Claim OwnershipA Better Way To Farm Podcast
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© Rod Livesay
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Low commodity prices and high interest rates are putting a squeeze on American farmers. A Better Way To Farm shows you how to maximize profit so you can farm the way you want! Visit https://abetterwaytofarm.com to use the free Farm Profit Score calculator.
363 Episodes
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Pull up to the fence and let’s talk nutrients that do not get much airtime. Chloride and Moly can help a crop or hurt it, depending on how they are used. In this episode, let’s break it down in plain talk so you can make smarter fertility calls and protect yield.
This is not about chasing silver bullets. It’s about knowing what is helping your crop and what might be quietly holding it back.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Why chloride can strengthen plants and also cause real trouble
• What moly does inside the plant and why it matters for nitrogen
• How too much chloride can hurt soybeans and soil life
Test first. Think long-term. Protect the biology.
Let’s take a closer look at copper. It’s a micronutrient needed in very small amounts however, is critical to yield, stalk strength, and nutrient efficiency.
In this episode, let’s see where copper fits, how to test for it correctly, and why balancing micronutrients is essential for getting more from every input dollar.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Why copper keeps getting ignored
• When N, P, and K stop working
• How to take a clean tissue sample
If you want your crop to finish strong and your fertilizer program to work as intended, this episode is for you.
If you’re pouring on nitrogen and not seeing the yield you expect, sulfur might be what’s missing. We used to get sulfur for free. We don’t anymore. And pretending we still do is costing us real money.
In this episode, we break down sulfur in a way that actually makes sense—no fancy words, no guessing, just what works in the field.
🌱 What You’ll Learn (Plain and Simple):
• Why sulfur isn’t “extra” anymore—it’s essential
• What sulfur deficiency actually looks like in the field
• Why “just throw on 30 pounds” is a lazy advice
Think of it like this: Nitrogen is the fuel. Sulfur is what makes the engine run smooth.
Ever see yellow leaves and think, “I need more nitrogen”?
🚨 Hold on. It might be magnesium waving a red flag.
In today’s episode, we break down why magnesium is the heart of chlorophyll, why too much can be just as bad as too little, and how the wrong balance can tighten soils, waste fertilizer, and hurt yields.
🌱 What You’ll Learn Today:
• How potassium and nitrogen block magnesium uptake
• The biggest mistake farmers make with yellow corn
• When high-mag lime helps—and when it hurts
Magnesium isn’t optional. It’s not about more—it’s about balance. That’s how you farm smarter. Tune in for more!
Ever wonder why your crop just doesn’t finish strong—even when pH looks “fine”? 👀
Today’s episode breaks down calcium, the quiet workhorse that keeps plants strong, roots growing, and soil life booming.
Today, we clear up big myths, tell real farm stories, and show why calcium is more than just lime—it’s the key to better yields and healthier soil.
🌱 What You’ll Learn Today:
• How calcium helps roots, microbes, and nutrient flow
• Why soil testing beats guessing—every time
• How calcium helps your soil hold carbon and water
When it’s right, your soil works with you—not against you. Tune in for more!
In today’s episode, we’re talking about a nutrient that packs a punch: BORON. This powerhouse helps your crops bloom, grow, and increase yield. If you want bigger ears, fuller kernels, and better plants, this episode is for you!
🌱 What You’ll Learn Today:
• How boron helps pollen, silks, blooms, and seed development
• Why waiting until you see a deficiency means lost yield
• How boron boosts microbes, fungi, and even drought tolerance
Soil tests show 90% of farms are deficient and that means lost bushels. Tune in for more!
Want better yields and more profit without wasting money? Then this episode is for you because we’re breaking down why potassium is a game-changer. Plus, how using it the right way can help you win big.
🌱 What You’ll Learn Today:
• Why potassium is one of the hardest-working nutrients in your crop
• How CEC changes what “low” and “high” potassium really means
• Why drought makes potassium deficiency show up fast
Today, we break down why phosphorus is a BIG DEAL for your crops. It’s one of the “Big 3” nutrients, and it’s the one that helps your plants build strong roots, grow faster, and finish before frost hits.
This episode is full of clear steps you can use to farm smarter, cut losses, and keep more dollars in your pocket.
🌱 What You’ll Learn Today:
• Why phosphorus is the root-building powerhouse of your crop
• How erosion steals tons of soil and dollars
• How smarter P use keeps government regulators off your back
Remember, more fertilizer isn’t the answer. Smarter fertilizer is.
Nitrogen is the “big one” in farming.
However, using too much can hurt your crops and your
wallet. In this episode, let’s break down tips that help you apply nitrogen wisely, protect your soil, and cut waste.
What You’ll Learn Today:
• Why too much nitrogen can actually lower your yield
• How timing and placement make a big money difference
• How other nutrients (like sulfur, zinc, and phosphorus) help nitrogen work better
Many farmers worry that using liquid fertilizer will “mine” or hurt their soil. But truth is, when nutrients go into the plant—and not just on the ground—you can actually build better soil and better yields over time. Farming has a lot of opinions. But results come from:
✔ Real tests
✔ Real science
✔ Real numbers
✔ Programs that actually build soil and yields
🌱 Here’s What You’ll Learn:
• Why soil already has huge amounts of P and K waiting to be unlocked
• Why deep roots matter
• How liquid programs can build soil, not hurt it
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start growing, this episode is for you.
With rising costs and tighter margins heading into 2026, so today were walking through the real numbers and simple steps that help farmers keep more money in their pockets while still growing strong crops.
This episode lays out the practical, proven ways to cut waste, boost efficiency, and make every acre pay.
🌱 Here’s What You’ll Learn:
• Why soil testing is the fastest way to stop wasting fertilizer
• How to use nitrogen correctly so less is lost and more is made in yield
• Why lime and pH should come before big P and K spending
If you want real advice that actually works (& not old ways of thinking that cost you money) this episode is for you.
In this episode, Rod and Curt dig into something big… the untapped nutrients beneath the soil surface. After deep soil testing this year, we’ve proven there are thousands of pounds of nutrients just waiting for roots to find them.
If you want more profit per acre without spending more money, this is the episode for you.
🌱 Here’s What You’ll Learn:
• The simple shifts that help crops grow deeper
• How improving soil health creates a highway for roots to access more nutrients
• What deep soil tests reveal about nitrogen, sulfur, calcium, and other big-ticket nutrients
This episode will challenge the way you think about fertility… in the best way possible.
In this episode, we talk with Ryan Wolf. He shares practical tips that can make your soil healthier and your yields higher. You’ll hear real talk about what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid costly mistakes.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Smart ways to manage moisture, weeds, and nutrients
• Why timing and management matter way more than seed choice
• How to make cover crops part of a soil health plan
Today, Roger Wright joins us to unpack what’s really happening in the grain markets. Soybean Prices just hit a 13-month high, and Roger explains what that means, why China’s buying matters, and what you can do right now to lock in profit and protect profit.
This episode is packed with simple, clear advice to help you make smart moves for your farm.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• How to know when it’s time to sell your beans;
• How to use “put options” to protect profits; and
• A step-by-step plan to protect yourself in a wild market.
Today we’re talking about the hidden cost of baling cornstalks. Is it really worth it? Or are you losing more than you gain?
In this episode, we break down real numbers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to show just how much nutrient value you’re giving away when you haul off those stalks.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Why cornstalks are worth more than you think;
• How much N, P, and K you really lose when you bale and sell; and
• Why managing residue right beats selling it cheap.
This one’s not about judging anyone…it’s about helping you make smart choices that keep your farm profitable and your soil healthy for years to come.
Is your soybean program plant them, spray them, cut them, and complain about them? If that’s your plan, you’re leaving money on the table.
In this episode, we break down how higher management and a few simple changes can turn average yields into 80 or even 100s. From soil testing to foliar feeding, you’ll learn the steps that separate average from awesome.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• How a soil test is like your GPS for better yields;
• The simple nutrient tweaks that can boost profit per acre; and
• The difference foliar feeding can make.
Don’t let residue steal your profits!
Learn how to turn your leftover stalks into nutrient gold with one easy recipe that really works.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• When and how to spray for best results;
• Why residue can help or hurt your yields; and
• How to recycle nutrients and save on fertilizer.
In this episode, we take on a big question many farmers face: Should I bale and sell my cornstalks? It might look like quick cash, but Rod lays out the real value of what’s leaving your field in nutrients, organic matter, and future yield potential.
If you want to keep more profit in your pocket and protect your soil for years to come, this episode is a must-listen.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Why residue is a soil-builder, not a burden;
• The real cost of selling cornstalks; and
• How to make residue work for you.
Today we’re talking about something that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves … lime. When your soil’s pH is off, your nutrients don’t work the way they should.
In this episode, we’ll talk about why lime matters, when to apply it, and how to make sure you’re applying the right kind for your soil.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Why fixing your pH is step one to getting more out of your fertilizer dollars;
• Why fall is the best time to apply lime; and
• How to tell if your lime is good quality and what to avoid.
If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there…
Here’s the truth: guessing on your fertilizer programs is costing you money. Maybe you’ve been doing things the same way for years…150 pounds of this, 200 pounds of that and hoping for the best. However, hope doesn’t build profits. Soil testing does.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why repeating the same old fertility plan is leaving yield and profit on the table;
• Why fall testing saves you both money and headaches come spring; and
• How spending money on a test can bring back profits.
👉 Want help getting started? Text Karen at 641-919-5570 and let’s make sure your farm has the map it needs to succeed.
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