There are many things you cannot control when growing plants, but you can control how much plant food you apply. Darren explains how farmers decide how much fertilizer to put on their fields.

Brian and Darren explain how farmers use technology to apply the proper rates of fertilizer across a field, how to identify and fix a sodic soil, and factors to consider when buying seed corn for next season.

The Hefty brothers explain how farmers use technology to apply fertilizer only where it is needed.

Find out what to look for on your soil test to see if you have a sodic soil, and steps you can take to fix the soil in the long term.

In this episode, Brian and Darren Hefty talk about: how to make all that winter precipitation work for you in the spring, how much Ca you need in your soil, and how to strip-till in a field thick with stalks and leaves. The Weed is roughstalk bluegrass, and protecting your bulk chemicals is the I...

Is a field ever too full of stalks and leaves to properly strip-till? The Hefty brothers say no. They share their advice from 20 years of planting in the black line.

If your base/sat Ca is not between 60-80% your soil structure is suffering say Brian and Darren. This secondary nutrient needs to be in balance with the other elements found in your field.

Learn how biotechnology and Golden Rice are saving lives, what levels of magnesium you should have in your soils, and how to have great weed control in the spring by spraying residual herbicides in the fall.

Learn why proper magnesium levels are important for your soils and your plants, and how to balance Mg with other nutrients.

Brian and Darren help you to identify and repair the compacted parts of your fields, and tell you how to prevent this pressing problem in the future.

It's all about balance in your soil and that's never more true then when looking at K. Potassium is maybe your crop's most important nutrient say the Heftys - you need to have the exact right amount.

The Hefty brothers talk about how water's always flowing on or below your soil, how to handle compacted soil, and how to determine the right amount of K to have in your soil. The Weed of the Week is the evasive Russian knapweed, and Darren talks Demco grain carts.

Tissue sampling can be a powerful diagnostic tool. Pulling samples on a regular basis can help you stay ahead of potential issues that have yet to visually reveal themselves. It may also allow the opportunity to take corrective action in a timely manner. But, this tool must be handled properly.

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Your crops are at the mercy of Mother Nature. As the season progresses, environmental conditions can stress your plants in various ways. Determining the proper response to these stresses in-season can be a challenge.

In this Back 2 Basics video, Brad and Ryan discuss weather and environmental is...

Two of the most important considerations when it comes to applying fertilizer are placement and timing.

For crops to reach their full potential, plant nutrition needs to have efficiency and maximum availability, regardless of how or when it is applied.

This Back 2 Basics video takes a closer l...

When plants come up short in micros like B, Cu or Mo, it can have negative effects in numerous processes within the plant - as well as an impact on harvest. But what are those processes? What does it looks like? And, most important, what can we do about it?

In this Back 2 Basics video, Brad and ...

Micronutrients may not be needed in large quantities to achieve optimal plant health, however, they cannot be overlooked if you are looking to maximize yields. Deficiencies of micronutrients like zinc, manganese and iron can significantly effect plant development throughout the season - and yield...

While primary nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are widely recognized as essential for plant growth, the secondary nutrients, calcium, magnesium and sulfur, are equally important. Unfortunately, secondary nutrient deficiencies can be difficult to identify and manage. But, we're...

Potassium is a critical nutrient for plant growth, playing a key role in photosynthesis, water uptake and overall plant health. Insufficient levels of this nutrient can have serious consequences for the health of your crop.

In this Back 2 Basics video, Brad and Ryan discuss potassium management ...

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth and development and is a key component of DNA and cell membranes. Every farmer should follow best practices with this primary nutrient to prevent deficiencies throughout the season.

In this Back 2 Basics video, Brad and Ryan discuss phosphorus bes...

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients for plant growth and is essential for crop yield and quality. Making sure your crops never run short makes all the difference come harvest.

In this Back 2 Basics video, Brad and Ryan discuss nitrogen management and deficiency watch-outs. Join the c...

Look at any bag, jug, or fertilizer label, and you will see three numbers separated by hyphens; these numbers represent nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content. This seems pretty straightforward, but how do you calculate how many actual pounds of nutrient is applied, and how does that calcula...

Businesses are encouraged to conduct assessments of their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. In short: What are you good at, what do you suck at, where will tomorrow’s money be made, and what things could put you out of business? The most critical element of an effective SWOT Analy...

The Hefty brothers discuss your best options for applying nitrogen in the fall.