An eKonomics podKast featuring down-and-dirty agronomic science to help grow crops and bottom lines. Inspired by nutrien-eKonomics.com, farming’s go-to information resource, hear Mike break down the latest crop nutrition research and news- helping farmers make better business decisions through actionable insights. Let’s dig in.
4R Nutrient Stewardship is becoming more practical, more detailed and more adaptable to the way growers manage nutrients across different crops and regions.
In this episode, host Lyle Cowell is joined by Dan Heaney to explore how Fertilizer Canada's updated 4R Practice Guidance has evolved and what's changed in their latest update. They discuss the addition of best management practices for sulfur and potassium, new guidance for manure, newly highlighted practices that don't align with the 4Rs and expanded recommendations across different climates and crops.
Tune in for a look at how 4R Nutrient Stewardship guidance has evolved, including newly added best management practices for all four major fertilizer nutrients, why the framework and new updates matter and how the newest guidance can help put 4R principles into practice.
Succession planning can feel daunting and complex. With multiple people bringing different expectations to the table, it can be difficult to build a plan that fits everyone - which is why less than one in five farm families actually have a farm succession plan in place.
In this episode, host Amy Crozier sits down with Kevin Brooks, Farm Business Management and Marketing Educator with the University of Illinois, to explore the family dynamics that can make succession and estate planning difficult. They discuss how owners can establish clear goals, understand expectations and begin building a plan for their operation.
Kevin also shares practical steps families can take to get started and explains why clear and consistent communication can help prevent surprises, protect relationships and prepare everyone for what lies ahead.
Understanding your cost of production goes far beyond knowing what you spend on fertilizer.
In this episode, Amy Crozier is joined by Eric Olson and Warren Bills from MNP to break down the different elements that make up production costs in grain and why knowing your cost per bushel matters. From gross margins and production expenses to labor, machinery, land and financing, they explore what each piece means and how it can help growers make more informed decisions. They also discuss how agronomic planning and benchmarking can provide a clearer view of margins, the biggest cost drivers in grain today and the growing importance of field- and zone-level decision-making.
Tune in to learn what goes into cost of production and how a better understanding of your numbers can help guide decisions across your operation.
Understanding Nitrogen Loss Through Denitrification
August 18, 2026 26:43
Denitrification is one of the three main pathways for nitrogen loss, but what is it really, and how much nitrogen do we stand to lose?
In this episode, Lyle Cowell is joined by Dr. Erin Daly from the University of Guelph to break down denitrification and the conditions that drive nitrogen loss in the soil. They explore how nitrogen can be lost as nitrous oxide and nitrogen gas, what conditions drive losses and when they are most likely to occur.
Erin also shares how CanN₂ONet, a national research network, is helping us better understand nitrous oxide emissions across Canada. From field towers that measure emissions to research into regionally tailored best management practices, discover how the network is working to help growers improve nitrogen use efficiency and help reduce nitrogen losses across the country.
What can a crop built to last for generations teach us about planning for the seasons ahead?
In this episode, Dr. Karl Wyant is joined by Stephen Vasquez, executive director of the Administrative Committee for Pistachios and the California Pistachio Research Board, to explore the long-term agronomic planning behind pistachio production.
From orchard establishment and nutrient management to record keeping and harvest, they uncover how decisions made today can shape productivity for years to come. Stephen also shares how research and advances in production practices have improved pistachio yields and quality over time, and why nutrient budgets are essential for managing current and future production.
Tune in to discover what pistachios can teach you about planning ahead and managing today's crop with future seasons in mind.
Soil testing can be a valuable tool, but getting the most from it starts with understanding what you're measuring and how to interpret the results.
In this episode, Dr. Alan Blaylock is joined by University of Minnesota soil scientists Dr. Carl Rosen and Dr. Daniel Kaiser to separate fact from fiction when it comes to soil testing. Together, they discuss common soil test myths, what soil tests can and can't tell you, the science behind common soil testing methods and why research-backed calibration matters.
They also share practical recommendations for collecting the right samples, choosing the right test and interpreting results to support better nutrient management decisions.
Recorded live at Ag In Motion, Jason Newton returns to revisit the market outlook he shared earlier this year and uncover what could shape crop and fertilizer prices heading into fall.
Joining Amy Crozier, Jason breaks down the factors driving today's market conditions, from weather and tightening crop supply-and-demand balances to energy prices, geopolitics and global crop production. He also explores current market conditions across nitrogen, phosphate, sulfur and potash markets and what changing prices and supplies could mean for growers.
Tune in to hear what Jason is watching as we head into fall, including the potential yield impact of reduced nutrient applications, and how evolving market conditions could influence the rest of the season.
Eric Snodgrass is back to revisit the spring weather outlook he shared earlier this year and what the rest of the growing season could look like.
In this episode, he joins Amy Crozier to explore how weather patterns have evolved across North America and around the world. From shifting drought conditions to the rapid development of El Niño, Eric explains how the season has unfolded so far, what these changing patterns could mean in the months ahead and the key weather risks he's watching as we approach harvest.
Tune in to uncover expert insights that can help you better understand the patterns and conditions that could shape the rest of the season.
Your irrigation water plays a bigger role in your operation than you might think.
In this episode, Cory Broad joins Dr. Karl Wyant to explore why irrigation water should be treated as an agronomic input. They discuss how water quality can affect the performance of your irrigation system, why that matters for irrigation efficiency and fertigation and what a water sample can reveal about your operation.
Plus, learn why routine water sampling matters, what distribution uniformity means, how common issues can affect irrigation performance and why proper flushing is an important part of maintaining an efficient irrigation system.
When your soil pH becomes a concern, what options do you have?
In this episode, Dr. Antonio Mallarino joins Dr. Alan Blaylock to discuss practical approaches to managing soil pH and soil acidity. They explore how soil testing and grid sampling can help identify pH issues, the role of lime in managing soil acidity, the advantages and disadvantages of various lime sources, and how soil pH and buffer pH can be used to determine lime needs.
Plus, learn how to evaluate lime quality, whether it's economical to lower pH in high-pH soils and why gypsum is commonly misunderstood when it comes to soil pH management.
