<p>Low commodity prices and high interest rates are putting a squeeze on American farmers. A Better Way To Farm shows you how to maximize profit so you can farm the way you want! Visit https://abetterwaytofarm.com to use the free Farm Profit Score calculator.</p>
A crop can look healthy while still having hidden hunger. In this episode, Rod explains why tissue testing helps growers catch problems early and make better decisions before profit slips away.
Let’s walk through the best timing for tissue testing in corn and soybeans, common mistakes growers make, and how simple corrections can protect bushels this season. This episode is packed with practical advice you can use this season to improve efficiency, protect yield, and make every acre produce the best ROI possible.
In this episode, we cover:
Key Takeaways!
🌾 Waiting for yellow leaves is already too late.
🧪 Soil tests show potential. Tissue tests show reality.
📈 Small nutrient shortages can become expensive fast.
🚜 Better data leads to better profit.
Imagine walking in your field and it looks good, then later you see stress and start guessing. This episode shares why tissue testing helps you see what your plant needs right now so you can act early and protect your yield.
Soil may hold nutrients, yet your plant may not be using them. Stress, water, and root issues can block uptake. Your plant is your report card. Early testing gives you a chance to fix problems before they show up and cost you yield.
Keep it simple and make smart decisions in season. A small fix at the right time can protect a lot of yield and help your farm stay strong.
In this episode, we cover:
Surfactants can make or break your spray program. But with thousands of products on the market, many farmers are left wondering:
What actually matters?
What works?
And what is just adding cost and confusion?
In this episode, Rod breaks down the role surfactants play in:
• Pre-emerge applications
• Post-emerge spraying
• Foliar feeding
• Fungicide and insecticide passes
You’ll learn why different spray situations require different approaches and why “one-size-fits-all” products can sometimes create more problems than they solve.
Rod also explains:
• When an MSO is necessary
• Why water pH matters more than most farmers realize
• The real purpose of ammonium sulfate
• How anti-drift and anti-foam products work
• Why coverage on the underside of the leaf is critical
• How to improve chemical performance without wasting money
Plus, Rod shares a simple at-home test farmers can use to evaluate surfactant performance and the affordable tool he recommends every operation should have.
If you want better spray coverage, improved chemical performance, and stronger ROI from every pass across the field, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can use immediately.
Questions about surfactants or spray applications?
Text Karen at 641-919-5570 and the team at A Better Way to Farm will be happy to help.
Remember:
“Good enough is not a standard.”
And in tight-margin years, details matter more than ever.
New products can feel exciting and confusing at the same time. In this episode, we talk about enzymes, cobalt, and moly in a simple way. Learn how to stay smart, protect your money, and grow strong crops.
We focus on one big idea. Test before you invest. Start small. Learn what works on your farm. This helps you stay in control and build profit year after year.
What You’ll Learn:
Key Takeaway
You do not need every new product to win. You need the right plan. Test your soil. Start small. Watch your results. Keep what works. This is how strong farms grow and stay profitable for years to come.
In this episode, we share simple tools that make farming easier to understand. You do not need big textbooks. You can learn from short and easy guides that give real value.
These tools help you understand your soil, your crops, and your inputs.
We also show how small details matter. Nutrients, pH, and ratios can change your results. When you understand them, you make better choices.
You will hear how testing helps you:
This episode reminds you that simple knowledge leads to strong results.
What You’ll Learn:
Key Takeaways:
Moly and Cobalt are getting a lot of buzz right now. It sounds exciting. It feels like the next big win. However, this episode reminds you to slow down and make decisions that pay.
Soil testing gives you the right roadmap. Because nutrients can hurt your crop if used the wrong way or at the wrong time.
What You’ll Learn:
Key Takeaways:
You’re probably asking yourself right now…
Should you switch more acres to soybeans this year? It’s a fair question. Input costs are high. Margins feel tight. And soybeans look like the safer, cheaper option.
But here’s the truth…
Cheaper does not mean more profitable. In this episode, we break down how to actually decide if switching makes sense for your farm and more importantly how to make those soybean acres pay if you do. Because the goal isn’t to save money…
It’s to make more of it.
What You’ll Learn:
Key Takeaways:
• It’s not the crop, it’s execution.
• Soybeans only become more profitable when they’re managed for yield.
• Broadcasting nutrients is one of the biggest inefficiencies in your program.
• You don’t need more plants; you need better plants.
• Micronutrients are where yield is often gained or silently lost.
The Bottom Line
If you’re switching to soybeans just to save money… you’re already behind.
But if you have a plan to manage them for yield and ROI… there’s real opportunity.
Want Help Making the Right Call?
If you want to walk through your acres, your numbers, and your plan…
Text SOYBEANS to 641-919-5570.
We’ll help you build a system focused on one thing.
Farming today is not easy. Costs are up, weather shifts fast, and every decision carries more weight.
In this episode, we break down simple ways to get more out of every spray pass. It comes down to making better decisions with what you are already doing.
What You’ll Learn:
In this episode, we explore how farmers can improve crop performance by focusing on micronutrients. They play a major role in plant health, stress tolerance, and fertilizer efficiency.
We break down why guesswork falls short and how a smarter approach, built on soil testing and proper timing can turn wasted inputs into stronger yields.
What You’ll Learn:
Input costs are climbing. Markets are moving. Right now, every decision matters.
In this episode, Rod breaks down what’s really happening with nitrogen prices, shifting acres, and the noise coming from every direction telling you to try the next “silver bullet.”
This isn’t about reacting. It’s about making the best decision for your farm.
Because the choices you make this season don’t just impact this crop… they impact your long-term profitability.
Rod walks through real-world strategies to help you stay efficient, protect your nitrogen investment, and avoid the common mistakes that show up when pressure is high and margins are tight.
If your goal is to turn a profit this year, this is an episode you need to hear.
We cover: