The Acre Advantage

Hosted by Landus Cooperative

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Jul 2026

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Join experts from Landus Cooperative as well as other special guests as we dive into the latest factors impacting farming operations in grain, agronomy, and more.

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60 recent

July 28, 202632 min

Disease Pressure Is Building. Are Your Fields Ready?

Disease pressure is building across Iowa, but it's not the same story everywhere. In this episode of Acre Advantage , Dan Bjorklund is joined by Jaci Winkelpleck and Kade Schmidt to break down what they're seeing in fields across the state. From bacterial leaf streak and gray leaf spot to southern rust, tar spot, and the emerging Curvularia leaf spot, the team discusses what is developing, where it's showing up, and what growers should be watching over the coming weeks. The conversation also explores how SkyScout is helping agronomists identify high-risk areas faster, along with new POMA technology that may detect tar spot infections before visible lesions appear. The team shares yield data from fungicide trials, discusses when a second fungicide application may be warranted, and reviews how nutritional products performed under high-stress conditions last season. In this episode: Current disease pressure across Iowa corn and soybeans Southern rust, tar spot, bacterial leaf streak, and Curvularia updates How SkyScout is prioritizing scouting locations Early disease detection with POMA technology Fungicide timing and ROI from 2025 field trials Nutrient and biostimulant performance under weather stress What growers should monitor over the next several weeks If you have questions about disease pressure in your fields or want to learn more about SkyScout, contact your local Landus agronomist. #SkyScout #Corn #Soybeans #Agronomy #Fungicide #TarSpot #SouthernRust #CropScouting #Landus #AcreAdvantage

June 27, 202627 min

Spring Set the Stage. July Will Tell the Story.

As Iowa crops enter one of the most critical months of the growing season, what should growers be watching? In this episode of the Acre Advantage Podcast, Landus Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund is joined by longtime agronomist Dave Lunke to discuss how spring planting conditions are still influencing fields today—and what July weather could mean for the rest of the season. They cover the lasting effects of cool soils and uneven emergence, why root development matters more than what's visible above the canopy, and what Landus agronomists are finding through field visits and SkyScout® imagery. The conversation also explores sulfur deficiencies, early disease observations including tar spot, anthracnose, and gray leaf spot, emerging insect pressure, and how weather during the next several weeks could shape yield potential. Whether you're evaluating fungicide timing, monitoring disease pressure, or simply wondering what to expect as crops approach tasseling, this episode offers practical, field-tested insights to help you make informed decisions throughout July. In this episode: How spring planting conditions continue to impact crop performance Why July weather often determines the rest of the growing season Early observations of disease pressure across Iowa Nutrient deficiencies and what they're telling us What to watch as corn approaches tasseling and pollination How SkyScout® is helping identify issues before they become widespread

June 18, 202625 min

What the Data Is Telling Us About Disease Pressure

Tar spot has already been confirmed in multiple states, including Iowa, earlier than many agronomists expected. In this episode, Dan Bjorklund sits down with Kade Schmidt of Intelinair, the technology company behind SkyScout, to discuss what they're seeing across the Corn Belt and what it could mean for the rest of the growing season. The conversation covers early disease detection, how thermal imagery and field analytics are helping identify issues before they're visible from the road, and why current weather conditions have both agronomists and farmers paying close attention. Dan and Kade also discuss fungicide timing, nutrient loss concerns following heavy rainfall, and the value of targeted scouting throughout the season. Topics include: Early tar spot detections across Iowa and the Midwest How SkyScout identifies disease pressure and crop stress Fungicide timing and ROI considerations Nitrogen and sulfur loss after excessive rainfall Thermal imagery, NDVI, and scouting strategies What growers should be watching for over the next several weeks Learn more about SkyScout and how data-driven scouting can help protect yield potential throughout the growing season. #LandusCooperative #SkyScout #TarSpot #CornDisease #Agronomy #CropScouting #PrecisionAg #IowaAgriculture #CornFarming #AgTechnology #AcreAdvantagePodcast

June 1, 202626 min

Staying Ahead of Waterhemp and Ragweed

In this episode of Acre Advantage, Technical Agronomist Dan Bjorklund is joined by Landus Sales Agronomist Jeff Aronson, a longtime weed management expert serving northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Together, they discuss strategies for controlling tough weeds like waterhemp and giant ragweed, the importance of strong pre- and post-emergence herbicide programs, and how growers can stay ahead of weed resistance while protecting yield potential throughout the growing season.

May 21, 202626 min

The Next Move: Farmers, Fear & Fast Markets

In this episode of The Acre Advantage Podcast, Landus Cooperative’s Michael Weidner sits down with grain merchandiser Scott Stoller to break down what’s happening across the grain markets as planting season wraps up across the Corn Belt. From weather and crop progress to volatility driven by global trade news, the conversation dives into the challenges and opportunities growers are facing right now. Michael and Scott discuss the emotional swings in the marketplace, why old crop grain movement matters more than ever, and how growers can approach new crop marketing decisions in an uncertain environment. They also cover basis trends across the Western and Eastern Corn Belt, shifting farmer behavior, risk management strategies, and the importance of having a disciplined marketing plan in place before the market moves. Whether you’re focused on corn, soybeans, or wheat, this episode offers practical perspective on managing risk, protecting profitability, and positioning your operation for the months ahead.

April 30, 202634 min

Why Early Season Stress Doesn’t Stay in the Spring

In this episode of The Acre Advantage , Dan Bjorklund and Dave Lemke break down how early-season stress—cold soils, uneven emergence, and disease pressure—can quietly impact your crop all season long. From crown rot risk in corn to slow soybean emergence, this conversation focuses on what’s happening right now in the field—and what growers should be watching next. 🌱 What You’ll Learn Why early stress compounds throughout the season How cold, wet soils increase risk for crown rot and root diseases What to check at V5—including how to evaluate the crown How uneven emergence impacts yield potential Why genetics and field conditions matter more in variable years When a V5 fungicide application may be worth considering How tools like SkyScout help you scout smarter and respond faster ⚠️ Key Takeaways Early decisions set the tone for the entire season Stress now doesn’t disappear—it compounds Scouting is critical between emergence and V5 Protecting plant health early protects yield later Never let the plant have a bad day 🎧 Bottom Line This isn’t about reacting later—it’s about paying attention now. The growers who protect yield aren’t guessing. They’re watching the field, reading the conditions, and making the right call at the right time. 🎧 Listen to The Acre Advantage wherever you get your podcasts ▶️ More episodes: https://theacreadvantage.riverside.com/

April 17, 202628 min

Too Wet to Plant? What This Spring Means for Your Crop

Too wet to plant? This episode breaks down what persistent rain and cool soils mean for planting decisions, early-season disease risk, and crop stress in corn and soybeans—and how to stay ahead when conditions aren’t ideal. Key Takeaways: Wet, cool soils increase risk. Expect higher disease pressure, compaction issues, and uneven emergence. Conditions matter more than the calendar. Waiting for fit fields can protect yield more than planting early. Scouting early changes outcomes. Identifying issues before they spread allows for timely, more effective decisions. Think ahead, not just today. Early-season conditions set up in-season stress, disease, and nutrient needs. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & spring outlook 05:31 Corn planting & disease concerns 12:02 Soybean disease & variety decisions 17:39 Scouting & field monitoring 25:25 Stress mitigation & nutrition 30:49 Soybean disease management Bottom Line: This spring is testing patience. The right decisions now will show up at harvest.

March 14, 2022Episode 228 min

It’s One for the History Books - Grain Episode

The grain industry has recently seen things that it has not seen before and has left farmers feeling uncertain and unsure of what to do. Even the top grain experts are scratching their heads. In this episode, our host, Ashley Kaldenberg, is joined by Landus grain merchandiser, Jim Engler to uncover what all of the movement and volatility means for farmers. They’ll discuss the recent WASDE report, look at the current trade inverse, address the Ukraine/Russia impact, and what we might expect with the upcoming acreage report. We are working with Zen-Noh Grain with the spring acreage report. If you are interested, please click here to provide your input. The GROW Podcast grain episodes will look at high-level themes, but we know that the market moves quickly. If you are interested in daily updates and commentary from Landus, sign up at: https://www.landuscooperative.com/connect/subscriptions

March 19, 2024Episode 4930 min

Have You Checked Your Grain Bins? | GROW Podcast

Spring break just ended and school is back in session. Join special guest, Charles Hurburgh, Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Professor at Iowa State University as he and Ashley Kaldenberg discuss the best practices to keep stored grain healthy before you sell. Highlights: We’ve been on the upswing in the market. The saying is “reward the rally.” Sell while the market is going up. Ideally, you cool grain immediately after harvest. Generally, you’ll store below 40ºF, and freezing is OK Take your center cores out! Evaluating your middle cores for humidity, moisture, and mold progression helps you gauge when you need to sell As a rule of thumb, grain should be under moisture levels of 17% Links: Integrated Crop Newsletter (Iowa State University) Landus Grow On the Go bi-weekly newsletter USDA Acreage Report 2024 (Planting Intentions Report) Landus Innovation Connector Events

May 28, 2024Episode 5423 min

The No Nitro Circus | GROW Podcast

One crop symptom can lead to another. And with all this rainfall, fungicide application will be critical for keeping your crop healthy through harvest. Join in on this circus of a spring with Landus Technical Agronomy and Precision Lead and your Virtual Agronomist, Dan Bjornklund; and Landus Regional Sales Manager and Agronomy Minute host, Scott Ahrenholtz. Highlights: •75% of nitrogen is used after V10 •3-4% of nitrogen is lost daily to denitrification •Nitrogen stabilizers are crucial right now in these wet conditions •UAN and Urea conversations should be had now with your Account Lead or the GROW Solutions Center •A second fungicide application may be necessary •AcreEdge CropPWR Technology is available and ready to be combined with your fungicides. Visit AcreEdge.com for more information. Tar spot tracking app: https://ipcm.wisc.edu/apps/tarspotter/

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