Fertility
Crops don’t grow well without ample plant food, and fertility is the biggest recurring expense on any farm. Finding the best and most cost-effective ways to meet the fertility needs of your crops will help them thrive all season long and build better yields at harvest.
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Get A Great Lawn with Less Work | Ag PhD
Darren talks about some simple things you can do to have a great lawn this summer.
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Spring Strip-Till | Ag PhD
April strip-till? If it didn't fall into place, you can still spring into action, with this survival guide, compliments of the Hefty Farm.
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Soybean Seed Treatments | Ag PhD
It's a modern innovation that gives your crop the best possible beginning. The Heftys explain what goes onto every high-performance seed, so it can hit the ground running.
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The 2026 Ag PhD Field Day, Spring Strip-Till, Soybean Seed Treatments | Ag PhD
The Heftys invite you to their farm this July; say it's better late than never on strip-tilling; and show why seeds are coated with so much. Broadleaf signalgrass is the Weed of the Week, and Darren spills the beans on tillage and The Three Pre's in Iron Talk.
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A Phosphorus Problem: Why So Much Applied P Never Feeds the Crop | AgroTech USA
Most growers invest heavily in phosphorus, yet a large portion of what’s applied never gets into the plant. In this video, we break down the core issue: why so much applied phosphorus becomes chemically unavailable in the soil before the crop can use it. You’ll learn what happens to phosphorus af...
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What Soil Tests Miss: What P Tests Tell You-And What They Don't | AgroTech USA
Soil test phosphorus (P) numbers tell only part of the story. This video breaks down what standard soil tests measure — and what they often miss — when it comes to phosphorus that crops can actually access and use. A soil test gives an index of plant-available P, but it doesn’t always reflect the...
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Why Phosphorus Drives Yield: Energy, Roots & Early-Season Payback | AgroTech USA
Phosphorus is a primary driver of yield, but only if it’s available to the plant. This video explains how phosphorus fuels root growth, energy transfer, and overall crop performance—and why managing availability is critical to maximizing fertilizer efficiency and season-long results.
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Phosphorus Starts at The Seed: Seed-Applied Strategies & P Access | AgroTech USA
Phosphorus plays a foundational role in early crop development, driving root growth, energy transfer, and stand establishment from the very first growth stages. This video explains why making phosphorus available right at the seed is crucial for strong early vigor and long-term performance — and ...
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Beating Fixation with Chemistry: P Efficiency with NutriCharge | AgroTech USA
Phosphorus is essential for crop growth, but most of what growers apply quickly becomes chemically fixed and unavailable to the plant. In this video, we break down how phosphorus reacts in real soils, why traditional approaches fail to keep it available, and what needs to change to improve nutrie...
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Phosphorus in Real Soils — Where it Goes After You Apply | AgroTech USA
In this eye-opening video, we break down one of the biggest hidden challenges in crop fertility: phosphorus fixation in the soil. Most growers know they’ve paid for expensive phosphorus fertilizers — but do they know how much actually becomes plant-available? This video shows what really happens ...
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Improving Stalk Quality | Ag PhD
Greensnap and lodging are preventable! The Hefty brothers share how to stand your ground before the storms roll in.
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All About Allelopathy, Improving Stalk Quality, Soybean Cyst Nematode | Ag PhD
This week the Hefty brothers go underground to show plant's natural defenses, make the strongest stands, and help lower SCN across the country. The Weed of the Week is cattails, and Darren's got your spring sprayer tune-up.
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Soybean Cyst Nematode | Ag PhD
In the world of crops & robbers, SCN is public enemy number one. Brian and Darren share how to help stop the crime spree beneath your beans.
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Fertilizer Efficiency | Ag PhD
Find out how farmers can raise crops with less fertilizer.
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Fixing Flooded Fields | Ag PhD
03/01/26 from Episode #1456
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Soybean Nodulation | Ag PhD
Brian and Darren discuss the process of soybean plants producing their own nitrogen.
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Soybean Nodulation, Conventional Corn, Fixing Flooded Fields | Ag PhD
Brian and Darren discuss the process of nodulation in soybeans and how they produce their own nitrogen. They also share tips for success with conventional corn, and how to get flooded ground back into production.
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Nitrogen in Soybeans | Ag PhD
Your beans make their own nitrogen, but do they make enough? The Heftys show exactly how adding some strategic N can supercharge your yields.
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Continuous Corn | Ag PhD
Corn after corn can be a great sequel, but you have to get the chemistry right. Brian and Darren help you turn your yields into a blockbuster!
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Manure Magic | Ag PhD
From plop to crop, cow manure is a nutrient powerhouse! Darren digs into the math behind nature's recycling program.
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Scouting & Scholarships 2026, Nitrogen in Soybeans, Continuous Corn | Ag PhD
The Hefty Farm is always a busy place: in June, Brian and Darren offer some education before college, in the spring they're watching the N in beans, and did you know fall is the most important time for corn-on-corn? An odd but easy Weed of the Week, plus Darren pumps you up in Iron Talk.
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Soil Organic Matter | Ag PhD
Darren talks about the importance of organic matter in soil.
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Making New Ground Productive | Ag PhD
Find out some things you could do on your new farm ground to make it productive right away.
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Long-Term Grain Storage, Cover Crop Termination, Farming New Ground | Ag PhD
Brian and Darren discuss keeping grain in condition when storing it for a long period of time. They also share ideas on getting your crop off to a good start after terminating a cover crop, and how to get new fields to be productive right away.