen: What MN farmers should know
Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch talk about variable rate sensors on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. What is meant by the term 'active sensors' and what data do active sensors capture? Which specific brands of sensors have the Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC) researched,...
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Phosphorus: Rate guidelines, sources & best practices for Minnesota, Midwest farmers
Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss phosphorus with experts from Minnesota and across the Midwest. Why are Midwest phosphorus guidelines different from state to state? Are Minnesota's current P guidelines satisfactory - or do states' P guidelines need revision? Would a P-rate...
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Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy: Practices, progress & solutions
Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast we speak in-depth about the recently-revised Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy with Matt Drewitz from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. What are the goals of the MN Nutrient Reduction Strategy, and how are they being addressed specifically?...
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Incorporating conservation practices: County SWCDs, farmer resources & successes
Today we’re going on the road with a conversation recorded during the Minnesota Association of Social and Water Conservation Districts' (MASWCD) annual conference. Mike Schultz, district manager at the Le Sueur County SWCD talks with Brad Carlson about actual methods of incorporating conservation...
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Looking ahead to spring manure: ManureDB, research updates & best practices for MN farmers
Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss all things manure as we head into spring. Our three manure nutrient management specialists and researchers talk about recent updates to ManureDB (the online manure database). Why was ManureDB created, and what makes it a helpful tool for farmers...
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Nitrogen BMPs and nitrate water quality issues in southeast Minnesota: What should growers be thinking about?
Today on the show we join a panel of 5 specialists, practitioners, Extension educators to discuss nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota. What is the current situation with nitrates and water quality in southeast Minnesota? Is the situation improving over time? What are some key…
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The 5 main pathways of nitrogen loss: What are they, and how can you increase efficiency?
We return to first principles with a detailed discussion about nitrogen loss on today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast episode. The five terms that describe how nitrogen is lost from the soil are: leaching, denitrification, volatilization, crop removal and soil erosion & runoff. But what do…
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All about cover crops: Lower seeding rates, weed control, advice for farmers & more
It's December and we're rounding out the year with an in-depth discussion on cover crops here on the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are panelists' observations regarding covers with lower seeding rates? What are some pros and cons relating to erosion or nutrient uptake? Does planting early at…
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Micronutrients: Current research, tissue sampling, toxicity symptoms & more
Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we're turning our attention to micronutrients. What does current research tell us about micronutrients - for corn specifically - that growers need to consider? Boron is another important micronutrient in Minnesota. What should farmers be aware of regarding...
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Variable rate zones: Field mapping, soil characteristics, tools & more
On today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast, Brad and Dan talk about variable rate application - and zones in particular. What's the overall point to variable rate N application? How might an initial starting N rate be determined? How do farmers' fields and equipment introduce…
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Updated corn nitrogen rates: Regional differences, profit vs yield, water quality & more
This month on the Nutrient Management Podcast, we talk about a recent increase in N rate recommendations for corn. Why have these suggested nitrogen rates for corn increased over time? How are regional differences across Minnesota factored into this increase? Why does the Maximum Return to…
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An introduction to MRTN: Efficiencies & economics in mind
Brad Carlson and Daniel Kaiser discuss the maximum return to nitrogen method (MRTN) for determining an optimal N rate on today's episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. What is the MRTN and why was it created? What are differences between an N investment model versus a maximum yield model?...
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Biological soil fertility products for corn and soybeans: How should farmers be thinking about them?
Dan Kaiser and Brad Carlson continue their discussion on N-fixing biostimulant products in today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast. What's the most up-to-date working definition of a crop biostimulant? On which crops are N-fixing products typically used? What is NCERA103.org, and…
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Fall manure application: Plans, resources & strategies for Minnesota farmers
On this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast, we talk all about fall manure application. What should be on a farmer's to-do list to prepare for fall application? What names need to be on an operation's emergency response plan, and what kind of PPE should farmers keep nearby? How much lead...
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Bioreactors in-depth: Carbon sources, incorporation, maintenance & more
Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we take a close-up look at bioreactors as an edge-of-field practice. How does this important tool work, and how does it help mitigate nitrate loss? What types of carbon sources have traditionally been used in a bioreactor, and what types of carbon…
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2025 Fall fertilizer outlook: Management tips during economic uncertainty
It’s that time of year again; time for the Fall Fertilizer Outlook on the Nutrient Management Podcast. Given the overall economics of crop production right now, how should farmers be approaching their fertilizer decisions this fall? What are some regional differences with respect to fertilizer...
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Manure laws and regulations in MN: Feedlots, storage, buffers & more
On today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast, Brad Carlson and Melissa Wilson explain aspects of Minnesota laws and regulations that manure applicators should be aware of. What are the requirements for manure testing, and how often should you do it? What are some general restrictions for manure...
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How soil conditions & chemistry affect nitrogen loss
Nitrogen loss is the topic today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast. Soil conditions and chemistry are factors that make nitrogen prone to loss, but how does the N loss process actually happen? What's left over in the field after that process occurs, and where does the lost nitrogen go? What...
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Variable rate nitrogen: What are we trying to accomplish?
On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart, Brad and Dan take some of the mystery out of variable rate N. What are we trying to accomplish when we use a variable rate management practice? What kinds of field conditions might benefit from VRN, and which conditions should be avoided with VRN? How...
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Nutrient management for irrigated crops in MN: Corn, potatoes, & edible beans
Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss nutrient management for irrigated crops in Minnesota. How many irrigated acres are there in Minnesota? What are some of the benefits and risks of irrigation? In what ways can risks be mitigated - through timing, cover crop adoption and / or…
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Sulfur management: In-season, source, carryover, soybean & more
This month's episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast is all about sulfur. Fertilizer guidelines go through changes periodically, but are there any upcoming changes to the sulfur fertilizer guidelines specifically? What does current research tell us about managing sulfur for Minnesota crops?…
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Manure sampling and testing: Variability, guidelines & safety for your operation
This week on Advancing Nitrogen Smart Melissa Wilson and Brad Carlson talk about manure sampling and testing. What are some sampling guidelines to be aware of in Minnesota? How variable is nitrogen in one type of manure, and then from type to type? How could changes to a farmer's overall…
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More Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN): How is this N rec calculated?
Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast series, Brad and Dan tell us how the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) approach to N rate recommendations is calculated. What does the MRTN actually measure for farmers? What's the reason the MRTN recommendations were created? What kind of / how many...
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Conducting on-farm research: Four Midwest experts weigh in on design tips, planning and more
Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we discuss on-farm research. On-farm research has been here for decades - so what's new about it? What are management practices that might be easier to evaluate and which might be more difficult? What are the design criteria that farmers need to have in...
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Accounting for soil and weather conditions: Methods and tools to help fine-tune your N
On this episode of Advancing Nitrogen Smart we discuss methods and tools to account for soil and weather conditions as you execute your nitrogen management strategy. Which tissue and nitrate testing options are the most beneficial, and when should you test? How does understanding the nitrogen…
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Why understanding the nitrogen cycle is key to managing soil fertility
Today on Advancing Nitrogen Smart we’re talking about the nitrogen cycle and managing soil fertility. What does 'the nitrogen cycle' mean, and how does it affect your management strategy? In what ways do temperature and moisture slow down or speed up nitrogen's window of usability? What are...
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Cation exchange capacity & nutrient management: What does the data say?
Cation exchange capacity and cation balancing are the topics of the day in this episode of the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are the definitions of cation exchange capacity and cation balancing? How is CEC measured, and are those estimates reliable? What does the research say about CEC and CB...
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Nitrogen fertilizer management & surface water: Context, successes and challenges
Today on the Advancing Nitrogen Smart Podcast we discuss nitrogen fertilizer management and surface water issues. When did we first become aware of nitrates appearing in surface water? What are some of the effects, and who is being affected? What are Minnesota's current nitrate-reduction strategy...
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2025 Spring Fertilizer Outlook: What should MN farmers consider, avoid?
It's the end of March, which means it's time for the annual Spring Fertilizer Outlook. What are field conditions like throughout Minnesota? What early fertilizer application options might MN growers want to consider? Which early fertilizer application practices might MN growers want to avoid, and...
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Nitrogen management & groundwater: What to know
A lot of the conversation about nitrogen management centers around environmental issues, and in particular, nitrate levels in groundwater and surface water in Minnesota. Today we’ll discuss N management and nitrate levels in groundwater. What are some effects of elevated nitrate levels in both...
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Nutrient management & cover crops: A research update across Minnesota
Today we talk with four panelists throughout Minnesota about nutrient management and cover crops. What are some results of new research looking into incorporating covers into a nutrient management strategy? What are some of the specific rotations being measured, and why? What do farmers need to...
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Nitrogen-fixing biologicals: What farmers should know
Today we’re talking all about nitrogen-fixing biologicals. What's the best definition of a biological or biostimulant? Are they fertilizers, pesticides - or neither? In what ways do they interact with nitrogen in the field? Where and how are biological products tested? Which environmental factors...
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Variable rate nitrogen: What farmers should know
Today we’re talking all about variable rate nitrogen. What underlying information do we need to make decisions about VRN? What areas in the field might be prone to N loss? Should you only add extra N to high-yielding areas, or could a low-yielding zone also show positive responses? What effect...
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25 Years of nutrient management: How have practices changed and evolved?
Here we are in 2025. Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast, our panelists talk about how the practice of nutrient management has changed over the last quarter century. How have precipitation levels - and perceptions about precipitation - changed? What came before the current Maximum Return To...
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Nitrogen conservation and water quality, Part 1: Tech, edge-of-field, & proactive management solutions
Nitrogen conservation and water quality are the subject of today's Advancing Nitrogen Smart episode. There's lots to cover so we're splitting the episode up into two parts. Today in Part 1, Brad Carlson and Jeff Vetsch unpack different conservation solutions, and what might be achieved from their...
About this show
Welcome to University of Minnesota Extension's Nutrient Management Podcast. Each month we bring you the latest research in nutrient management for crops and how you can incorporate the latest tips and best management practices to your farm.
Hosted by
University of Minnesota Extension