XtremeAg: Cutting The Curve Podcast

Damian Mason is joined by Ryan Harbison of Tidal Grow Agriscience to discuss fall field management practices that influence spring planting success. The conversation covers managing crop residue to improve seed-to-soil contact, supporting soil biology through winter, using fall soil testing to guide fertility decisions, and reducing unnecessary tillage to conserve fuel and protect soil structure. Harbison also emphasizes evaluating actual field conditions rather than relying on calendar dates or neighboring planting activity. The episode highlights how fall preparation can improve planting efficiency, reduce avoidable input costs, and lower the risk of replanting.

With fertilizer supply uncertainty and rising nitrogen costs creating budget pressure heading into 2027, Damian Mason speaks with Galynn Beer of Tidal Grow Agriscience about practical strategies for managing fertilizer expenses without unnecessarily sacrificing crop performance. They discuss setting realistic yield goals, evaluating nitrogen application rates, balancing nitrogen with sulfur and micronutrients, and using soil and tissue testing to identify crop nutrient needs. The conversation emphasizes removing emotion from fertilizer purchasing decisions, improving nutrient use efficiency, and directing fertilizer investments toward applications with the greatest potential economic return.

When is it time to hand over the keys—and when does experience make you too valuable to quit? Damian Mason sits down with Matt Miles, Chad Henderson, and Todd Kimbrell to tackle a touchy subject in agriculture: Do farmers stay in the game too long? The guys dig into farm succession, giving the next generation room to make decisions (and mistakes), and finding the balance between staying involved and standing in the way. They also get into the financial realities of transitioning a farm, estate planning, rising land values, changing technology, and why simply working harder isn't always the answer. It’s a candid Granary conversation about family, farming, money, identity, and knowing when your greatest contribution might be your experience—not your hours in the tractor.   Presented by Nachurs

“Cover crops won't work on my farm.” Kelly Garrett has heard that one plenty of times. After more than a decade of growing cover crops, he knows there's usually more to the story. In this episode of Cover Crop Conversations, Kelly joins TJ Kartes of Bio-Till in a newly seeded field to tackle five of the biggest myths farmers have about cover crops. Do they steal moisture? Hurt corn and soybean yields? Create a spring termination nightmare? And how do you justify the expense on rented ground? From managing water to dealing with stubborn cereal rye, Kelly and TJ have some real-world experience to share. Turns out, some of those coffee shop arguments might not hold up quite like you'd think.

What does it take for a farmer to ditch the familiar and give a new product, practice, or technology a shot? Damian Mason sits down with Kelly Garrett, Adam Ullrich, and Trey Cutts of Tidal Grow to debate what really drives innovation on the farm. Is it university research? On-farm trials? ROI? A recommendation from a trusted farmer? Or does seeing the neighbor make it work carry more weight than a stack of data? The crew digs into why controlled research doesn’t always translate to real-world farming, the “snake oil” label surrounding some crop inputs, and why ease of use can make or break adoption. They also explore how AI could help farmers sort through mountains of information—and whether digital modeling might someday change the way products are tested. When you only get so many growing seasons in a career, how much proof is enough to try something new?   Presented by Tidal Agro AgriScience