Episode 191 – BONUS! Soybean Red Crown Rot: Emerging Threats and Management Strategies

We ran out of time last week with guest Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora so we doubled up our releases to cover soybean red crown rot, an emerging and increasingly concerning disease in Midwest production systems. He explains how the pathogen develops, the environmental conditions that favor infection, and why red crown rot can be difficult to distinguish from other soybean wilts and root diseases in the field. Dr. Lopez-Nicora also highlights current research and management options, including the role of resistant varieties, crop rotation, and integrated disease management practices aimed at reducing risk and limiting yield loss. Listeners will come away with practical guidance on scouting, diagnosis, and proactive strategies to stay ahead of this potentially devastating soybean disease.

Watch the C.O.R.N newsletter for the latest updates. For more on Soybean Cyst Nematode management go to: https://www.thescncoalition.com/. For more information and disease forecasting tools, please visit: https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/ A big thanks goes out to the United Soybean Board and Ohio Soybean Council for their support.

Episode 190 – Soybean Foliar Diseases

In this episode, guest Dr. Horacio Lopez-Nicora joins us to unpack the evolving landscape of soybean foliar diseases and what growers need to know for effective management. Dr. Lopez-Nicora discusses the most prevalent foliar issues in soybean production, including the environmental conditions that drive disease development and the challenges of timely diagnosis in the field. He also explores integrated management strategies, emphasizing the importance of scouting, disease forecasting, and fungicide decision-making to protect yield while preserving economic return. Listeners will gain practical, research-based insights into disease identification, resistance considerations, and season-long approaches to reducing risk in soybean fields.

For more information and disease forecasting tools, please visit: https://cropprotectionnetwork.org/

Episode 189 – Early Summer Field Update

After everything our crops have been through this growing season, we are checking in to discuss what impacts weather, delayed planting and other forces have had on crop development. Dr. Stephanie Karhoff joins us to provide a perspective from across Ohio.

Access the Crop Risk Tool here: https://connect.doit.wisc.edu/cpn-risk-tool/.

Remember to subscribe to the CORN Newsletter for weekly updates and recommendations

Episode 187 – Spring Update: Planting progress, cold damage, and more

Planting season are never normal and 2026 is no exception. With the southern half of Ohio nearing completion and the northern half struggling to make headway, there was a lot of crop variability as below freezing temperatures hit the state. Expected prolonged cold and wet weather as another wrinkle. Dr. Jason Hartschuh, Field Specialist with OSU Extension, joins us as we talk about the potential impacts on corn, soybean, wheat and alfalfa. We share what to look for now and in the coming weeks as we deal with a cooler, wetter May.

This CORN Newsletter has two articles on freeze impacts to soybeans and wheat: https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/corn-newsletter/2026-12. The Purdue photo gallery on freeze damage can be found at: https://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/corn/news/articles.01/Frost_Corn_Soy-0418_Gallery.html.

Episode 185 – A Slippery Situation: Battling Slugs in Row Crops

Slug pressure has become an increasingly common and frustrating challenge in crop fields in recent years, driven by wetter springs, heavy residue, and changing production systems. In this episode, we dig into why these slippery pests seem harder to manage than ever. With Kelley Tilmon joining us, discuss the limitations of traditional control options and what growers should realistically expect from different management strategies. From scouting and risk factors to cultural, biological, and chemical tools, we’ll break down what we know and how to make informed decisions when slugs start putting your stand at risk.

For more information, visit aginsects.osu.edu where you can find publications, fact sheets and ID cards. Most slug info is found under the soybean section.

Episode 181 – From the Ground Up Research

Two farmers, Fred and Josh Yoder, discuss one conservation focused research project developed by a group of farmers in Ohio. They are part of a multi-state, four-university effort to discover how to increase conservation adoption on farms. Our farmer-led team is working to improve real-world, on-farm performance of conservation practices to ensure they better generate the outcomes – e.g. profitability, yield stability, and protection from extreme weather events – that farmers need.

To learn more about this project, visit: https://ftgup.org/.

Episode 173 – All in on Harvest Data – Part 2

We continue our discussion with Dr. John Fulton on how to increase the reliability of harvest data. This time we focus on the in-field practices. With bigger machines, it is getting more difficult to collect high res data. Tune in for recommendations on things such as how long passes should be and more to increase the quality of your yield data.

For more resources on harvest data, visit: https://digitalag.osu.edu/precision-ag/research-focuses/harvest-technologies.

Episode 171 – All in on Harvest Data – Part 1

Farmers write some big checks based on harvest data. How confident are you in the quality of that data? We’re getting into the weeds with Dr. John Fulton about how to ensure confident decisions can be made based on what is collected in the field this fall. In the first of this two part series, we talk about how yield measurements are collected in the combine, provide advice on calibration and discuss how unintentional mistakes can lead to big missteps with input decisions.

For more information on calibration, visit: https://digitalag.osu.edu/precision-ag/research-focuses/harvest-technologies.

Episode 165 – Which to plant first?

Each planting window brings the same question- Should I plant corn or soybeans first? Perhaps you have heard it referred to as the Battle for the Belt. Dr. Osler Ortez joins us for an update on his research based competition with soybean specialist Dr. Laura Lindsey to determine when the best windows are for planting corn and soybeans. They are also looking at where the largest yield losses occur when planting is delayed. These results can help farmers make decision on when to switch between corn and soybeans based on the calendar, maturity and conditions.

Follow updates on YouTube, the C.O.R.N. Newsletter and X (Dr. Ortez and Dr. Lindsey).

Episode 157 – eFields 2024

The 2024 eFields report is here! With 260 on-farm research sites across 42 counties, there is sure to be something of interest to everyone. In this episode, we highlight a few of the projects included in this year’s report.

To view the online version, visit: digitalag.osu.edu/efields. For a print copy, contact your local OSU Extension office or email digitalag@osu.edu.

To suggest topics for 2025, email Amanda at douridas.9@osu.edu and let us know what you want to hear about!