XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

The Importance of a Good Working Relationship with Your Banker

Lee Lubbers and his brother started farming when even established farmers had trouble getting loans. It was during the midst of the ’80’s farm crisis. The brothers scraped and toiled to keep improving their financial position — always paying their expenses before themselves. Even so, their relationship with their local bank deteriorated and they were cut loose and left without financing heading into spring. They scrambled, found money, and then went about finding a lender to be their business partner. They did so. Their operation has flourished in part due to a long term, working relationship with an Ag lender who also acted as mentor to Lee. Find out how to replicate their success here!
Sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems

Farming In The Path Of Progress

Oftentimes urban and suburban encroachment impacts farming operations as farm land is sold off for development. If you’re the fortunate owner who sells former farm property for 30- 50,000 dollars per acre, you simply have a tax problem. But what if you’re the tenant farmer? Where do you go to pick up acres to keep your operation rolling? Chad Henderson rented 1,200 acres 140 miles away to offset land lost to development. After two complete crop seasons farming from a distance, he offers his lessons on making it work.

21st Century Soil Sampling

In the old days you grabbed a few soil probes from an 80 acre field, sent it to a lab and considered yourself a proficient soil manager. Those days are done - or at least they should be. Soil is the most important resource in production agriculture. How you manage it determines your farm’s long term success. Robb Dedman of Ultimate Ag Consulting joins Matt Miles of Miles Farms to discuss their 21st century approach to monitoring, measuring, and managing their farm’s precious soil resource. They make recommendations, explain how they "decrease inaccuracies,” and — most of all — talk about the profit potential using modern, disciplined soil analysis.
Sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems

To Till Or Not To Till

Agriculture essentially began with humans tilling the soil. To say tillage has been around a while is an understatement — the bible references farmers being either a tender of the flock or a tiller of the soil. So, it stands to reason tillage is still around even in a world pushing no-till and regenerative practices. But when is the right time to cultivate your soil and is it doing more harm than good? Should you skip the tillage altogether? And what type of tillage equipment should you be using? Dan Luepkes of Chana, Illinois explains his concept on cultivation — when and why he does or doesn’t make the decision to turn the soil.
Sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems

Plant Growth Regulators Explained (with Teva Corporation)

Mark Coots, founder and CEO of Teva Corporation. That’s news to a lot of farmers who are still unfamiliar with the products 42 years after their alleged introduction. Mr. Coots and his plant biologist son, Caleb, join Kelly Garrett to explain PGR technology and the results farmers can attain when PGR’s are used in conjunction with other best farming practices.
Sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems

Drip Irrigation — How It Works & The Benefits Of It

In most of the corn and soybean growing regions, we envision center pivots when we think of irrigation. But in an Ag world impacted increasingly by environmental forces compelling us to till less and drastically reduce resource consumption, we may utilize more drip irrigation. Dan Luepkes explains the Netafim drip irrigation system he uses to set yield records on his Illinois farm. You’ll see command central, the distribution infrastructure, and head in field to see the results.
Sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems