A Year of Growth: Top 10 Crop Nutrition Learnings Of 2024
Season three of The Dirt podKast featured an exciting lineup of guests and agronomic experts—from farmers and soil specialists to agronomists and university professors—discussing the latest in crop nutrition research and news. We connected with specialists from across North America, Australia, and Trinidad, learning about their unique insights and experiences. This article summarizes the key crop nutrition learnings from our value-packed season.
A Year of Growth: Top 10 Crop Nutrition Learnings Of 2024
1. Protecting your nitrogen investment and preventing loss
Four different guests joined us throughout the season to discuss the importance of preventing nitrogen loss and how to manage this nutrient more effectively in the field.
In episode two, Nitrogen Nitty-Gritty: Maximizing Yield, Dr. Greg Schwab shared how he’s worked his entire career to help farmers more efficiently manage their nitrogen. “There’s a lot of different strategies that farmers can use to try to reduce nitrogen loss. Every pound of nitrogen that’s lost is nitrogen they paid for that they’re not going to get a benefit from. No farmer wants to lose nitrogen. Nitrogen loss can end up hurting your yields too, and that can be even more economically consequential.”
From controlled-release products like ESN, to best management practices that reduce loss, these episodes delivered the nitty-gritty on nitrogen management for a more strategic nutrient management plan:
Episode 26: Next on Nitrogen: Fall Applications and Smart Sources
Episode 36: Sulfur and Nitrogen, The Dynamic Duo
2. Understanding how varying soil conditions can affect crop production
The conditions of your soil are key to crop production. Factors such as soil salinity or subsurface moisture can limit plant growth, impede your ability to properly manage your soil, and affect your overall yield. In episode 16, Soil Secrets: Subsurface Moisture, we uncovered how these kinds of conditions can affect your crop and the way you manage your fertilizer. We also dug into the ways that you can address them.
Nutrien Senior Agronomist, Dr. Alan Blaylock, shared his insights: “Understand your local conditions and be realistic in what the outcome will be.” From selecting crops that can tolerate certain conditions to soil amendments and other products that can support soil health and crop production, we uncovered it all this season.
3. Highlighting the importance of sharing agriculture’s story
One of the biggest lessons to come out of 2024 is the need for education about the agriculture industry. In episode one, Bridging The Agriculture Perception Divide, Executive Vice President of Nutrien and President of Nutrien Ag Solutions, Jeff Tarsi, joined us to discuss the knowledge gap that exists around where food comes from and the desire that consumers have to know more about agriculture.
Jeff Tarsi shared: “Consumers are interested in knowing more about the farm and about how this production takes place. They want to know more about the inputs we are using. They want to know more about what we are doing as environmental stewards of the land. And that is highly encouraging.” Tune into the episode to learn about the importance of telling agriculture’s story—from industry advancements to sustainable practices.
4. Declining soil-potassium levels: Where has all the potassium gone?
National trends indicate that soil-potassium levels are declining across the country. In episode eight, Where Has All the Potassium Gone, we examined the value of this macronutrient in the field, beyond maximizing yields, and discussed what you can do to build up your potassium bank. Dr. Alan Blaylock shared: “We are removing more in our harvested crops than we’re applying to replace it. Soil fertility declines when that happens, and the obvious way to address that decline is to boost the level of potassium that we’re applying. But that’s oversimplistic. We need to look at the total management system. We need to look at crop rotations, changes in cultural practice, and a variety of other things.” Listen to the full episode to uncover the root causes behind declining potassium levels and the ways you can better manage this critical macronutrient.
5. Understanding sulfur’s role beyond the field
Sulfur is top of mind across North America as we continue to address sulfur deficiencies and declining soil sulfur levels. But sulfur’s role goes beyond the field. In episode 12, Sulfur: More Than Just Fertilizer, we talked about the value that sulfur provides to industries around the world—from the mining and chemical industries to energy and agriculture. Craig Jorgenson, president of The Sulphur Institute, shared: “In each one of these sectors, sulfur and sulfuric acid can be found.” Listen to the full episode to explore the importance of sulfur across different industries—from its role in battery production to pulp and paper manufacturing.
6. Interpreting and understanding soil test results
Soil testing is becoming increasingly popular in helping you better understand your soil and nutrient management plans. In episode 10, Put Your Soil Test to the Test, we shared practical advice for getting the most accurate results and interpretations—from what questions to ask your lab to the best steps for accurate testing.
Dr. Bryan Hopkins, a professor at Brigham Young University, shared: “It is a three-phase process when you’re going to do that. Number one, you have to have a good sample. The second thing is the laboratory doing a good analysis. The third thing is the interpretation. And there is a lot of room for discussion there, and there are a lot of philosophies out there…but that’s part of what you need to ask. What are you basing your recommendations on? You need to find a lab you are comfortable with.” Listen to the full episode to learn about the most important considerations to make when testing and analyzing your soil test results.
7. Customizing nutrient management plans for the perfect fertilizer blend
In episode five, Liquid Fertilizers: What’s In Your Mix, Dr. Karl Wyant shared his insights into the value of liquid fertilizers. He shared: “With liquid fertilizers, there’s almost an endless amount of customization. You can take a soil report or tissue report, and you can make the blend that is perfect for that field.” Explore precautions to take when mixing, how to test your own combinations, how to make a great plan, and the best place to reach out to when you have questions about nutrient management in the full episode.
8. Identifying the connection between mining and farming
In episode 35, Celebrating 65 Years of Potash Production, Nutrien Senior Vice President of Potash Operations, Trevor Berg, joined Mike Howell to celebrate 65 years of potash production in Saskatchewan, Canada. The episode revealed the connection between mining and farming and how community members in Saskatchewan work together in the mine to meet most of the world’s need for potash in agricultural production. “We have generations of family workers that have been working at the mine…about 3,400 people producing almost 14 million tons of potash to support farmers,” Trevor Berg shared in episode 35 of The Dirt podKast.
9. Fertilizing your lawn is about more than keeping it green
Is fertilizing your lawn all about keeping it lush and green? In episode three, Talking Turf: Why and How to Fertilize Your Lawn, we explored the importance of knowing what’s in your soil and the value of fertilizing your lawn and turf grass. Dr. Eric Miltner shared: “There are a lot of great reasons to fertilize your lawn. But it goes way beyond appearance. If you do a good job fertilizing your lawn, that’ll lead to using fewer herbicides, pesticides, and things like that because a good, healthy plant stand helps to outcompete weeds, tolerate insects and tolerate pests. In my mind, it all starts with a good fertilization program and judicious and responsible watering.” Listen to the full episode to explore the actions you can take to support the health of your lawn and turf grass.
10. Changing legislation: Policy is at the forefront of change in 2025
In episode nine, Decoding the Dicamba Dilemma, we walk through how legislation is changing access to agricultural amendments and paving the way for the future of agriculture. Dr. Tom Eubank, farm supervisor and agronomist at the Nutrien Innovation Farm, joined us in episode nine to discuss a recent court ruling that affected access to dicamba-based herbicides, the impact it will have and how you can get involved and voice your concerns. Dr. Eubank shared: “It’s in everyone’s interest to get involved in these discussions.” Learn more about changing policies, legislation and the Endangered Species Act this season:
Episode 25: The Ag Agenda: Policy Priorities For Farmers
Thank you to our dedicated listeners for tuning into the third season of The Dirt podKast. We are looking forward to season four in the new year as we continue to break down the latest crop nutrition learnings, research, and insights to help you grow crops and bottom lines. Have a topic you would like to hear us discuss next season? Submit your ideas today for a chance to have your questions answered on season four of The Dirt podKast.
