Upon Further Review

The Podcast for Ag Spectrum Associates

Farm Manager Consultant and Host, Pat Tomlinson, covers topics that are top-of-mind throughout each season. With the help of expert guests, he provides insight to help Ag Spectrum Associates bring value to their customers.

March 22, 2024

Discovering Air-Water Balance

Ag Spectrum has a large network of researchers and experts who are available as resources to Associates. One of these researchers, Dr. Darrell Norton, is a longtime Technical Consultant with the company.

As the inaugural Director and Research Soil Scientist for the USDA-ARS Natural Soil Erosion Research Laboratory, Dr. Norton led the first research on soil erodibility, surface sealing, and compaction. One of his greatest discoveries was utilizing gypsum to increase air-water balance in soil.

Listen as Dr. Norton discusses his research, career, and his perspective on seeing the Maximum Farming System develop.

February 23, 2024

Wheat Nutrition After Dormancy

Timing of the Maximum Farming System nutrition for winter wheat can make or break a crop.

Pat Tomlinson talks with Ag Spectrum Agronomist Dr. Jim Smart about the timing to apply either Clean Start, Kick-Off and GroZyme, or PT-21, Score, and GroZyme, as wheat comes out of dormancy. They also discuss the need to follow those treatments with nitrogen ten days to two weeks later.

February 12, 2024

How the System Avoids Nutrient Stratification Issues

Nutrient Stratification is an issue that has received an increasing amount of attention in farm press recently. Usually, it is characterized as being a consequence of no-till or reduced tillage systems.

How should Ag Spectrum Associates be thinking about the issue of nutrient stratification, both generally and more specifically on farms using the Maximum Farming System?

Dr. Brian Gardener joined “Upon Further Review” podcast host Pat Tomlinson to answer this question.

December 28, 2023

Invite Customers and Prospects to Webinar

Have you registered for the January 8th webinars? If you need something to further entice you, check out this episode.

This week, District Sales Manager Greg Vincent shares what will be covered during each webinar and how associates can leverage the public webinar to interact with customers and prospects.

December 8, 2023

Presenting Maximum Farming Reports

In a recent Red Zone article, Dr. Brian Gardener walked through how yields are depicted in Maximum Farming Reports and how to interpret those in grower discussions. “Upon Further Review” host Pat Tomlinson expands on this topic in the latest podcast episode.

Research & Teaching Agronomist Dr. Jim Smart joins Pat to discuss how Associates can review their customers’ reports and be ready to clearly present that information to the farmer.

November 10, 2023

What You Need to Know About Micronutrients

In recent episodes, guests joined our host Pat Tomlinson to cover how the Maximum Farming System recognizes and satisfies crops’ needs for the big three macronutrients – N, P, and K.

To continue this effort, but on a finer scale, Research & Teaching Agronomist Jim Smart joins Pat from La Harpe, Kansas to discuss how the System addresses needs for micronutrients.

Included in the conversation is a deep dive into the package of micronutrients Ag Spectrum recommends at planting with Kick-Off and through foliar with Score, as well as how those rate recommendations are determined.

October 13, 2023

Nitrogen is Necessary

In previous episodes, our host Pat Tomlinson and guests reviewed that phosphorus and potassium are often built up in the soil and need to be made available to the crop. Nitrogen, however, is different.

While healthy soil provides some nitrogen for plants’ use through mineralization, it is still a necessary crop input for corn every year it is grown.

District Sales Manager Greg Vincent joins Pat this week to dive into nitrogen management.

October 6, 2023

Don’t Get in a Bind With Phosphorus

There is enough Phosphorus in the soil for many generations to come. Instead of worrying about the amount of P in their soil, farmers should focus on promoting a healthy soil environment for that P to be available to plants.

In the latest podcast episode, Ohio District Manager Trevin Sears sits down with Pat Tomlinson to discuss how Clean Start in the Maximum Farming System slows the calcium-phosphorus binding process down to keep P available to seedlings longer. They also share tips on explaining key phosphorus management points to farmers.

September 20, 2023

Most Fields Don’t Need Dry K Supplemented – Why?

Indiana District Sales Manager Erik Larson joins our host Pat Tomlinson to review one of the key aspects of the Maximum Farming System, potassium management.

Potassium is not only an essential nutrient, but also one of the big three macronutrients that receive a lot of focus in the agriculture fertility industry.

Starting out from a 30,000-foot level then focusing down to the finer details, Erik and Pat share how the System addresses crop potassium need.

August 18, 2023

Learn from a Fresh Set of Eyes, or Two

Those who have been with Ag Spectrum for a while may benefit from the different perspective a fresh set of eyes can provide from time to time.

District Sales Managers, Shane Frantum (Iowa) and Dustin Warf (Illinois), joined the Ag Spectrum team during the last year from the conventional ag supply industry. They both have a unique perspective on how the company looks to someone coming from mainstream ag, but also now have the experience of understanding Ag Spectrum from the inside.

Learning from their thoughts and experiences can make everyone more effective in their roles representing Ag Spectrum and the Maximum Farming System®.

Listen as Shane and Dustin share why they chose to come to Ag Spectrum.

July 28, 2023

Moving on to Service Check 4

Service Check 3 is due in a couple of weeks on August 15th, which means you should be moving on to Service Check 4 for the season.

The goals of Service Check 4 are:

  1. Show your clients you are there
  2. Set expectations for harvest
  3. Share how the System has contributed to root growth and yield up to this point
  4. Evaluate any disease pressure
  5. Discuss fall soil sampling, input application, and cover crops
  6. Schedule meeting for Service Check 5 annual review and planning

Listen to the latest episode where Dr. Jim Smart, Ag Spectrum Research & Teaching Agronomist, and our host Pat Tomlinson share tips on how to approach Service Check 4 to achieve the best result with your customers.

July 20, 2023

Cover Crop Thoughts

While we are in the middle of the cash crop growing season, now is a great time to start thinking about cover crop programs. There are many factors that come into play when selecting a cover crop program. It’s critical to understand how the conditions throughout the prior season will affect the potential benefits of a cover crop.

Delk Crosier, Maximum Farming System Implementation Specialist, shares his thoughts on successfully integrating cover crops for improved erosion control, weed control, nutrient efficiency, and overall soil health.

June 23, 2023

Corn Foliar Season is Approaching

As planting, emergence, and the early growth stages of corn wrap up, Ag Spectrum Technical Director Dr. Brian Gardener joins Pat to discuss the approaching foliar season. Listen as they go through common questions associates receive and how to best support the crop during this time.

June 21, 2023

Soybean Foliar in Dry Conditions

The season continues to progress and crops continue to grow. Before you know it, we will be into foliar season. Soybean foliars greatly improve the plant’s ability develop and fill pods, creating more harvestable yield.

Listen as host Pat Tomlinson and Dr. Jim Smart, Research & Teaching Agronomist, discuss how to ensure your customers get value from foliar applications, even in dry conditions.

June 1, 2023

Ugly Corn Stage

A phrase we’ve come to hear the last ten to fifteen years, “Ugly Corn Stage”.

What does it mean? When does it happen? How can we better support the crop through it?

Dr. Jim Smart, Research & Teaching Agronomist answers these questions and more in the latest Upon Further Review podcast episode.

May 30, 2023

Foliars for Early Stress

It’s time to start planning for foliar treatments.

Research and Teaching Agronomist Dr. Jim Smart offers tips and advice on foliar timing and placement.

May 5, 2023

Preparing for Service Check 2

To be seen differently by our customers, we have to be different. Service Checks provide that time with the farmer to nurture that relationship and ensure they have a successful season.

Service Check 2 is the time to assess early establishment of the crop, discuss how planting went, and look ahead to the rest of the season to maximize results. Host, Pat Tomlinson, and Research & Teaching Agronomist, Dr. Jim Smart, share how to get prepared before heading out to the field with your customers.

April 14, 2023

Alleviate Herbicide Carryover

Farms that experienced drought-like conditions last year are vulnerable to herbicide carryover this growing season.

Our host Pat Tomlinson sits down with Research & Teaching Agronomist Dr. Jim Smart to discuss which herbicides likely stick around if it’s too dry, and how to alleviate potential problems.

April 7, 2023

When to Start Planting

One of the most challenging springtime decisions: when to start planting. Correctly judging when conditions are right to plant can be difficult for farmers who try to evaluate day-to-day soil temperatures, weather forecasts, calendar date, and many other factors that are tough to ignore.

Dr. Brian Gardener, Technical Director, joins Pat Tomlinson to share the most important factors to have in place before planting.

March 23, 2023

Don’t Let Unknown Seed Quality Affect the System

Maximum Farming System® customers know that a successful growing season starts with the soil. But even with the most fertile and healthy soil, the quality of the seed can cause substantial issues. Evaluating seed germination before it goes into the ground can save customers time and money. It also ensures farmers don’t misdirect their focus onto inputs when the seed itself was the problem.

In order to provide this clarity, many associates have taken advantage of Ag Spectrum’s facilitation of both the submission of seed samples to Professional Seed Research Inc. (PSR), as well as the delivery of results back from PSR through Dealer Tools.

Robert Johnson, Vice President of Operations at PSR, joins our host to explore how seed germination assessment by a qualified, independent source can save farmers from potential headaches this season.

March 9, 2023

Spring Cover Crop Management

Transitioning from spring cover crop to cash crop must be done in a way that reaps as much benefit from the cover crop as possible, while prioritizing the cash crop’s needs. Dr. Jim Smart, Ag Spectrum Research & Teaching Agronomist joins Pat to dive into concerns farmers who are beginning to establish cover crop programs on their farms may have.

February 24, 2023

Provide Value with Maximum Farming Reports

Maximum Farming Reports enable Associates to sit down with farmers and give them a better understanding of their soils in order to make practical management decisions. Kent Hostetler, an Ag Spectrum dealer near Maquoketa, IA uses these reports to provide significant value to his customers. Listen as Kent gives his top tips for leveraging these reports with farmers.

February 10, 2023

What the Salt Index Really Means

While the salt index is only one measure of risk plants face during a growing season, it is important to know the impact it could have on crops. Technical Director Dr. Brian Gardener and our host Pat Tomlinson discuss why Associates should be knowledgeable about the salt index of Ag Spectrum products, and how to alleviate any customer concerns.

January 6, 2023

Area Manager Places 2nd in State Yield Contest

Brad Love, Ag Spectrum Area Manager in Michigan, was awarded second place for his state in the National Corn Growers Association’s 2022 Corn Yield Contest no-till, non-irrigated division. He harvested a yield of over 273 bushels to the acre by following his Maximum Farming recommendations to a tee.

Brad sat down with Pat Tomlinson to discuss how he got involved in the contest and the credibility he has gained with prospects since placing second.

December 30, 2022

Selling a System, Not a Product

New products advertised as “silver bullets” have flooded the agriculture input industry. How should you as associates communicate the value of the Maximum Farming System through all of the noise in the marketplace?

Host Pat Tomlinson chats with District Sales Manager Greg Vincent about getting the message of a system-based approach across to farmers.

December 2, 2022

Common Soil Testing Questions – Part 2

With harvest 2022 behind us, Ag Spectrum Technical Director Dr. Brian Gardener sits down with Pat to answer some common soil testing questions they receive from farmers and associates in the field. This is part two of a two-part discussion.

November 18, 2022

Common Soil Testing Questions – Part 1

With harvest 2022 behind us, Ag Spectrum Technical Director Dr. Brian Gardener sits down with Pat to answer some common soil testing questions they receive from farmers and associates in the field. This is part one of a two-part discussion.

November 3, 2022

Set Up the System for Ease

Maximum Farming Implementation Specialist, Delk Crosier, joins Pat to discuss how today’s technology paves the way for effective System setup.

October 11, 2022

Healthy Plants Withstood 2022 Stresses

Research & Teaching Agronomist, Dr. Jim Smart, joins to discuss 2022 growing season stresses and how crops raised with the 5Rs in mind have higher yield potential when faced with stress than on a traditional program.

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