Boots In The Field Report
342 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 35 ratingsOne of the founding pillars of Crop-Tech Consulting is integrating a systems approach to farming. Crop-Tech is continually adding to their expertise and services. To aid in this process, CTC conducts over 150 test plots every year and works in conjunction with Farm Journal to gather research data on the industry’s equipment, practices, and technology. The Boots in the Field Report features Crop-Tech Consulting agronomist Ken Ferrie. He will keep you up-to-date by describing what he is seeing while in the field.
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Episodes
Boots In The Field Report March 27, 2020
March 27, 2020 00:00 - 11 minutes - 7.71 MBKen clears up some confusion on how much efficiency credit to give banded N and making sure you are thinking through your carbon load to make sure your corn doesn't have a bad day.
Boots In The Field Report March 13, 2020
March 13, 2020 00:00 - 1 hour - 6.5 MBWith wheels starting to roll on the spring 2020 season, Ken reminds growers that 80% of the compaction that causes issues comes from the 1st tillage pass in the spring. He also covers a real-life example of how the 4Rs playout when weather and conditions turn against you.
Boots In The Field Report February 28, 2020
February 28, 2020 00:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBIn this week's Boots in The Field Report Ken runs the number on Starter. While he shares the advantage he has seen to starter, he also cautions that you can spend yourself into a negative ROI if you aren't careful.
Boots In The Field Report February 10, 2020
February 10, 2020 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.06 MBIn this week’s Boots In The Field Report Ken advises to think the opposite when planting early season beans. Unlike normal planting, when going for early beans the key is planting longer season beans first to give them the best chance of flowering before the solstice. He also shares his concerns about spring stripping anhydrous and planting corn on top of the strip.
Boots In The Field Report January 30, 2020
January 30, 2020 00:00 - 10 minutes - 7.25 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken tackles the topic of starter, ranging from product, placement, rate, and desired outcome.
Boots In The Field Report January 10, 2020
January 10, 2020 00:00 - 12 minutes - 8.31 MBIn the first Boots In The Field Report podcast of 2020, Ken tackles the question of hybrid selection. He lays out a process for selecting the right hybrid for each specific field and advises that even though it takes time and effort, the results show up in ROI. He commends growers that are willing to change their management style to fit the selected hybrid and warns producers using only a hybrid that fits their management style will have a smaller pool of hybrids to select from. No m...
Boots In The Field Report December 24, 2019
December 24, 2019 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.08 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers winners of the hand-shelling day, how to overcome fallow syndrome next year, and reminds growers to check their bins and bags if they put away grain wet.
Boots In The Field Report December 9, 2019
December 09, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.49 MBIts December, do I still need to protect my nitrogen applications? Ken discusses the risk of nitrogen loss and when protection is required. Ken also talks about tillage and strip till conditions, and when to tell if it is too wet to run an inline ripper.
Boots In The Field Report November 29, 2019
November 29, 2019 00:00 - 12 minutes - 8.8 MBIn this week’s Boots In The Field Report Ken Ferrie advises that you can't just dream of planting early beans, you have to put a plan in place to make it a reality. He walks through what conversations and plans need to be happening now. He also covers fall burn down questions and gets insights on how NE Iowa farmers are fighting to finish #harvest19
Boots In The Field Report November 22, 2019
November 22, 2019 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.25 MBIn this edition of Boots In the Field Report Ken gives the harvest report for this week as growers are dragging their operation across the finish line of #harvest19. He also previews some of the data from plots that came out this week.
Boots In The Field Report November 15, 2019
November 15, 2019 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.31 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field report Ken covers how much is left to harvest, average yields, and gas shortage concerns from our customer base and also announces the Hand Harvest and Basics Meeting Dates.
Boots In The Field Report November 11, 2019
November 07, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.7 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken advises, from here on out, field dry down will be "slow as molasses in January" and hopes farmers took him seriously in the June podcast that advised making backup plans for getting this year's crop dried when everyone in the Midwest is harvesting wet.
Boots In The Field Report October 31, 2019
October 31, 2019 00:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken takes a deep dive into what our soybean plots have been telling us about where yield comes from. He poses the question of can flowering before the solstice lower soybean yields?
Boots In The Field Report October 23, 2019
October 23, 2019 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.17 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken talks surprising bean yields, crown rot, and advice on fall tillage as harvest rolls on.
Boots In The Field Report October 16, 2019
October 16, 2019 00:00 - 8 minutes - 5.86 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken gives a recap of harvest from across the US and spots throughout IL. He advises to keep a close eye on harvest order and encourages growers to harvest corn while waiting for beans to be ready. To get this crop out before the winter weather, growers will have to make use of every hour they get.
Boots In The Field Report October 8, 2019
October 08, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.37 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken focuses on harvest loss and how to avoid it. From header loss to threshing loss, he works through suggestions to make sure you are hauling away as much of the grain as you can.
Boots In The Field Report October 1, 2019
October 01, 2019 00:00 - 38 minutes - 7 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers the rainfall and yield reports coming in across the state and also issues the challenge of taking the time to calibrate yield monitors for this abnormal year to get the unique data that only unusual years like this will provide. He also covers the difference in what the recent heavy rainfall will mean for April/early May corn compared to late May/June corn.
Boots In The Field Report September 23, 2019
September 23, 2019 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.74 MBIn this week’s Boots In The Field Report Ken covers early harvest reports, warns about early planted fields that were not sprayed coming apart and being on the lookout for ear mold due to earworm damage. He also starts the discussion on what needs to be done this fall to reset field conditions after the sins of this past spring so that we start with our full potential for the 2020 crop.
Boots In The Field Report September 17, 2019
September 17, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.27 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report, Ken covers tough conditions in Ohio, his prediction on which fields won't make black layer, and warns that the size of the yield hit due to Top Kill will be determined by how close the field is to black layer. He also advises the pest team to begin doing "push tests" on stalks for stand-ability to start creating a field harvest order and not to solely rely on planting date or moisture to set that order.
Boots In The Field Report September 12, 2019
September 12, 2019 00:00 - 8 minutes - 6.05 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers the need for sunshine and encourages pest teams to watch how their soybean fields are turning, indicating that if it is turning unevenly then there is a need to figure out why. He also reports on increased Goss's wilt, Tar Spot and Anthracnose sightings. Ken had a chance to talk with Adam Spelhaug from Peterson Farms Seed in North Dakota to see how crops are shaping up in their area.
Boots In The Field Report September 4, 2019
September 04, 2019 00:00 - 10 minutes - 7.27 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers tar spot movement, an increase of Northern Leaf Blight and Common Rust showing up, and reports of tip and ear mold present. He shares some positive news on the corn aphid front but warns about keeping an eye out for them in the beans and watching the early planted beans for sudden death. Ken also talks with a grower from North East Iowa to recap the growing season and current crop conditions.
Boots In The Field Report August 26, 2019
August 26, 2019 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.46 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken recaps his farm visits this week from the Blue Mound area all the way up to Canada. Ken covers what the pest bosses need to be on the lookout for and what the crop conditions and outlooks are in Canada.
Boots In The Field Report August 19, 2019
August 19, 2019 00:00 - 10 minutes - 7.23 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers how this crop is shaping up in comparison to last year, tips for doing your own yield estimates, and a warning about the exploding aphid populations. He also covers the nitrogen deficiencies he is seeing in corn and the stink bugs sightings in beans.
Boots In The Field Report August 9, 2019
August 13, 2019 00:00 - 7 minutes - 5.22 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers increased aphid pressures in June planted corn, the importance of knowing where your physoderma brown spot fields are for harvest order, if your rootworm pressure is getting around your traits for next year's corn on corn fields and what we need to finish off these bean fields.
Boots In The Field Report August 2, 2019
August 02, 2019 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.84 MBThings look better from the road, but we are not out of the woods yet. Ken provides a regional crop report and talks pollination issues and disease levels he has witnessed from the fields he has been in this week, and what to look for in corn and bean fields in the coming weeks. Proper nitrogen management is becoming very evident from the air, don't assume all is well in fields with all nitrogen applied up front, even if it was applied late this spring, scout to ensure there are no ...
Boots In The Field Report July 19, 2019
July 18, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.79 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field report Ken recaps the round robin crop report from the field day, what the pest team should be on the lookout for and what the hot weather is doing to our corn.
Boots In The Field Report July 12, 2019
July 12, 2019 00:00 - 7 minutes - 6.81 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers growth stage progress, insects and diseases to be on the lookout for, and what this weed pressure will mean for next year.
Boots In The Field Report July 3, 2019
July 03, 2019 00:00 - 14 minutes - 9.78 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken warns not to let looks fool you when comparing early planted corn and the June planted corn. While the early corn has height, most of it is lacking in evenness, Ken covers what that means for pest bosses. He also explains what fallow syndrome is and what we can do this year and next to combat it on prevent plant acres.
Boots In The Field Report June 28, 2019
June 28, 2019 00:00 - 30 seconds - 8.24 MBKen touches on a lot of topics in this week's Boots In The Field Report. He starts with a report on percent planted, then covers keeping fields clean, row crop cultivating, rootworm floats, and the effect of heat on this short corn.
Boots In The Field Report June 21, 2019
June 21, 2019 00:00 - 9 minutes - 6.62 MBKen gives a crop report from IL to Canada and recommends getting plans in place now for a wet harvest to get yourself in a good position come fall.
Boots In The Field Report June 7, 2019
June 07, 2019 00:00 - 55 seconds - 10.6 MBKen talks weeds in prevent plant fields, stand evaluation and replant in marginal fields, and sightings of yellow corn and beans in this week's Boots In The Field Report.
Boots In The Field Report For May 31, 2019
May 31, 2019 00:00 - 11 minutes - 7.92 MBKen hits on a lot of topics in this week's Boots In The Field Report but the main focus is not throwing in the towel too soon. There is a lot of growing season left and farmers need to bring their A-game. He talks what to do with population for both corn and beans in late planting, how it affects our nitrogen program, and insect windows.
Boots In The Field Report May 24, 2019
May 24, 2019 00:00 - 12 minutes - 8.74 MBKen focuses on two things in this week's Boots In The Field Report: 1. In the scramble to get this crop in, don't drop the ball on fields that did get planted. Never walk away from a growing crop. 2. Farmers have some tough decisions to make, but they need to be made based upon facts and not emotion and on a field by field basis.
Boots In The Field Report May 10, 2019
May 09, 2019 17:46 - 9 minutes - 8.48 MBOnce farmers get this crop in the ground, they will have to use all of their resources to hang onto their yield all the way to the finish line. Ken talks about #plant19 and how later planting affects the need for starter and insecticide in this week's Boots In The Field Report.
Boots In The Field Report May 3, 2019
May 03, 2019 00:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBWhen is it time to start thinking about changing maturities? Ken takes an in-depth look at the numbers behind making changes to what day hybrid you plant and the season long implications this decision will have. Ken helps to remove some of the emotion and stress of passing calendar days with a focus on how to make plans to capture as much yield as possible with the growing season we have left.
Boots In The Field Report April 25, 2019
April 29, 2019 00:00 - 8 minutes - 5.78 MBKen talks weather delays and the importance of not letting your fertilizer plans delay your planting window in this week’s Boots In The Field Report. He also covers what to look for in compaction culprits and which environments need to wait and which ones can move ahead.
Boots In The Field Report April 22, 2019
April 22, 2019 15:43 - 11 minutes - 7.88 MBThis week's Boots In The Field Report is all about planter set-up. Working from the front to the back, where to check for issues before you head to the field.
Boots In The Field Report April 12, 2019
April 12, 2019 00:00 - 9 minutes - 16.4 MBKen covers what he has been seeing this week as he drives fields with farmers. This week's report covers: filling in ruts, anhydrous application train-wrecks, and plan adjustments based on the weather pattern.
Boots In The Field Report April 5, 2019
April 05, 2019 00:00 - 10 minutes - 17.7 MBThis week on the Boots In The Field Report Ken covers what questions to consider when trying to reduce your pesticide bills.
Boots In The Field Report March 29, 2019
March 29, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 11.6 MBIn response to the large number of questions coming in this week on this very topic, Ken talks about options for fixing ruts and erosion in no till and reduced till environment
Boots In The Field Report March 15, 2019
March 15, 2019 00:00 - 12 minutes - 19.8 MBDidn't get your fall nitrogen on? Ken talks nitrogen options for this spring and touches on the risk of late spring NH3.
Boots In The Field Report March 12, 2019
March 12, 2019 00:00 - 10 minutes - 17.6 MBThis week Ken tackles the difference in zone vs grid soil testing. Today's technology is ever increasing, in the amount and accuracy of data layers farmer have access to when making management decisions. Variability within the field can accurately be mapped and a proper soil testing program should respect and incorporate this variability, something simple grid soil testing fails to do.
Boots In The Field Report March 4, 2019
March 04, 2019 00:00 - 13 minutes - 22.7 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken tackles the question of seed quality and how that can affect your plans for early planted beans.
Boots In The Field Report February 26th 2019
February 26, 2019 00:00 - 10 minutes - 17.2 MBAs planting season fast approaches, Ken tackles a question he has gotten a lot this winter: Is my current nitrogen management program adequately address the carbon penalty. Ken also discuss the ever present debate of what the best source of nitrogen is. He works through the questions that can bring you to the right answer specific to this year and for your farming environment.
Boots In The Field Report February 18, 2019
February 18, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 10.7 MBIn this week's Boots In The Field Report Ken covers the new things the crew took in while down at the 2019 National Farm Machinery Show.
Boots In The Field Report February 8, 2019
February 08, 2019 00:00 - 10 minutes - 8.04 MBKen takes the time during this week's Boots In The Field Report to discuss why hybrid characteristics is such a focus for Crop-Tech and the reaction to the information while presenting out on the road.
Boots In The Field Report February 4, 2019
February 04, 2019 00:00 - 8 minutes - 7.38 MBThis week Ken covers the complexity behind a sound nitrogen recommendation with an update from what’s happening in the Lake Erie Watershed.
Boots In The Field Report January 25, 2019
January 25, 2019 00:00 - 9 minutes - 8.66 MBIn this week’s Boots In The Field Report, Ken talks about the positive aspects of this recent cold snap. He encourages growers to check out their inefficiencies of the past year and make corrections for the coming season!
Boots In The Field Report January 18, 2019
January 18, 2019 00:00 - 6 minutes - 4.78 MBKen reports from Canada in this week's Boots In the Field Report. He covers how no matter what day corn you plant, knowing your hybrid characteristics will be to your benefit. Start with the field first, know its strengths and weaknesses and then pick a hybrid that takes advantages of the strengths and then farm around the weaknesses.
Boots In The Field Report for January 15, 2019
January 15, 2019 00:00 - 8 minutes - 14.3 MBKen talks about taking your yield map meeting to the next level. This week he goes over what growers are bringing to the table in his most productive meetings and tips for getting the most out of the session.