In this episode of the Dairyland Seed Agronomy Cafe, Northern Region Agronomist Chad Staudinger is joined by Western Region Agronomist Brian Weller for a practical conversation on what really affects soil temperatures in the spring. While many growers focus on air temperature alone, Brian explains that sunlight, day length, crop residue, soil moisture, soil color, soil texture, slope, and even biological activity all play a role in how quickly soils warm and cool. The discussion also highlights why residue-heavy fields may warm more slowly but can hold heat longer, why darker soils often warm faster than lighter soils, and how moisture can stabilize temperature swings.

Topics discussed

• Why air temperature is only one piece of the soil temperature story
• How sunlight and radiant energy warm soils
• The impact of longer day length as spring progresses
• Why crop residue can slow warming but help hold soil heat
• How soil moisture affects daily temperature swings
• The role of soil color and organic matter in heating soils
• Why sandy and coarse-textured soils fluctuate faster than heavier soils
• How slope and field orientation affect warming and drying
• The possible role of biological activity in warmer, healthier soils
• Brian’s observations on lake water temperatures and ice-out timing as indicators of spring field activity
• Practical tips for checking soil fit before planting

Helpful links

• Dairyland Seed website: https://www.dairylandseed.com/
• Dairyland Seed YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSY8ohS71_e8uBTb8IBurPvsSF82SziRX
• Contact your Dairyland Seed agronomist or DSM: https://www.dairylandseed.com/rep-finder.html

Episode notes

• Recorded May 1, 2026
• Host: Chad Staudinger, Dairyland Seed Northern Region Agronomist
• Guest: Brian Weller, Dairyland Seed Western Region Agronomist

Produced, edited and mixed by Corteva Agriscience.

All content is developed and produced by the Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team.

Guests do not necessarily reflect the views of Dairyland Seed, or Corteva Agriscience.

All agronomic information provided are merely suggestions. You should always do your own additional research and adhere to any local, state, or national laws.

LINKS

Follow Dairyland Seed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more product and agronomic content!

Learn more about Dairyland Seed at DairylandSeed.com

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Dairyland Seed Agronomy Cafe welcomes John Goeser, PhD, of Progressive Dairy Solutions for a fast-paced conversation on corn silage that blends economics, nutrition, and agronomy. John outlines a practical decision framework that pairs yield and quality with cost per acre to get to cost per ton of total digestible nutrients. He explains why year-to-year variation should be measured and managed, not feared, and how to generate better on-farm data with replicated comparisons and product experience plots. The discussion tackles BMR and conventional genetics, plant health and fungicide timing, inoculant choices, feed hygiene, and in-season moves like high cutting, green-chop sampling, and adjusting chop length to match conditions.

Topics discussed:

• Why corn silage remains the best-value on-farm energy source and why consistency matters
• A simple index to guide decisions: cost per ton of TDN from yield, starch, fiber, and their digestibility
• Variation explained with practical sampling and replication ideas that improve confidence
• Better comparisons using split-planter product experience plots and how to interpret those results
• BMR vs conventional silage: agronomic tradeoffs, economics, and why the industry can adapt
• Plant health and fungicide strategy: match chemistry and timing to likely disease pressure
• Green-chop sampling, high cutting, moisture checks, and chop length adjustments to manage tough years
• Teaming up with agronomists and nutritionists to walk fields and make calm, fact-based decisions

Helpful links:

• Hay and Forage Grower articles by John Goeser, PhD: https://hayandforage.com/by-author-25-1.html
• Contact your Dairyland agronomist or DSM: https://www.dairylandseed.com/contact-us.html

Episode notes:

• Recorded February 2026
• Host: Chad Staudinger, Dairyland Seed agronomist
• Guest: John Goeser, PhD, Progressive Dairy Solutions and UW adjunct
• Reminder: Always follow product labels and local recommendations

Produced, edited and mixed by Corteva Agriscience.

All content is developed and produced by the Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team.

Guests do not necessarily reflect the views of Dairyland Seed, or Corteva Agriscience.

All agronomic information provided are merely suggestions. You should always do your own additional research and adhere to any local, state, or national laws.

LINKS

Follow Dairyland Seed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more product and agronomic content!

Learn more about Dairyland Seed at DairylandSeed.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Corteva soybean breeder Charlie Zila joins Dairyland Seed agronomist Dan Ritter to explain how Corteva builds Dairyland Seed-ready varieties for the Midwest. The conversation covers what is bred and tested in our Windfall research lab, how short-day biology in Puerto Rico speeds population development, and how large, replicated networks deliver confident advancement decisions.

Charlie then unpacks soybean cyst nematode genetics, including why PI88788 dominance has consequences and how a complete Peking package delivers stronger protection. The episode closes with a practical update on red crown rot, where it has been confirmed, how it mimics SDS, and what Corteva is doing to screen, score, and prioritize tolerance in the pipeline.

Topics discussed:

• Corteva breeding focus and trait segments in Windfall, IN: Enlist E3, with conventional and high oleic testing
• Why fields with adapted SCN populations often respond better to Peking and how complete Peking is defined
• The complete Peking package
• Red crown rot in the Midwest: gradual movement north, counties with activity, and overlap with the SDS footprint
• Red pycnidia at the crown, when to send samples, and why many suspect cases still prove to be SDS
• Preliminary red crown rot scores in later maturities and ongoing nursery work in Illinois

Helpful links:

• Contact Dairyland agronomy support: https://www.dairylandseed.com/contact-us.html

Episode notes:

• Recorded in January 2026
• Host: Dan Ritter
• Guest: Charlie Zila, Corteva soybean breeding scientist

Produced, edited and mixed by Corteva Agriscience.

All content is developed and produced by the Dairyland Seed Agronomy Team.

Guests do not necessarily reflect the views of Dairyland Seed, or Corteva Agriscience.

All agronomic information provided are merely suggestions. You should always do your own additional research and adhere to any local, state, or national laws.

LINKS

Follow Dairyland Seed on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more product and agronomic content!

Learn more about Dairyland Seed at DairylandSeed.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.