Sometimes better farming starts with one simple decision: be willing to change.

In this episode, we sit down with an Iowa farmer who grew up farming the traditional way. As he started managing his own ground, he began exploring no till, cover crops, and a different approach to fertility. The results gave him plenty of reasons to keep going.

What You'll Learn:

✓ How changing fertility practices helped improve farm yields

✓ Why no till and cover crops can improve soil structure and water infiltration

✓ How liquid fertility can complement a soil health system

In this episode, we talk about upcoming field days and why hands on learning matters so much. We share what farmers can see in the field, from liquid fertilizer systems and drones to root pits, soil testing, and real-world crop trials.

What You'll Learn:

• How deep roots can access nutrients beyond the normal soil sample
• Why field trials can reveal lessons for the next crop
• How better nutrient management can improve efficiency and long-term soil health

Sometimes the biggest test isn't choosing between right and wrong. It's choosing between something good and what God has called you to do.

In this episode, Rod walks us through Numbers 32 and the story of Reuben and Gad, who found good land and wanted to settle there before reaching the Promised Land.

A farm is more than acres and equipment. It is a business, a family, and a legacy.

In this episode, Rod sits down with Kayla to talk about growing up in the family business, the lessons that shaped her, and what it takes to build a stronger future for farmers and their families.

So, how do you create enough opportunity for the next generation to come home?

The message is simple: you don't have to follow someone else's blueprint. Find what works for your farm, your family, and your future.

What You'll Learn:

• Why every job on the farm and in the business matters
• How education and leadership can strengthen a farm business
• Why adding revenue streams can create opportunities for the next generation

High input costs, high interest, and uncertain markets are putting more pressure on farmers than ever. So how do you protect the farm when you can't control the price of grain, the weather, or interest rates?

You start with what you can control.

In this episode, Rod challenges farmers to stop relying on "plant and pray" and start looking closely at what each input is doing for the farm. The goal isn't simply to grow more bushels. 

It's to grow profitable bushels.

What You'll Learn:

• Why chasing yield alone doesn't guarantee profit
• How knowing your numbers can change farm decisions
• How small decisions today can help protect the farm for the next generation

Every season brings a new list of products promising bigger yields. They sound impressive. The real question is simple: will it make you money?

In this episode, Rod encourage farmers to look past the marketing and dig into the numbers. He explains why field days, soil testing, and real field results can help farmers make better decisions for 2027.

What You'll Learn:

• Why there is no one silver bullet for higher yields
• How to question new products before spending money
• How field days and grower results can lead to better ROI

Farming is more than raising a crop. It's building a business that can support your family today and for generations to come.

In this episode, we sit down with Illinois farmer and banker Isaac to discuss farming from both sides of the table. We talk about improving return on investment, making better input decisions, and why lenders value farmers who have a clear plan for improving profitability.

What You'll Learn:

• What lenders look for when evaluating farm operations
• How better input decisions improve ROI

The markets are looking stronger, and advice is coming from every direction. It can be hard to know what is worth your money and what is just another sales pitch.

In this episode, Rod shares why every product is not right for every field or every growth stage. He explains how reading the label, understanding your crop, and making informed decisions can protect your wallet and improve your profits.

What You'll Learn:

• How to avoid spending money on products that do not fit your crop stage
• What to look for before adding products to your spray pass

Key Takeaway!

🌱 The best results come from using the right product at the right time.

The finish line matters just as much as the starting line. A strong crop can still lose yield if late-season nutrition is ignored.

In this episode, we discuss how soil testing, tissue testing, and targeted foliar nutrition help farmers make the right decisions during the final stages of the growing season. We explain why guessing with nutrients costs money, how to support crops through pollination and grain fill, and why healthy plants are better equipped to handle disease.

What You'll Learn:

• Why tissue testing takes the guesswork out of late-season nutrition
• Which nutrients matter most during pollination and grain fill
• How healthy crops are better equipped to fight disease

Key Takeaway!

🌱 The best harvests aren't left to chance. They're built by making good decisions all season long, especially in the fourth quarter.

There are no shortcuts to building a profitable farm. The biggest gains often come from understanding your soil, making smarter decisions, and improving a little every season.

In this episode, a Minnesota farmer discuss the lessons he learned from years of testing, field trials, and education. From breaking compaction and improving soil health to fine-tuning nitrogen, tissue testing, and late-season nutrition, we explain why strong fundamentals continue to outperform guesswork.

What You'll Learn:

• Why healthy soil is the foundation of higher yields
• How split nutrient applications improve crop performance
• Why soil and tissue testing remove the guesswork

Key Takeaways!

🌱 Remove limiting factors before expecting higher yields.

🚜 The best farms aren't built on one product. They're built on knowledge, consistency, and a willingness to keep learning.

In this episode, one Wisconsin farmer shares how moving from a one-size-fits-all fertility program to field-specific nutrient management transformed his operation. Through soil testing, tissue testing, foliar feeding, and a focus on micronutrients, he pushed his soybean yields from 75 to 97 bushels while building a system designed for long-term profitability.

His story is a reminder that better yields start with better management, and every season is another chance to improve.

What You'll Learn:

• Why tissue testing improves in-season decisions
• How field-specific fertility helps break yield plateaus
• How foliar feeding boosted soybean performance

Key Takeaways!

🌱 Every field should be managed based on its own needs.

🚜 Investing in the right nutrients pays when they're backed by data.

Foliar feeding can boost yields, yet small mistakes can do more harm than good. In this episode, we break down how to avoid crop burn.

What You'll Learn:

• Why temperature, humidity, and timing matter
• How application overlap and tank mixes affect crop safety
• Best practices for crop staging and foliar applications

Key Takeaways!

🌱 Foliar feeding works best when conditions are right.

🚜 Precision application protects both yield and crop health.

Every year, farmers hear about the next product that's supposed to change everything. Things like amino acids, enzymes, and biologicals. The promises can sound exciting, but the results are what matters.

In this episode, Rod takes a closer look at the science behind amino acids and enzymes. He explains why crops need balanced nutrition before any specialty product can deliver real value. Instead of chasing shortcuts, build a strong foundation first.

Good agronomy isn't about buying more products. It's about making every input earn its place.

What You'll Learn:

• Why healthy plants make their own amino acids
• How balanced nutrition supports enzyme activity
• Why the fundamentals should come before specialty products

Key Takeaways!

🌱 The best farm investments are backed by research, not marketing.

🚜 Don't chase trends before mastering the fundamentals, and

🌱   Ask why a product works before deciding to buy it.

Today we talk with an Illinois farmer about how small changes lead to big results. From soil and tissue testing to spoon-feeding nutrients throughout the season, Brent shares how managing every field based on its individual needs has improved yields, forage quality, and profitability.

Success doesn't come from guessing. It comes from learning, testing, and making better decisions.

What You'll Learn:

• Why every field deserves its own game plan
• Why micronutrients can unlock hidden yield potential
• How soil and tissue testing remove the guesswork

Every acre you spray starts with water. If your spray water has the wrong pH, it can reduce the effectiveness of herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides before they even reach the field. In this episode, Rod explains why testing water pH is one of the easiest ways to improve spray performance.

Learn why water quality matters, how the right acidifier can protect your investment, and why a small step before spraying can save you money and improve weed control all season long.

What You'll Learn:

• Why spray water pH affects chemical performance
• How acidifiers help protect active ingredients
• How proper water management can improve weed control and reduce resistance

Key Takeaways!

🌱 High pH water can reduce the effectiveness of many crop protection products.

🚜 A quality acidifier can protect your spray investment and improve weed control.

Yellow soybeans after a glyphosate application may seem like a temporary problem, yet the yield loss can be very real. In this episode, Rod explains what causes yellow flash, why manganese plays a critical role, and how farmers can reduce stress on their soybean crop.

You'll hear real-world examples, research insights, and practical strategies that can help protect yield potential and improve profitability with a simple addition to your spray program.

What You'll Learn:

• What causes yellow flash in soybeans after glyphosate applications
• How reducing crop stress can protect yield potential
• Why manganese is essential for healthy soybean growth

Key Takeaways!

• Fully chelated manganese is important for compatibility and effectiveness.
• Every management decision either creates stress or helps the crop overcome stress.
• Yellow flash can reduce soybean productivity and may cost valuable bushels.
• Small investments in stress mitigation can lead to significant returns at harvest. 🌱🚜

Foliar feeding has been debated for years. Some farmers swear by it. Others are not convinced. So what separates success in Foliar Feeding from disappointment?

In this episode you’ll hear from farmers across the Midwest using foliar feeding in corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. From consistent yield increases to improved crop performance across every acre, they explain what worked on their farms and why.

If you have ever wondered whether foliar feeding is worth it, this episode gives you the roadmap.

What You'll Learn:

• Why tissue testing is essential
• Common mistakes that cause foliar feeding to fail
• The only growth stages to spray at

Key Takeaways!

🌾 Foliar feeding is about applying the right nutrients, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.

What if micronutrients are more than tools for growing bigger crops…What if they play a major role in building stronger soil biology?

In this episode of A Better Way to Farm, Andrew sits down with farmer and researcher Curt to talk about how micronutrients influence the living system beneath your feet. 

This episode goes beyond yield and focus on creating healthier, more efficient system that works for years to come.

What You'll Learn:

• Why zinc, manganese, and boron are critical for soil biology.
• How micronutrients support soil microbes and nutrient cycling.
• Why testing should guide every fertility decision.

Key Takeaways!

🌾 Micronutrients help power the microbes that recycle nutrients, break down residue, support root growth, and improve efficiency across the farm.

🧪 The goal is not to apply more products. The goal is to understand what your field needs through proper testing and then make informed decisions that build both soil health and profitability.

Boron might be one of the most overlooked nutrients in agriculture, and it could be quietly stealing yield from your operation. In this conversation, Rod breaks down why boron plays a much bigger role than most farmers realize and why focusing only on N, P, and K may be leaving profitability behind. 

You’ll learn why boron impacts pollination, root growth, sugar movement, nutrient uptake, and stress tolerance. Rod also explains why timing matters more than simply applying more product and why split applications consistently outperform large single applications. 

In this conversation, we cover:

• Why boron is critical for crop performance

• How boron affects phosphorus and potassium uptake

• Why split applications win

• The danger of waiting for visual deficiency symptoms

• How foliar feeding strategies impact ROI

If your soil test does not include boron levels, this episode may change how you look at fertility planning moving forward.  

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:

• Why crops can lose yield even before you see a deficiency
• The key growth stages when tissue testing matters most
• How tissue testing helps protect profit instead of reacting too late

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.