In this episode of MN CropCast, hosts Dave Nuclei and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Bryce Nelson, a veteran independent crop consultant and the current president of the Minnesota Independent Crop Consultants Association (MNICCA).

With over four decades of boots-on-the-ground experience serving southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, Bryce shares his unique perspective on how the crop consulting industry has shifted to meet the demands of modern agriculture.

Key Highlights from the Episode:

● The True Meaning of Independence: Bryce explains the strict philosophy behind MICCA. By remaining completely separate from product sales, independent consultants act as unbiased advocates focused solely on maximizing the farmer's return on investment.

● Agronomic Evolution: A look at how weed management has come full circle—from the complex chemistry battles of the 1980s, through the simplicity of the Roundup era, and back to today’s high-stakes battle over resistance management.

● The Modern, Specialized Farmer: How the new generation of business-first growers are moving away from trying to do it all, instead building trusted teams of specialists—from risk consultants to agronomists—to manage inputs.

● In the Field Trends: Bryce breaks down how regional corn and soybeans are tracking after weathering erratic weather. Fortunately, deep spring roots have set the crop up for success. However, growers are combating rising threats like tar spot and southern rust in corn while balancing tough economic realities with critical fungicide decisions on the soybean side.

Looking for unbiased agronomic advice? Whether you want to learn how MICCA’s statewide text-and-chat network helps consultants track pest migrations in real-time, or you need to find a specialist in your neck of the woods, this episode is packed with unfiltered farming wisdom.

Head over to MNICCA.com to find the member directory and connect with an independent expert in your county!

Is the future of corn production standing a little shorter? In this episode of the Minnesota Cropcast, hosts Dave Nicolai and Dr. Seth Naeve sit down with Dr. Jeff Coulter, University of Minnesota Extension Corn Specialist, to explore a novel (and highly visual) shift in corn hybrid technology: short stature corn.

While traditional corn towers at 9 to 12 feet, new hybrids are keeping the canopy at 7 feet or less—without sacrificing the yields growers require. Dr. Coulter breaks down the history, the agronomics, and the cutting-edge research happening right here in Minnesota.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Physics of Standing Tall: Why shorter, fatter stalks and deeper root systems may provide added resistance to lodging and green snap during severe wind events.
• Populations Drive Higher Yields: How these compact plants tolerate higher plant populations, allowing growers to pack more plants per acre to drive up grain yield.
• The Silage Advantage: Why short stature corn may be a high-quality alternative for corn silage, potentially delivering a greater starch concentration due to its optimized grain-to-stover ratio.
• In-Season Accessibility: How 7-foot corn makes it easier for ground rigs to get through the field for late-season applications of fungicides or other products.
• The Harvest Hurdle: A candid look at the challenges of lower ear heights (and how drought conditions can impact harvestability.

Sneak Peek: Redefining Nitrogen Efficiency

Dr. Coulter also shares details on an exciting new three-year study funded by the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council. The project is putting three standard hybrids and three short stature hybrids head-to-head under six different nitrogen rates to determine if short corn can deliver better nitrogen use efficiency—potentially saving growers significant input costs.

Don't miss out on the most interesting agronomic breakthrough. Listen now to Episode #69 of Minnesota CropCast on your favorite podcast platform!

Special Guest: Ken Franzky, Agronomy Services Manager at Cenrol Crop Consulting.

Hosts: David Nicolai, University of Minnesota Extension Educator, and Seth Naeve, University of Minnesota Soybean Specialist

In Episode #68 of MN CropCast, we are thrilled to welcome Ken Franzky from Centrol Crop Consulting out of Marshall, MN.

Ken Grew up on a farm in West Central Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He worked in the seed industry under several brands for both Syngenta and Pioneer before joining Centrol in 2015. At Centrol, his primary roles include:

• Technical Training: Managing agronomic competency standards and training for consultants.
• Education & Diagnostics: Leading internal cross-department training and providing in-field diagnostic assistance.
• Industry Relations: Handling interactive product training with agricultural companies and acting as a communication bridge with university personnel.

Ken discusses his managerial role at Centrol and highlights some of the challenges faced by a complex and evolving agricultural system in terms of implementing a detailed training system for Centol’s crop consultants to maintain their technical competencies. Ken also discusses the importance of evaluating every acre for inputs and yield potentials. Maximizing net returns for farmers over time is the key for folks advising farmers today.

Ken also provided a crop update for corn and soybeans growing in western and southern Minnesota this season.

Tune in to Episode #68 today to meet Ken Franzky and Centrol Consulting! Available wherever you listen to podcasts.