• Biochar

    Published on March 20, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 11 Episode 6: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator Monica Jean and MSU LTAR Associate Director Dr. Brook Wilke, sits down with Dr. Chris Saffron, Professor in Chemical Engineering, and Mike Person, Program Coordinator for Great Lakes Biochar Network (GLBN), to discuss how biochar can be made and used. www.canr.msu.edu/biochar/

  • Regenerative Principles

    Published on March 10, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 11 Episode 5: MSU Extension Educator Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak, sit down with Dr. Jason Rowntree, Animal Science Professor at MSU, to discuss regenerative principles that drive soil health practices.

  • Till vs No Till

    Published on February 17, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 11 Episode 4: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Dr. Sarah Cusser, Conservation Ecologist, to discuss conventional tillage compared to no tillage at the Kellogg Biological Station Long-term ecological research sites.

  • 2023 Farm Bill- What to Expect?

    Published on February 3, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 12 Episode 3: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Jon LaPorte sits down with Dr. Molly Sears, MSU Associate Professor of Agriculture Economics, to discuss 2023 Farm Bill expectations.

  • Farm Bill Crop Insurance

    Published on February 3, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 12 Episode 2: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Jon LaPorte sits down with Dr. Molly Sears, MSU Associate Professor of Agriculture Economics, to discuss insurance options in the Farm Bill.

  • ARC or PLC

    Published on February 2, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 12 Episode 1: This episode is sponsored by Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Jon LaPorte sits down with Dr. Molly Sears, MSU Associate Professor of Agriculture Economics, to discuss ARC or PLC program decisions.

  • Wheat is the Soil Health Advantage

    Published on January 28, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 11 Episode 3: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Dr. Laura Van Eerd, Professor at University of Guelph Ridgetown, to discuss increasing yield, profit and soil health through the use of cover crops and wheat.

  • Two Cents on Nutrient Biologicals

    Published on January 11, 2023
    In the Weeds Series 11 Episode 2: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Dr. Kurt Steinke, MSU Extension Specialist for Soil Science, to discuss biological success and failures for nutrients.

  • 2023 Row Crop Nutrient Management Considerations

    Published on December 21, 2022
    In the Weeds Series 11 Episode 1: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Dr. Kurt Steinke, MSU Extension Specialist for Soil Science, to discuss adjusting your row crop fertility program with cost in mind.

  • No More Nutrients Down the Drain

    Published on December 13, 2022
    In the Weeds Series 10 Episode 6: MSU Extension Educator Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak, sit down with Ehsan Ghane, Drainage Extension Specialist at MSU, and John Tuckerman, Row Crop Farmer in Lenawee County, MI, to discuss drainage research and on farm impacts to improve the environment and profitability.

  • Improving Profitability by Installing Conservation Practices Precisely

    Published on November 30, 2022
    In the Weeds Series 10 Episode 5: MSU Extension Educator Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak, sit down with Bruno Basso, Foundation Professor in Crop Modeling at Michigan State University, to discuss how to transform yield maps into decision making maps around the installation of conservation practices in historically low-yielding areas.

  • The Lady Beetle Apocalypse

    Published on November 16, 2022
    In the Weeds Series 10 Episode 4: MSU Extension Educator Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak, sit down with Christie Bahlai, Ecologist at Kent State University, to discuss research at the Kellogg Biological Station around insect population decline around field crop fields.

  • All There is to Know About Organic Matter!

    Published on November 4, 2022
    In the Weeds Series 10 Episode 3: MSU Extension Educator Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak, sit down with Christine Sprunger, Associate Professor of Soil Health at the MSU W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, to discuss organic matter and all its fine details.

  • Rural Storm Water

    Published on February 22, 2022
    In the Weeds Series 9 Episode 1: MSU Extension Environmental Management Educator Sarah Fronczak and Dr Steve Safferman, MSU Associate Professor in the Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, sit down with Sarah Hippensteel Hall, Manager of Watershed Partnerships for the Miami Conservancy District, to discuss the interconnection of agriculture and storm water infrastructure.

  • Should I Still be Applying the Full Rate of Fertilizer?

    Published on October 12, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 8 Episode 1: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Blake Vince, 5th generation farmer and Canadian Nuffeld Scholar, to discuss adjusting practices like weed control and nutrient management after implementing soil health practices.

  • Soil Analysis to Save the Bucks

    Published on July 23, 2021
    In this episode Sarah Fronczak, MSU Extension Environmental Educator sits down with Gabe Camp to talk about the use of soil testing and other analytical tools to increase efficiency in crop fields.

  • Flights of Fertilizers

    Published on July 5, 2021
    In this episode, Sarah Fronczak, MSU Extension Environmental Educator sits down with Jay Williams to talk about the use of drones for nutrient management.

  • Conservation for the Bottom Line

    Published on June 21, 2021
    In this episode, Sarah Fronczak, MSU Extension Environmental Educator sits down with Marc Hasenick to talk about Cover Crops and Prairie Strips.

  • Marketing 101

    Published on April 21, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 7 Episode 4: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean and Corey Clark, sit down with Angie Setzer, Vice President of Grain for Citizens LLC (Charlotte, MI) to get into the weeds on marketing grains.

  • Pretty Please Participate

    Published on April 21, 2021
    With Season 2 of In the Weeds coming to an end we are asking for your feedback! If you would please follow the link below and take 5 minutes to complete, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. Ideas and suggestions will be incorporated into Season 3. Thank you and happy listening https://msu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4OQpvULkOktUEKO

  • Carbon Market Craz

    Published on April 2, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 7 Episode 3 : MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean and Corey Clark sit down with Dr. Matt Gammans, Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Environmental Economics at MSU, to discuss carbon markets and its impact on farming.

  • Magic 8 Ball Reading: Market Outlook and Trade

    Published on March 29, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 7 Episode 2 : MSU Extension Educator Monica Jean sits down with Dr. Aleks Schaefer, Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Food Policy at MSU, to discuss the 2020/21 marketing year and current trade issues.

  • COVID Financial Relief & Farm Bill: Go Sign Up!!

    Published on February 10, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 7 Episode 1: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean, Jon LaPorte and Corey Clark sits down to discuss COVID financial relief programs farmers can apply for and Farm Bill updates.

  • Use of UAVs on the Farm: Dust Collector or Management Tool

    Published on February 3, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 6 Episode 5: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Eric Anderson sits down with Bob Goodwin, MSU RS & GIS Senior Geospatial Analyst, to discuss if UAVs are worth the investment for farmers.

  • The Art of Scouting

    Published on January 19, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 6 Episode 3: MSU Extension Field Crops Educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross, sits down with Chris DiFonzo, MSU Field Crops Entomologist, to explore what scouting is and how important it can be for a farming operation.

  • Rotation That's Anything but Boring

    Published on January 7, 2021
    In the Weeds Series 6 Episode 3: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sit down with Tim Boring, Farmer by Stockbridge, MI, to discuss how to incorporate in innovative practices like relay cropping.

  • Innovative forage systems

    Published on December 21, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 2: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Erins Burns and Kim Cassida, Weed Scientist and Forage Specialist at MSU, to discuss how changing up your forage rotation can help with management issues like manure application oppertunities.

  • Don't treat manure like $h*t

    Published on December 10, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 6 Episode 1: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Paul Gross sits down with Glen Arnold, Manure Nutrient Management Systems Field Specialist with OSU, to discuss how to better utilize manure through improved application techniques.

  • Saving soil: a farmer's perspective on cover crops

    Published on November 26, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 5: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Dan Ritter, Farmer in the thumb of Michigan, to discuss how cover crops work to save him money

  • Flushing phosphorus down the drain: tile lines and disoloved phosphorus

    Published on November 12, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 4: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Merrin McCrae, Researcher at the Univeristy of Waterloo, to discuss phosphorus transport and how that interacts with tile lines, cover crops and more!

  • Consumer opinion matters: markets and the pandemic

    Published on October 29, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 3: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Trey Malone, MSU Assistant Professor and Extension Economist, to discuss how consumer opinions impact Michigan markets.

  • Tracking Turds: Finding the Source of Contamination in Watersheds

    Published on October 16, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 2: MSU Extension educators Erica Rogers and Sarah Fronczak sits down with Aaron Snell, owner of Streamside Ecological Services Inc., to discuss Ecoli tracking in watersheds to resolve community feces contamination issues.

  • Myth-busting Phosphorus in Your Fields

    Published on September 30, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 5 Episode 1: MSU Extension educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronczak sit down with Chad Penn, Research Soil Scientist with USDA-ARS, to discuss how phosphorus behaves in the field and how farming practices can influence its fate.

  • Working Women, the Backbone of Family Farms

    Published on June 3, 2020
    This is a testimonial to the trials and tribulations as described by a working women in agriculture. Listen as she explains her supporting role, added stress of having an off-farm job, and how she maintains a healthy work life balance.

  • Can you help me with my cover crop?

    Published on May 26, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 4 Episode 5: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean, sits down with Dean Baas, MSU Extension Sustainable Agriculture Educator, to discuss 101 cover crop planning and how to get help with your cover crop.

  • What does this cover crop do for my farm?

    Published on May 6, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 4 Episode 4: Monica Jean, MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, sit down with Dustin Mulock, Farmer from Ontario, CA, to discuss biofences, companion cropping and nutrient management with cover crops.

  • One Canadian's Approach to Cover Crops

    Published on April 29, 2020
    In the Weeds Series 4 Episode 3: Monica Jean and Paul Gross, MSU Extension Field Crops Educators, sit down with Woody Van Arkel, Farmer from Ontario, CA, to discuss cover crops integration into his corn, soybeans, wheat and sugarbeet rotation.

  • In a Pickle with Specialty Crops and Cover Crops

    Published on April 21, 2020
    Series 4 Episode 2: Monica Jean and Paul Gross, MSU Extension Field Crops Educators, sit down with Nathan Clarke, farmer in Midland County, to discuss cover crops and conservation tillage practices with dry beans and pickles.

  • Cover Crops, Carryover and Termination

    Published on April 14, 2020
    Series 4 Episode 1: Monica Jean, MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, sit down with Christy Sprague, Weed Extension Specialist, to discuss cover crops and weed management.

  • Do's and Don'ts for Second-Year Hemp Growers

    Published on April 7, 2020
    Series 3 Episode 5: Eric Anderson, MSU Extension Educator, sits down with Mike Klumpp, owner of Ag Marvels in Shepherd, MI, to discuss hemp management for the experienced grower.

  • Now and Later Hemp Regulations

    Published on April 1, 2020
    Series 3 Episode 4: Monica Jean and Eric Anderson, MSU Extension Educators, sit down to discuss current and future hemp regulations that growers and processors should know.

  • Thinking Ahead: Critical Issues for First-Time Growers

    Published on March 26, 2020
    Series 3 Episode 3: MSU Extension Educator Eric Anderson sits down with Lori Whitmyer, hemp grower from Southwest Michigan, to discuss critical issues facing first time hemp growers

  • Hemp Pollination Considerations

    Published on March 18, 2020
    Series 3 Episode 2: Eric Anderson and Monica Jean, MSU Extension Field Crop Educator, sits down with James DeDecker, Director at the MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, to discuss pollination considerations for the 2020 season.

  • Lessons Learned from Lake Erie

    Published on March 17, 2020
    Series 2 Episode 5: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronzack sit down with Sarah Noggle, OSU Extension Educator, to discuss water quality issues and what Michigan Farmers can learn from Ohio.

  • Hemp Insurance Options

    Published on March 11, 2020
    Series 3 Episode 1: Eric Anderson, MSU Extension Field Crop Educator, sits down with David Colville, Insurance Agent at Colville Insurance, to discuss policy options for the 2020 hemp crop.

  • The Scoop on the Poop Power Up

    Published on March 1, 2020
    Series 2 Episode 4: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronzack sit down with Tess Van Gorder, Agriculture Ecology Department Specialist for the Michigan Farm Bureau, to discuss the use of on-farm digesters.

  • Innovative Online Tools for Conservation

    Published on February 14, 2020
    Series 2 Episode 3: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean, Sarah Fronzack and Erica Rogers sit down to discuss online tools and reflect on the difficulties related to manure management on farms.

  • Getting Down to the Business of Sustainability

    Published on February 4, 2020
    Series 2 Episode 2: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronzack, sits down with Tim Boring, MABA, and Tom Zimnicki, Michigan Environmental Council, to discuss private industry impacts on farming sustainability standards.

  • Clean and Clear Partnerships with Drain Officials

    Published on January 14, 2020
    Series 2 Ep 1: MSU Extension Educators Monica Jean and Sarah Fronzack, talk with Randy Dell, MI Nature Conservancy Ag Program Director, and Brian Wendling, Saginaw Co Public Works Commissioner, about a drainage partnership between counties and farmers.

  • The Modern Day Cover Crop

    Published on January 10, 2020
    Series 1 Episode 5: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean, sits down with Dean Baas, Sustainable Agriculture Educator, and Ricardo Costa, Field Crops Educator, to discuss the role cover crops should play in our rotations.

  • Soybeans, is Corn Still King?

    Published on December 26, 2019
    Series 1 Episode 4: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean, sits down with Mark Seamon, Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, and Mike Station, Field Crops MSU Extension Educator, to discuss the future of soybeans for Michigan Farmers.

  • The Progression of Bt Resistance

    Published on December 13, 2019
    Series 1 Episode 3: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean, sits down with Chris DiFonzo, MSU Field Crops Entomologist, to explore the progression of Bt resistance in field crops and the solution.

  • Is Farming Stressing you out?!?

    Published on November 26, 2019
    Series 1 Episode 2: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean sits down with Abe Pasch, Dairy Farmer and Isabella County Farm Bureau President and Paul Gross, MSUE Educator, to discuss the stresses of farming.

  • Marketing Through Mayhem

    Published on November 26, 2019
    Series 1 Episode 1: MSU Extension Field Crops Educator, Monica Jean, sits down with Angie Setzer, Vice President of Grain for Citizens LLC (Charlotte, MI) to pull back the curtains on marketing grain.