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.
356 Episodes
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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.
N, P, and K are your biggest fertility expense but what if what you’re applying never reaches the crop? Rod and Dr. Richard Mulvaney share how to cut costs and boost yields by using what’s already in your soil.
In this episode, you’ll learn the truth about N, P, and K and what you can do to stop wasting money.
💡 Here’s what you’ll discover:
• 🌱 Nitrogen secrets: learn how to apply less and protect your bottom line;
• 💧 Phosphorus power: there’s more P in your soil than you think. Discover the key to unlocking it.; and
• 🥔 Potassium paradox: More K isn’t always better. Find out when apply fertilizer helps and when it hurts.
🎧 Tune in and see how you can save money and increase yield because there’s always a better way to farm.
Ever wonder why some farm products are dirt cheap while others cost more?
Here’s the truth: not all products are created equal. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on micronutrients, sugar, and other inputs to show you why the cheapest jug may be the most expensive mistake you’ll ever make.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why weak chelation wastes your money (and how to spot it);
• How to use sugar the smart way for real results; and
• The mindset that builds profits and protects your farm’s future.
If you’re tired of wasting money on “one-size-fits-all” solutions and want to build a farm that lasts for generations, this episode is for you.
Are you paying for nitrogen that never even makes it into your crop?
Over applying means run off that goes straight into rivers, drinking water, and out of your pocket. It’s a growing problem for farmers. However, you don’t have to settle. You can grow high yields with less nitrogen, protect your ground, and your profits.
In this episode, we get real about:
• Why more nitrogen doesn’t always mean more yield;
• The best ways to manage N so every pound pays you back; and
• How small changes can save you $40–50 per acre without losing yield.
The bottom line: if we manage our nitrogen better, we win twice—more profit in our pocket and cleaner water for our families.
Let’s cut to the chase…are you really getting a return from that dry broadcast? It’s time to take an honest look. Farming costs are going up, margins are getting tighter, and the old “just throw more out there” approach isn’t cutting it anymore.
In this episode, we walk through why dry broadcast became popular, what the problems with it are, and what you can do right now to improve profits.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• Why “easy” isn’t always the same as “effective”;
• How fertilizer tie-up and poor placement steal your ROI; and
• Why relying only on NPK keeps you stuck.
Markets, weather, and prices are out of your control—but your fertility program isn’t.
How do we make money on the farm when costs keep going up and the weather keeps changing?
In this episode, we talk about the choices that can make or break your season. We’ll cover how to fight tough diseases like southern rust and tar spot, and what to do when drought or floods hurt your crop.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
• Why using a full system works better than just piling on more N, P, and K;
• How boron and calcium can be just as important for healthy plants; and
• What steps you can take to keep diseases from stealing your yields.
Want to know what’s really driving the fertilizer market?
In this episode, I sit down with Josh Linville, who has spent more than 20 years working in the fertilizer industry. He helps us make sense of the ups and downs farmers are facing right now. We’ll talk about why soil testing matters, how to make use of micronutrients, and ways to stay profitable without depending only on the same old fertilizer programs.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
• Simple ways to handle the corn-to-fertilizer price ratio;
• How Chicago corn prices affect your bottom line; and
• Why China has such a big influence on the phosphate market.
If you’re ready for real answers that can help your farm, this episode is for you. And if you’d like to see these ideas in action, come join us at a field day. You’ll have the chance to meet other farmers, ask questions, and leave with a plan that works.
Can farmers transform volatility into opportunity?
As we confront soaring costs, erratic markets, and unpredictable weather, let’s explore how strategic inputs and data-driven techniques can safeguard yields and maximize profits.
You’ll learn:
• How to optimally use resources like nitrogen;
• The importance of relying on proven strategies; and
• What you can do right now to balance productivity with cost management.
We believe that today's challenges can indeed become tomorrow's stepping stones to sustainable growth.
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