XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

Farming Podcast | Is There Life Outside the Farm? | XtremeAg

In this candid episode of Cutting the Curve, Damian Mason hosts a roundtable with members of the next generation of agriculture—Alexander Evans, Connor “Vern” Garrett, Danielle Venable, Jackson Henderson, and Layne Miles—joined by Caleb Coots of TEVA Ag. The group shares how they balance personal time with the demands of farming [https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts/work-life-balance-young-farmers], how their identities are shaped by agriculture, and why building family traditions off the farm is as vital as yield goals. Topics include drag racing, falconry, parenting, mental health, generational expectations, and the pressure to embody the "farmer" identity 24/7. A thoughtful look into how young ag professionals are reshaping what it means to live and work in production agriculture today.   Presented by TEVA

Farming Podcast | Cotton Fertility Timing Trial | XtremeAg

In this episode of Cutting the Curve, host Damian Mason is joined by Matt Miles and agronomist Stephanie Zelinko to break down the results of a cotton fertility challenge [https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts/cotton-fertility-nutrient-timing] conducted in partnership with AgroLiquid. The trial, hosted on Matt's farm, tested three fertility programs designed by Matt, Kevin Matthews, and Kelly Garrett, each limited to a $50 foliar application budget with the goal of achieving 1,750 lbs (3.5 bales) per acre. Despite different application timings and nutrient mixes, all three programs yielded strong results, with Matt’s at 1,806 lbs, Kelly’s at 1,800 lbs, and Kevin’s at 1,724 lbs. The key differentiator was nutrient timing, especially consistent potassium and calcium delivery throughout the crop’s reproductive phase. The discussion emphasizes cotton’s high nutrient demands, the role of spoon-fed foliar treatments, and opportunities to trim costs without sacrificing yield by strategically managing application timing and product selection.

Farming Podcast | Are You Overspending On Crop Protection?

In this episode of Cutting the Curve, host Damian Mason is joined by Tennessee farmer Johnny Verell and Keith Miller from Albaugh to discuss how farmers can reduce unnecessary crop protection costs [https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts/reduce-crop-protection-costs] without compromising control. The conversation focuses on leveraging post-patent and rebranded legacy chemistries, improving input planning, addressing water quality factors like pH and hardness, and reevaluating fungicide, insecticide, and herbicide use based on agronomic need. As resistance grows and commodity prices stay low, the episode outlines practical, data-backed strategies to optimize input spend and maintain performance by returning to proven, cost-effective agronomic fundamentals.

Farming Podcast | Reduce Harvest Loss With Better Concaves | XtremeAg

In this episode of Cutting the Curve, Damian Mason talks with Todd Dale of Estes Concaves about optimizing harvest operations [https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts/reduce-harvest-loss-better-concaves]under variable and adverse field conditions. They discuss the agronomic and economic impacts of inconsistent moisture levels, disease pressure like tar spot and southern rust, and high-yield variability. Todd explains how upgrading to high-performance concaves—like the XPR series from Estes—can improve threshing efficiency, reduce mechanical grain damage, and significantly minimize harvest loss. He outlines how rotor loss, separator hours, and poor grain quality directly affect profitability and trade-in value. The conversation provides clear insight into how mechanical upgrades to combines can drive operational efficiency and protect margins during low commodity pricing cycles.   Presented by BASF

Farming Podcast | Double Crop Soybean Fertility Strategies | XtremeAg

In this Cutting the Curve episode, XtremeAg farmers Chad Henderson, Matt Miles, and Temple Rhodes, along with AgroLiquid agronomists Gabe Saxon and Stephanie Zelinko, explore fertility strategies for maximizing double crop soybean yields [https://www.xtremeag.farm/podcasts/double-crop-soybean-fertility-strategies]. Each team worked within a $40 foliar fertility budget, customizing nutrient programs based on specific field conditions and crop goals. Applications were timed at the R3 growth stage to align with fungicide passes and minimize additional fieldwork. Despite environmental constraints—especially heat and limited growing windows—participants pursued combinations of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and micronutrients. The trial aimed to evaluate which nutrients, if any, could consistently push yields beyond the common 60–70 bushel range and toward the elusive 80-bushel target in double crop soybean systems.