Mississippi Crop Situation Podcast

Rice Is Up for 2024 Across the Midsouth

Jarrod Hardke from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture called into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to talk with Jason and Tom about rice in the upper Midsouth.  Topics include planting progress, effects of weather, herbicide drift, and grass management when the wind dries fields out. 

Southern Root-knot Nematode as a Pest of Soybean

Travis Faske with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture called into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to discuss his work on root-knot nematodes in soybean.  More information on his work evaluating soybean varieties for host plant resistance can be accessed at https://arkansascrops.uada.edu/posts/disease/2023-soybean-varities-rootknot-nematode.aspx

Johnsongrass Moves Back Up As a Problem in Midsouth

Daniel Stephenson with the LSU AgCenter is the authority on johnsongrass management in row crops in the Midsouth.  Daniel called into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to share with Tom and Jason tips for controlling johnsongrass in row crops in the Midsouth.

 

New DREC Ag Economist Steve Martin

DREC has a “new” Ag Economist.  Dr. Steve Martin served previously as an economist and as the station head at Stoneville before holding a variety of positions with Mississippi State University, including most recently the interim Director of Extension.  Steve visited the Crop Doctors’ podcast studio to talk with Jason and Tom about the projects and programs he plans to work on now that he has permanently moved back to the Delta. 

Spring Preparation for Irrigation

Dave Spencer from the MSU Water Resources Research Institute in Starkville, along with Drew Gholson, visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to talk with Jason and Tom about preparing for irrigation for 2024.  Even though it’s early April, several tasks can be performed to ensure that when it gets hot and dry in the coming months, irrigation systems are ready to deliver the water essential to optimize crop yields in Mississippi.

Prickly Sida, Yellowcress, and Virginia Pepperweed

Frank Carey with Valent USA and Tom Eubank with Nutrien Ag Solutions visit the Crops Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville for a deep dive on weed shifts in Mississippi over the last few years.  Frank, Tom, Jason, and Tom Allen discuss selection pressure, evolution of herbicide programs, cycles in management, etc. that have caused these weed species to become priorities over the last five years.  Please pardon the airplane noise during parts of the podcast. 

New MSU Extension Delta Regional Extension Coordinator

Lance Newman visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to introduce Alex Deason as the new Regional Extension Coordinator for the Delta Region within MSU Extension.  Alex most recently served as the Agriculture and Natural Resources and 4-H agent in Sunflower County.  After introducing Alex for his new role, the conversation ranges from the roles of county level Extension to the future of Extension efforts in Mississippi. 

Getting Started As an Independent Crop Consultant

Charles Downs of Downs Ag Consulting visited the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville a few weeks ago while at a meeting at DREC.  Charles has been an independent crop consultant in the Mississippi Delta for 13 years.  Charles, Tom, and Jason discuss Charles entry into the business, what a typical day looks like as a crop consultant, and the value of membership in the Mississippi Agricultural Consultants’ Association. 

Delta Agricultural Weather Center Serves Growers Across Mississippi

Mark Silva with Mississippi State Extension visits the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to discuss the network of weather stations managed by the Delta Agricultural Weather Center, which is housed at the Delta Research and Extension Center.  Mark summarizes soil temperatures from across the state and posts numbers weekly on the Mississippi Crop Situation blog at https://www.mississippi-crops.com.  This information will be useful as planting season approaches.  The Delta Agricultural Weather Center can be accessed at http://deltaweather.extension.msstate.edu.

Early Corn Planting Opportunities

Erick called into the Crop Doctors’ Podcast studio in Stoneville to talk about corn planting. Temperatures have been unseasonably warm and fields have dried out to the point where fieldwork is possible across areas of Mississippi. Erick, Tom, and Jason discuss keys for triggering corn planting, including soil temperature and soil moisture. They also touch on cover crops and finish up with the importance of uniform corn seedling emergence.