Pioneer Made to Grow Podcast

With the growing season just around the corner, the Enlist E3 soybeans are taking a big leap in 2025 with Pioneer growers across the country moving to Enlist traited beans. On this episode, Andrew Campbell looks to the lessons from the past couple of years as growers have transitioned to the Enlist system about what works and what to watch out for. Joining him is Pioneer Area Agronomist Chris Robson, Pioneer Sales Rep Aaron Bowman and Jevin Vyn, a farmer from Southwestern Ontario.

The number of growers who have to consider the impacts of Tar Spot in corn continues to grow, with the 2024 growing season being one of the most obvious that if you don't manage it properly, the yield hit can be catastrophic. On this episode of the podcast, Andrew speaks with Pioneer Area Agronomists Greg Stopps and John Seliga about what their experiences in tar spot were in 2024 and more importantly what can be done to manage it in 2025 as the disease shows no signs of slowing down its spread across Central Canada.

Whether it's a beef or dairy operation, making sure the best forages are harvested is one of the most important steps to profitability. For corn silage that starts with the right hybrids. In this episode, Andrew talks with Greg Frank, a Pioneer Rep in Southern Alberta, Ashley Knapton, an Associate Pioneer Rep in Eastern Ontario, and Dr Bill Mahanna, Global Nutritional Services Manager based in Iowa about what you should consider when choosing a hybrids, what labels are important to look for, and how to manage that crop throughout the growing season to ensure you've set yourself up for success on your livestock operation.

No matter what the crop, it always seems like there is a disease that needs your attention in order to make sure you can get as close to a hybrid's yield potential as possible. In Alberta, while Clubroot and Sclerotinia weren't as prevalent in the 2024 canola crop, Blackleg and Verticillium were. In fact, when it came to verticillium in particular, Pioneer Sale Rep Shawna Hogg saw more incidences of verticillium this year than she's seen before. In this episode, Andrew talks with Shawna about Pioneer Senior Research Association Tom Ernst about what the impact was from canola diseases in 2024 and what some of the management strategies can be to try to lessen canola disease impact.

When it comes to growing seasons for soybeans, 2024 provided plenty of challenges for Ontario grower Chris Bell. Rain was the biggest one, as it never really stopped; but that also brought others challenges like white mould and the need for a very flexible weed control system. In this Brew with an Agronomist episode, Andrew talks with Chris and Pioneer Agronomist Rebecca-Jo Cellini about what he faced with a field of the new Z-Series genetics, and what all growers are looking for when it comes to beans that can reach their yield potential.

When it comes to leaf diseases in corn, growers are working hard to learn the best ways to manage Gibberella Ear Rot and Tar Spot, given the devastating impact they can have on yield and grain quality. The good news is the strategies to combat both diseases are similar. On today's episode, Andrew Campbell learns about those management strategies which include hybrid selection and fungicide timing from Albert Tenuta, a plant pathologist from Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and AgriBusiness as well as two Pioneer Area Agronomists that see these diseases regularly - John Seliga and Greg Stopps.

When it comes to the start of growing seasons, Area Agronomist Chris Olbach may have had one of the most variable in Ontario. From growers that saw a strong start to their soybean crops, to growers that struggled to even get soybeans in the ground, he's seen it all this year. Talking with Andrew, Chris not only describes the growing season, but also how soybean genetics can help overcome those challenges, along with how drone technology is assisting Pioneer agronomists and Pioneer customers get the best information on stand counts and overall field health.

Whether it is sclerotinia in canola or white mould in soybeans, the impact can be equally severe. After all, the impact is usually greatest when yields are looking most promising and that foliage is trapping moisture in under the plant to help the sclerotia spores thrive. The good news though - there are solutions! In this episode, Andrew finds out what those solutions look like, from choosing the right genetics all the way to fungicide applications with Eastern Ontario Area Agronomist Paul Hermans, Northeastern Alberta Area Agronomist Doug Moisey and Edmonton area Pioneer Sales Rep Taylor Chumalka.

Getting the most from the Enlist herbicide system on E3 soybeans is the key to maximizing soybean yields in 2024. To help with that, Andrew talks with Grace Jones, a Territory Manager from Corteva as well as Pioneer Area Agronomist Holly Loucas about what lessons they've learned as growers have adopted the Enlist system. Whether it's spray timing, modes of action, tank mixing or what to watch for when the weather doesn't cooperate - this conversation covers everything you need to know to make sure you too are getting the most from your Enlist E3 soybeans.

When it comes to producing the best yields possible, having the top hybrids can only go so far. Soil fertility is a key metric to producing and maintaining the high yields that today's corn and canola hybrids are able to reach. What's the best way to manage that fertility? Pioneer Sales Rep and former Area Agronomist Lindsay Alberts of Yorkton, Saskatchewan joins Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Soil Specialist Colin Elgie to discuss the best approach for managing fertility levels, particularly as market prices drop and weather conditions remain unpredictable. Then, Bob Gunzenhauser from Corteva's Digital Solutions Team joins Andrew for a discussion on what they are finding from fertility levels across North America, and what it will take to ensure growers continue to see yield gains year after year.