a penney for your thoughts by Sean Blomgren & Andrew Penney
Sean and Andrew are back with Purdue's Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti to learn how nitrogen management and digital innovations research can be translated into practical solutions for growers.
You know ‘em, you love ‘em, and you’ve listened to ‘em for 99 episodes and counting. Sean and Andrew are sitting down for their 100th episode to reflect on the podcast they have built, the valuable insights they have gained, the professionals they have met along the way and to ask each other a few heartfelt questions.
Sean and Andrew are sitting down with Purdue’s Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti for a conversation about revolutions happening in the people, plants and processes involved in row crop systems.
Sean and Andrew sit down with Purdue’s Dr. Tommy Butts to dig into the nitty-gritty of weed control in corn and soybeans.
Sean and Andrew sit down with Purdue’s Dr. Tommy Butts to dig into the nitty-gritty of weed control in corn and soybeans.
Sean and Andrew are back with Purdue University’s Dr. Daniel Quinn to discuss the importance of keeping the fundamentals as the foundation when growing high-yield corn.
Sean and Andrew sit down with Purdue University’s Dr. Daniel Quinn to talk about what takes corn from average to high-yielding.
Sean and Andrew are back with another episode LIVE from Commodity Classic 2026, and this time, we’re talking with NCGA’s high-yield growers. In this edition of Our Two Cents, we’re exploring how these growers are pushing the limits of modern agriculture and advancing their yields.
Sean and Andrew are back with another episode LIVE from Commodity Classic 2026, and this time, we’re talking with NCGA’s high-yield growers. In this edition of Our Two Cents, we’re exploring how these growers are pushing the limits of modern agriculture and advancing their yields.
Sean and Andrew are kicking off our 2026 LIVE from Commodity Classic series with the Bayer team. In this edition of Our Two Cents, we’re exploring products, concepts and science that are driving the agriculture industry forward.
Sean and Andrew are back with Jim Ippolito from The Ohio State University to cover all things soil health management.
Sean and Andrew are joined by Jim Ippolito from The Ohio State University to dig into the science of soil health and fertility.
Sean and Andrew are back at Purdue University with resident tar spot expert Darcy Telenko.
Sean and Andrew are back at Purdue University with resident tar spot expert Darcy Telenko.
Sean and Andrew are back at Purdue University with soybean expert Shaun Casteel, talking about what makes the difference between traditional and high-yield soybean management, and how you can take your crop to the next level.
Sean and Andrew are at Purdue University to talk to soybean expert Shaun Casteel about the science of soybean production from seed to harvest.
Sean and Andrew are back with Daren “Dr. Know-It-All” Mueller and Alison Robertson at Iowa State University to hear their two cents on the intense disease pressure we saw in corn and soybean fields this season.
Sean and Andrew sit down with Daren “Dr. Know-It-All” Mueller and Alison Robertson at Iowa State University to hear their two cents on disease pressure facing corn and soybean fields.
Sean and Andrew are back with another episode from the University of Illinois' Crop Physiology Field Day. We've got the home team advantage with insights straight from the source.
Sean and Andrew are on-site in Champaign, Illinois at the annual Crop Physiology Field Day with Dr. Fred Below, Dr. Connor Sible and more agronomy experts! 🌱
Sean and Andrew are back with Maira Duffeck to discuss how to manage corn stunt disease and protect your yields.
Sean and Andrew sit down with Maira Duffeck from Oklahoma State University to hear her two cents on the latest disease attacking corn fields.
Sean and Andrew are back with Matt Darr and Ben Covington from Iowa State University’s On-Site Precision Technology team in ISU’s new Digital Ag Innovation Lab to hear their two cents on how advancing the technology on your farm is simpler than you might expect.
Sean and Andrew sit down with Matt Darr and Ryan Huffman from Iowa State University’s On-Site Precision Technology team in ISU’s new Digital Ag Innovation Lab to hear their two cents on the latest ag technology.
Join us for a fantastic discussion with Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig! We discuss industry advocacy and interacting with local and national governments. We discuss the future of Iowa agriculture, its impact on the national stage, and we even get some great insights into sustainability efforts in production agriculture!
Dr. Fred Below and Dr. Connor Sible provide us with practical insights into pushing the yield limits on our farms, offering research-backed suggestions accumulated over 40 years of learning. Tillage practices, fertility timing, fungicide, populations, and more! Join us for a fantastic episode!
Join us on the campus of The University of Illinois as we discuss the science behind high-yielding corn and soybeans with Dr. Fred Below and Dr. Connor Sible! Amazing insights into crop physiology, nutrient concentration, timing, and 40 years of understanding corn plants!
Soil Compaction, "often known as the hidden yield-limiting factor," can be minimized through strategic and intentional choices on our farms. Please tune in to hear the research and advice from Dr. John Fulton and his fantastic team at Ohio State University!
Soil compaction plays a massive role in corn and soybean production. Dr. Fulton provides insight into how these biological, chemical, and physical soil components are affected by soil compaction. We also gain insight into Dr. Fulton and his team's research to better understand this complex aspect of our soil health.
Episode #2 Live from Commodity Classic inside the Bayer booth! We are incredibly grateful for our hosts, DEKALB and Asgrow, and these incredible farmers for pushing the envelope on corn and soybean yields! Hear about their success in 2024 and their plans for the 2025 growing season!
Hear from Asgrow and Dekalb brand leadership and NCGA Corn winners as we go live from the Bayer Booth at the 2025 Commodity Classic in Denver!
2024 was an incredible year for The Preceon Smart Corn System! Join Andrew and me as we interview growers, FSRs, and the Bayer Launch team - Live from the 2025 GroundBreakers Year End Celebration Event in Tucson, Arizona!
Join Andrew and Sean on a journey with Bayer's exceptional leadership team! We will gain valuable insight into the Preceon Smart Corn System and dive deeper into the science, breeding, research, and development of the world's most innovative agriculture and technology company. It was a truly fantastic experience to hear from this leadership team during the Ground Breakers year-end celebration!
Dr. Travis Faske and Dr. Daren Mueller help us understand managing southern rust and other complicated diseases as we consider the 2024 growing season and critical takeaways for 2025!
Dr. Travis Faske from Arkansas State University and special guest co-host Dr. Daren Mueller from Iowa State University help us understand southern rust's pathogen and life cycle. Where did it come from, and what can we expect as we learn more about this disease that was so prevalent in 2024?
Dr. Mike Castellano provides insight into managing nitrogen programs and how to manage corn and soybean residue best.
Dr. Mike Castellano gives us an in-depth look at the science behind nitrogen, interactions with our soils, the process for creating ammonia, and the environmental considerations around nitrogen management. We also discuss the impact of residue and critical considerations for your residue management strategy.
Ear rots can lead to mycotoxins, significantly impacting grain quality and livestock. Learn more about managing these infections and the research looking at how the Viptera trait impacts the disease complex!
Ear Rots and Mycotoxins, BT Traits, and Viptera - Science and research at the University of Tennessee help us understand what to look out for and how to manage our corn crop!
Corn yields continue to climb - that means residue continues to build! The market is full of "management products," how should we think about residue management and crop physiology? Join Connor Sible as we take an in-depth look at his research, and he provides insight into best practices for growers!
Snake Oil or Viper Lipids? Dr. Connor Sible gives us an in-depth review of the biological space, including biostimulants, biological controls, and PGRs!
Which is more effective? A plane, drone, or ground rig? Tune in to discover the research results done over the past two years at Iowa State University!
Fungicides are evolving to meet the needs of our crops, and application methods are changing to be more timely! How do these new actives respond to varying application methods and results? Join Daren Mueller from Iowa State University and Andrew Penney as we discuss the testing protocols and collection methods to answer these questions!
Bayer launched the Preceon Smart Corn System with a fantastic group of growers in 2023! These groundbreakers helped pave the way for this exciting innovation in agriculture! Andrew and I had the pleasure of hearing from several critical leaders within Bayer during the wrap-up event in Arizona. Join us to listen to insights from these leaders as they discuss the Preceon Smart Corn System and the direction Bayer is headed with their science and technology!
These emerging diseases are moving further North each growing season! Dr. Tom Allen gives us insight into management strategies and key considerations when/if they hit our growing areas!
Corn diseases, soybean diseases, too many diseases!
Round 2 with Dr. Rodrigo Werle and special co-host Meaghan Anderson - We discuss corn herbicides and critical considerations for 2024 and beyond this time!
Managing Soybean Herbicides is becoming increasingly complex, and IPM concerns are mounting! Join our great co-host Meaghan Anderson and fellow nozzle head Rodrigo Werle as we discuss the intricacies of managing soybean herbicides in a constantly changing environment!
Hear from the inaugural group of Bayer Preceon Groundbreakers from 2023 as they discuss their experiences using short-stature hybrids, the management tactics they tried, and their excitement for next season!
Dr. Casteel from Purdue University guides Andrew and me through the research on the impact of high-input management in soybeans.
Dr. Shaun Casteel from Purdue University is back to discuss his research on high-speed planters in soybeans and the results of using digital imagery to analyze canopy and reflectance data to create yield prediction models!
How does high input management affect corn yield? Dr. Dan Quinn from Purdue University reveals how corn yields are affected by population, fungicide, starter fertilizer, sulfur, micronutrients, tissue sampling, nitrogen, and more! This jam-packed episode explores the results of the excellent research Purdue and Dr. Dan Quinn are doing!
Dr. Daniel J Quinn from Purdue University gives us an in-depth look at the science behind his research on high-management corn. Planting timing, population, fertilizer, application timing, and more are all discussed during this great peek behind the curtains at how a leading agriculture school is approaching high-yield management.
It's an awesome wrap-up episode! Dr. Shaun Casteel (Purdue University) talks to us about the importance of timely soybean planting. Root development vs. vegetative growth and the impact of soil fertility!
Dr. Dan Quinn from Purdue University and Field Extension Specialist Angie Rieck-Hinz from Iowa State University gave us key learnings from their 2023 growing seasons.
Drought, Corn Root Worm, Extended Diapause, Dectes Stem Bore, and more... Oh my! Join Dr. Nick Seiter, University of Illinois, and Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti for great insights from the 2023 challenging growing season and key takeaways as we plan for 2024!
A double dose of Nebraska! In his year-end review, Nathan Mueller discusses drought conditions, tar spot, gall midge, hybrids, maturity selections in corn and soybeans, and more! We welcome John Fech as our first arborist on the show! John talks about the impact of drought on turf and trees and gives us insight into how vital soil conditions are in challenging weather.
Meaghan discusses tarpot, soybeans, chemical stewardship, and other key takeaways from Iowa in 2023! Wayne weighs in on tarpot in Missouri, soybean gall midge, and other learnings from the past growing season!
How we manage our soybeans significantly impacts yield potential and can dramatically affect the complex diseases we face! Join us as we discuss working with the Diaporthe Complex with one of the industry's leading professionals, Dr. Febina Mathew, from North Dakota State University!
The Diaporthe complex is... extremely complex! Join Dr. Febina Mathew as we discuss the science behind this disease family. We cover stem canker, Diaporthe seed decay (Phomopsis), and pod and stem blight.
Dr. Mark Westgate discusses corn physiology and the effects of heat and drought stress on yield and plant resiliency. Dr. Westgate also discusses critical considerations as we consider plant partitioning and how to manage for the highest results on our own farms!
Join us as we discuss soybean physiology with Dr. Mark Westgate! We will discuss the unique characteristics of a C3 soybean plant. Management considerations and the impact heat and drought have on soybean growth and reproductive development.
Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti discusses the essential considerations for managing nitrogen in corn and soybeans. We gain critical insight into the amount of nitrogen we need, methods of applications, and pressing concerns around variability in soil types. Dr. Ciampitti also discusses nitrogen efficiency, considering the weather over the past few years!
Nitrogen is a foundational building block for our corn and soybeans. Dr. Ignacio takes us on a deep dive into the science of why nitrogen is essential, the forms widely available, and how this critical component of fertility interacts with our soil and plants!
Dr. Steve Whitham joins us to discuss the challenges of plant viruses. This complex conversation helps us understand key considerations when thinking about corn virus management.
RNAi is complicated!
In our last episode, we discussed the science behind soil sampling. This week, Dr. Dorivar Ruiz Diaz helps us understand how to practically apply the information to make the best real-world fertilizer applications. Andrew and Dr. Dorivar Ruiz Diaz also discuss the challenges of adjusting PH and ensuring our soil is balanced for the high yields we are pursuing!
Dr. Dorivar Ruiz Diaz from Kansas State University gives an in-depth look at soil sciences. We discuss how to sample and interpret soil samples. Balanced fertility is critical to our high-yield goals. Soil science is the basis for understanding how to accomplish our on-farm objectives!
What is the practical application of the research being done at the University of Wisconsin Madison? How do we apply the learnings of Dr. Conley and his team to our soybean fields?
Shawn Conley is back by popular demand!
Darcy Telenko and Darren Mueller join Andrew and me as we examine the management considerations for this complex disease in the corn! Hybrid reviews, application of fungicide timing, and delivery method are all covered!
Darcy Telenko is one of the most respected pathologist and has been on the forefront of this challenging disease since 2018!
Dr. Greg Tylka walks us through the tools and management practices we should consider to combat this difficult pest! Rotations, soybean resistance, and new tools on the market! Join us for an in-depth look at soybean cyst nematode management.
Dr. Greg Tylka gives us an in-depth look at soybean cyst nematodes! The science behind their survival in the winter, infection in soybean plants, and the reproductive nature of this pest! We even discuss the science behind corn cyst!
Join us as we discuss the best management practices for Pythium and Phytophthora with Dr. Santiago Mideros from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Enjoy this episode as we dig deep into the science behind Oomycete pathogens, specifically Pythium & Phytophthora, in corn and soybeans with our special guest Dr. Santiago Mideros from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Ty Barten discusses the exciting potential of short-stature hybrids, and the management practices growers can adopt alongside this new technology. We discuss plant population, nutritional considerations, and fungicide use.
Ty Barten talks to us about Short Corn! Short-stature hybrids have the opportunity to impact agriculture in a significant way. Listen as Ty talks about the science behind this exciting new plant structure!
Dr. Edwin Benkert III gives an in-depth look at insecticides, rotational practices, and RNAi, the newest technology in 2023! Join us as we get in-depth ideas on best management practices for corn on corn fields in 2023.
Join us as we discuss the science of corn rootworm with Dr. Edwin Benkert III from Bayer Crop Science. Edwin helps us understand the science behind this incredibly damaging pest and the science behind the tools we can use to mitigate them! Part 1 covers the science and part 2 we will dive into grower management!
Join us as we discuss optimal planter set-ups with Scott Meldrum, Integrated Solutions Manager with Van Wall Equipment (John Deere), and Scott Chizmar, Precision Farming Specialist with Sievers Equipment Company (Case IH).
Join Dr. Damon Smith from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as we discuss the science behind white mold in soybeans. Dr. Smith gives us an in-depth view of this soybean pathogen.
Matt Nelson is our guest co-host as we interview Dr. Bill Johnson. Join us as we discuss all things weed science and chemistry!
Andrew Penney and Sean Blomgren. Part four of our agronomist series! Hear key takeaways and highlights from the 2022 growing season and insights into planning for 2023! Join Dean Grossnickle, Jim McDermott, Lauren Botine, and Neal Borgmeyer!
Dr. Marty Chilvers from Michigan State University discusses in-depth the research and questions he is focused on. What do we know about this disease, and what challenges are posed by researching the pathogen?
Join us as we discuss crown rot with industry expert Dr. Tamra Jackson-Ziems from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. This complex disease was prevalent in 2022! What considerations should we make as we plan our 2023 crop?
Harvest updates from Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri! Hear from growers as they recount their season-long observations, harvest updates, and key takeaways from 2022!
Join Shawn Conley, www.coolbean.info Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, as we discuss high-yield management in soybeans.
Join our special guest, professor of Ag Economics Michael Langemeier from the University of Purdue, as we discuss the world supply of Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus. Where does our fertility come from? What affects supply? What should we expect of prices? How do we apply this information to our farms in 2023 and beyond?
Where does our corn go as it dries down? Why is there less grain in the bin when we haul it out than when we put it in? What is the idea harvest moisture? Join Andrew and Sean as they discuss these topics with Dr. Mark Licht from Iowa State University!
Our special guest Kiersten Wise, Ph.D with the University of Kentucky discusses ear rots, mycotoxins and grain management! Scouting for ear rots, managing grain storage and understanding affects of grain quality for livestock producers.
Weeds matter all year long. How do we evaluate weeds and herbicides from the combine cab? Join Bayer agronomist Matt Nelson as we discuss! Connect with Matt Nelson on Twitter @mnelson_isu or his cell at +1 (712) 540-8419
Iowa State University’s Daren Mueller discusses Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome. Disease origins and management practices, as well as what to expect for the remainder of the growing season!
A Penney for Your Thoughts is hosted by Sean Blomgren, agronomist and owner of Blomgren Seed from Boone, Iowa, and Andrew Penney, plant doctor and Preceon agronomy lead for Bayer Crop Science from Ames, Iowa. We cover all things agronomy and high-yield management, share what we're seeing in the field and bring in trusted voices from the industry to deliver timely, relevant insights that matter to your farm. By combining real-time updates from the field with expert insights from industry professionals, we help you achieve your highest yields yet. It's ag talk that just makes cents.
