It's December, and we're rounding out the year with an in-depth discussion on cover crops here on the Nutrient Management Podcast. What are our panelists' observations regarding covers with lower seeding rates? What are some pros and cons of lower seeding rates relating to erosion, or nutrient uptake? Does planting early at a lower seed rate, and planting later with a higher seed rate result in the same outcome? What are weed control characteristics of cover crops? What advise do our panelists have for farmers new to cover crops? What kinds of state and local resources are available for farmers interested in incorporating covers as a practice? All this and lots more on today's show, so be sure to tune in.

Guests:

• Anna Cates, Extension soil health specialist (St. Paul)
• Ryan Beutow, Minnesota NRCS State Agronomist (St. Paul)
• Eric Yu, Extension educator (Farmington)

Additional Resources:

• UMN Cover Crops row crops
• UMN Cover crops in vegetables
• Cover crop Academy
• MN Agronomy Technical Note 33
• Single species cereal rye cover crop implementation requirements
• Cover Crop Termination Guidelines
• MN NRCS Cover Crop Design Tool
• Midwest Cover Crop Council
• SARE Managing Cover Crops Profitably
• MN Field Office Technical Guide folder on cover crops

---

For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

Today on the Nutrient Management Podcast we're turning our attention to micronutrients. What does current research tell us about micronutrients - for corn specifically - that growers need to consider? Boron is another important micronutrient in Minnesota. What should farmers be aware of regarding boron? Is tissue sampling the answer to help predict where some of these micronutrients are needed? What are other important micronutrient takeaways? All this and much more on today's episode.

Guests & Contact Info:

• Jeff Vetsch, U of M researcher (Waseca) - email: jvetsch@umn.edu
• Daniel Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) - email: dekaiser@umn.edu
• Carl Rosen, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul) - email: rosen006@umn.edu

Additional Resources:

• Micro- and secondary macronutrients
• Understanding plant analysis for crops
• Zinc for crop production
• Are you overspending on fertilizer?
• Is boron deficiency a problem for crops in Minnesota?

For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.

Support for the Nutrient Management Podcast is provided by Minnesota's fertilizer tonnage fee through the Agricultural Fertilizer Research & Education Council (AFREC). Learn more at MNsoilfertility.com.

On today's episode of the Advancing Nitrogen Smart podcast, Brad and Dan talk about variable rate application - and zones in particular. What's the overall point to variable rate N application? How might an initial starting N rate be determined? How do farmers' fields and equipment introduce their own variables, and how can these variables be monitored? How should farmers think about - and plot out - field zones? What's the difference between a yield map and a zone map, and should farmers rely on yield maps for zoning purposes? Do the best yielding spots always need the most nitrogen? All of this and much more on today's show.

Guests:

• Brad Carlson, Extension educator (Mankato)
• Dan Kaiser, Extension nutrient management specialist (St. Paul)

Additional resources:

• With high nitrogen fertilizer prices and low corn prices, can you decrease your nitrogen rate for 2026?
• www.cornnratecalc.org (Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator)
• Is variable rate nitrogen based on yield maps a good idea?
• Variable rate nitrogen: What are we trying to accomplish?
• Brad Carlson's email address: bcarlson@umn.edu
• Dan Kaiser's email address: dekaiser@umn.edu

---

For the latest nutrient management information, subscribe to the Nutrient Management Podcast. And don't forget to subscribe to the Minnesota Crop News daily or weekly email newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube channel, like UMN Extension Nutrient Management on Facebook, follow us on X (formerly twitter), and visit our website.

If you have questions or comments, please email us at nutmgmt@umn.edu.