Pods of Potential

Summer check-in: Crop conditions, agronomy research and cover crops | Pods of Potential Episode 32

It's officially summer, and soybeans are growing fast across Iowa! In this episode, ISA Research Agronomist Shane Beck and Conservation Agronomist Brock Webb provide an in-season update on crop conditions and share what farmers should be scouting for as July approaches. They also discuss potential challenges that could emerge as the growing season progresses.   You'll hear the latest from research trials monitoring corn rootworm pressure and exploring sulfur's impact on soybean production. Plus, get an update on the Farmers for Soil Health program and how it is helping farmers implement in-field conservation practices through $35-per-acre incentives for both new and existing cover crop acres.

What does tile monitoring say about water quality? | Pods of Potential Episode 31

Farmers across Iowa are turning to water monitoring to evaluate nutrient efficiency and enhance water quality. In this episode of Pods of Potential, Iowa Soybean Association Water Lab Service Manager Tony Seeman and Heartland Co-op Strategic Partnership Coordinator Thomas Fawcett discuss how water monitoring helps farmers determine if current management practices are effective and identify conservation practices that may reduce nutrient loss. Explore how Iowa farmers, commodity groups and ag retailers are working together through Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance to enhance water quality across the state using water monitoring results.

Does policy impact conservation and vice versa? | Pods of Potential Episode 30

Protecting soil health and water quality is a priority for Iowa farmers. But what role do public policy and checkoff-funded research play in conservation adoption? In this episode of Pods of Potential, ISA Chief Officer of Demand and Advocacy Matt Herman, Story County farmer Dave Struthers and Iowa State University Professor Michael Castellano discuss the impacts of corn stover removal and conservation practices on Iowa's farming landscape and policy arena. Explore conservation from multiple perspectives: the research behind it, a farmer’s why behind implementing it and the policies that shape it. Learn how in-field agronomic benefits, policy incentives and research findings influence how farmers adopt conservation practices. This episode of Pods of Potential is partially funded by the soybean checkoff.

How conservation practices enhance your tile system | Pods of Potential Episode 29

Farmers across Iowa use tile systems to drain excess water from their farm fields. But did you know tile drainage can be paired with a buffer strip to enhance water quality? Iowa Soybean Association Conservation Agronomist Alex Logan joins Jake Luft and John Alhers of Luft & Sons Farm Drainage Solutions to explain how conservation practices can work alongside pattern tiling. They walk through simple, cost-effective water quality practices and how they help remove nitrates from the water leaving your field tile.

Cutting input costs with confidence | Pods of Potential Episode 28

When every bushel counts, inputs need to generate a return on investment. Explore ways to reduce input costs for greater margins as Clay County farmer Paul Kassel and ISA Technical Insights Manager Rosie Koch share findings from checkoff-funded fungicide, sulfur and seeding rate research trials. Learn how unbiased, farmer-led research can guide your 2026 growing season decisions in this episode of Pods of Potential and the latest edition of the RCFI Insights Report.