XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

Are nutrient regulations headed for American agriculture? Damian Mason sits down at The Granary table with Kelly Garrett, Todd Kimbrell, and Tommy Roach to dig into a topic farmers may want to get ahead of. From nitrate concerns in Iowa and Nebraska to phosphorus issues around Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay, the guys discuss why nutrient management is attracting more attention—and what future regulation could actually look like. Pounds-per-acre limits? Water monitoring? Application restrictions? More recordkeeping?
But regulation isn’t the only reason to rethink fertility. The conversation turns to nutrient use efficiency, cutting unnecessary nitrogen, drainage tile, soil mineralization, and the dollars that leave the farm every time nutrients leave the field.
Can farmers maintain yield while applying less—and could better nutrient management actually improve the bottom line? Pull up a chair. This one gets into the water, the soil, the regulations, and, naturally, a little manure.
This episode is presented by Nachurs.

Kelly Garrett is joined by Iowa's Lobe Rangers—Matt Bormann, Zack Smith, and James Hepp—to discuss what they call regenerative farming's third iteration: dramatically reducing synthetic nitrogen and phosphorus while maintaining yield and improving profitability. Moving beyond cover crops and no-till, the conversation explores on-farm nitrogen trials, nutrient management strategies, Iowa State research on reducing nitrate loss, and the emerging opportunities surrounding the 45Z tax credit. The group emphasizes that reducing fertilizer inputs is first and foremost a business decision that can improve return on investment while delivering environmental benefits as a byproduct.

Reducing synthetic nitrogen is becoming increasingly important as the USDA's updated 45Z carbon intensity calculator places greater weight on nitrogen use. XtremeAg is testing how far nitrogen rates can be reduced while maintaining yield through on-farm trials featuring Agricen's N-FINITY. Kelly Garrett is evaluating nitrogen programs ranging from 140 to 45 pounds per acre. The combination of lower fertilizer costs and potential 45Z tax credit eligibility makes nitrogen efficiency one of the biggest financial opportunities for corn growers.

Many farmers focus on maximizing crop yields, but far fewer realize their farm business structure could affect how much they receive from USDA safety net programs. In this episode, Kelly Garrett sits down with Jared Creed of JC Ag Financial Services to discuss the changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill, including the new $155,000 payment limitation per eligible individual for ARC and PLC programs. They explain how entity structure, C corporations, and ownership arrangements can impact government payments, why larger farming operations should review their eligibility, and what producers need to know before the mid-July deadline.

In this episode of XtremeAg’s Cutting the Curve, Damian Mason interviews agronomist Mike Evans of Calibrated Agronomy about the importance of R-stage fertility management in corn and soybeans. The discussion focuses on why growers should reserve part of their fertility budget for reproductive growth stages, when nutrient demand is highest and yield potential can still be influenced. Evans explains the value of sap analysis for identifying nutrient deficiencies, discusses timing considerations for corn and soybean fertility applications, highlights key nutrients such as potassium, boron, sulfur, and zinc, and outlines practical application methods including aerial, drone, ground rig, and pivot fertigation. The conversation emphasizes measuring results, adapting programs to local conditions, and making informed fertility decisions that improve yield and profitability.

USDA has released key guidance for the 45Z Clean Fuel Tax Credit, bringing farmers closer to receiving payments for regenerative farming practices. Ryan Pearcy of ARVA joins XtremeAg founder Kelly Garrett to explain how ethanol and biodiesel plants can reduce their carbon intensity (CI) scores by sourcing grain from farmers using practices such as no-till, cover crops, and reduced synthetic fertilizer. Farmers who qualify could see an estimated $30–$40 per acre in additional value, with even greater opportunities for operations that already have low CI scores. While Treasury must still finalize implementation rules, producers are encouraged to calculate their carbon intensity score now through the USDA FDCIC.
Click Here to Find Your CI Score with the USDA's Calculator

Damian Mason and Art Graves of Vive Crop Protection discuss how farmers can manage fungicide, fertilizer, fuel, and financial pressure without sacrificing crop performance. The episode covers fungicide timing, planting-time decisions, V5 applications, disease risk from residue and soil pathogen load, and ways to reduce input costs while protecting yield potential.

This episode explains how Section 180 of the tax code may allow farmers and landowners to deduct a portion of soil fertility value from taxable income after buying or inheriting farm ground. Gunnar Bodvarsson and Austin Koch of Earth Optics join Damian Mason to outline the information required, including soil data, purchase details, and agronomic analysis, and explain how a report can be used by a CPA to support the deduction.

Agronomist Jared Cook of Calibrated Agronomy discusses why profitable crop production starts with healthy plants rather than reactive crop treatments. He explains that strong soil biology, balanced fertility, and proper water management allow crops to resist stress and disease naturally, reducing the need for costly inputs. Cook emphasizes that farmers should move beyond symptom-based agronomy and instead use a complete agronomic toolbox focused on plant health from the soil up. He shares an example from an Idaho dairy farm that spent heavily trying to correct crop problems with inputs before discovering that improving plant health fundamentals provided a far more cost-effective solution.

Soybean nematodes remain a major and often underdiagnosed source of yield loss, especially in fields with heavy Root-Knot Nematode pressure. In this episode, Matt Miles discusses the scale of the problem in Arkansas, the limits and costs of traditional nematicides, and why he is now applying Averland FC in-furrow on all at-risk soybean acres after using it on corn and soybeans the past two years. Speaking with Damian Mason and Vive Crop Protection’s George Huckabee, Miles explains that even with mitigation, severe infestations can still cost 5 to 7 bushels per acre, while unmanaged pressure can cut yields dramatically.