Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast Podcast By Brian Arnall Ph.D. Dave Deken Josh Lofton Ph.D. cover art

Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast

Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast

By: Brian Arnall Ph.D. Dave Deken Josh Lofton Ph.D.
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The Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast is your source for in-depth discussions on agronomy explicitly tailored for the unique challenges and opportunities in Oklahoma and the Southern Plains. Hosted by a team of university experts, this podcast dives into soil health, crop production, pest management, and innovative farming practices, all with a regional focus. Whether you're a seasoned agronomist, a dedicated farmer, or simply passionate about agriculture in the Red Dirt region, this podcast offers practical advice, expert insights, and the latest research to help you thrive in your field. Tune in and stay connected to the heart of agronomy in the Southern Great Plains.2026 - Ag Now Media LLC Natural History Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • The Power of Local Ag Events & Answers - RDA 512

    The Power of Local Ag Events & Answers - RDA 512
    Mar 31 2026
    At the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference, we visit with Jennifer Patterson, Payne County Extension ag educator, about how local agricultural programming comes together and why it still matters for Oklahoma producers. From cattle markets and forage fertility to weed control and producer education, Jennifer explains how Extension listens first, then builds programs around the issues producers are actually facing. This episode also offers a closer look at the day-to-day reality of county Extension work. Jennifer talks about moving from Adair and Sequoyah counties to Payne County, learning a new region, working across diverse audiences, and helping connect rural communities to research-based answers. It is a conversation about service, problem-solving, and the people helping keep agriculture informed and connected. Top 10 takeaways Extension succeeds by listening first. Jennifer makes clear that the best programs start with the real questions producers are already asking.Local conferences still matter. The Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference works because it gives producers face-to-face access to timely, practical information.County Extension work is highly local. Even within Oklahoma, the needs in Payne County differ from those in Adair and Sequoyah counties.Producer concerns drive programming. Topics like cattle markets, forage quality, fertility, and weed control shaped this event because they are the issues producers are dealing with now.Extension serves more than one audience. In Payne County, educators may help cow-calf producers, stocker operators, homesteaders, gardeners, and commercial horticulture clients all in the same week.Relationships are a major part of Extension. Whether it is with producers, community partners, or state specialists, trust helps turn questions into solutions.Hands-on programs have lasting value. Jennifer’s enthusiasm for pasture tours and the Hoof to Hook program shows how effective experiential learning can be.Youth livestock education can go beyond showing. The feedout program connects young people to cattle production, carcass outcomes, and management decisions from start to finish.Extension careers are rewarding but unpredictable. Jennifer describes the work as diverse, meaningful, and never the same two days in a row.Extension is still underused in many communities. One of the strongest themes in the episode is that many people do not fully realize how much help is available through their county office. Detailed Timestamped Rundown 00:03–00:58 Dave opens Episode 512 and introduces the conversation from the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference, emphasizing Extension’s role in helping producers navigate real-world agricultural challenges.00:58–01:31 The team introduces the show and transitions into the live conversation recorded February 13, 2026, in Stillwater.01:31–02:15 Jennifer Patterson joins the podcast and is introduced as the organizer of the conference and Payne County Extension ag educator.02:16–03:10 Jennifer explains that she has been in Payne County about a year and a half and describes the conference as a regional, multi-county event designed around current producer concerns.03:12–04:18 The group discusses the speaker lineup, including the range of topics covered and the importance of making educational sessions approachable and interactive.04:18–06:11 Jennifer highlights the value of speakers like Derrell Peel and Megan Roth, especially with ongoing interest in cattle markets, herd rebuilding, and bull selection.06:12–08:11 Brian asks Jennifer about moving from Adair and Sequoyah counties to Payne County. She explains differences in rainfall, forage systems, native grasses, weed pressure, and local production conditions.08:11–09:23 Jennifer reflects on the pace of the Payne County office and the strong local engagement she has seen from producers and community members.09:23–10:59 The discussion turns to public awareness of Extension. Jennifer explains that many people still do not fully understand what Extension offers beyond 4-H.10:59–12:23 Josh and Brian talk about the unique mix of audiences in Payne County, where rural agricultural issues overlap with homeowner and horticulture questions in Stillwater.12:23–15:18 Jennifer describes how educators often work together across agriculture, horticulture, and homesteading topics because clientele frequently have questions that cross categories.15:19–17:12 The group discusses the need to know your audience. Jennifer explains that successful Extension programming depends on adapting the message to the people in the room.17:12–20:08 Josh raises the idea that Payne County might be viewed differently because it is home to the university. Jennifer says some local clients already know campus specialists, which can be helpful but also intimidating.20:08–22:17 Jennifer talks about future programming, including pasture tours, outdoor educational opportunities, pesticide meetings, and ...
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    33 mins
  • Bring Pastures Back Fast: Recovery That Lasts - RDA 511

    Bring Pastures Back Fast: Recovery That Lasts - RDA 511
    Mar 25 2026
    High cattle prices can make it tempting to push pasture ground harder than ever, but what happens when the grass gives out before the market does? In this episode, Dave Deken, Dr. Brian Arnall, and Dr. Josh Lofton visit with OSU Extension Forage Specialist Brian Pugh about pasture recovery, grazing pressure, and the management decisions producers need to make now to protect long-term forage production. They break down the difference between native and introduced systems, why rest matters, and how too many cows with too few inputs can quietly drive a pasture into decline. Their conversation also digs into what recovery really looks like. Introduced forages like bermudagrass can rebound quickly with rest, nutrients, and weed control, while native range may take much longer and demands more careful timing. Along the way, the group discusses soil testing, stocking rates, drought carryover, old world bluestem in western Oklahoma, TEFF as an annual option, and why more producers should start thinking about pasture management the same way they think about crop management. Top 10 takeaways Pasture recovery starts with management, not luck. Rest, fertility, and weed control are the backbone of rebuilding forage systems.Many producers are still stocked for a cheap-input era that no longer exists. High cattle numbers with reduced inputs is a recipe for forage decline.Native grasses need a different rest schedule than introduced forages. Pugh recommends resting native grasses after July 10, while bermudagrass benefits from a few weeks of rest before frost.Introduced forages can rebound surprisingly fast. Damaged bermudagrass can recover in a single season when pressure is reduced and nutrients and weed control are addressed.Native range recovery is slower and requires more patience. Native plants may remain alive below ground even when above-ground growth looks poor.Pasture should be managed more like a crop. Soil tests, nutrient plans, and intentional competition control are just as important in forage systems as they are in row crops.Economics drive bad grazing decisions as much as biology does. Strong cattle markets can encourage overstocking, especially when crop returns are weak.Emotions make herd reduction hard. Cow-calf operations are not easy to scale down quickly because of years of investment in genetics and herd building.Regional forage fit matters. Bermudagrass may work well in some areas, while old world bluestem, native mixes, or carefully managed annuals make more sense farther west.Recovery costs money. Producers often wait until the financial picture worsens before rebuilding pasture, but the inputs needed for recovery do not disappear. Detailed Timestamped Rundown 00:03–01:02 Dave opens the episode and frames the main topic: forage systems, pasture recovery, cattle prices, input costs, and long-term pasture health. He previews discussion on worn-out pastures, resting native grasses, introduced forage recovery, and regional differences across Oklahoma.01:02–01:40 Dave points listeners to the Red Dirt Agronomy website, then introduces the usual crew: Brian Arnall and Josh Lofton.01:40–02:45 The recorded interview begins from the Central Oklahoma Cattle Conference in Stillwater on February 13, 2026. Brian Pugh is introduced as OSU’s state forage extension specialist.02:45–04:20 The group recaps the conference session. Early expectations were that producers would mostly ask weed questions, especially around bermudagrass, but the bigger theme became forage system management under current economics.04:20–05:09 Brian Pugh explains that many producers are still managing herds and forage stands like inputs are cheap, even though fertilizer and other costs are far higher now. His point: too many mouths to feed and too few inputs is putting pressure on forage systems.05:09–06:32 Brian Arnall says one forgotten practice is pasture rest, especially in native systems. He argues many producers are grazing too late into the season, especially at the very time native grasses need to recover and recharge below ground reserves.06:13–06:32 Pugh gives a practical native pasture benchmark: after July 10 is when they recommend rest for natives. For bermudagrass, he says a three- to four-week rest before frost, often in October, helps stand health.06:32–08:15 The team discusses how drought, rising fertilizer prices, and the need for forage have led to widespread decline in native pasture condition. Pugh gives an example of carrying too many cows on a declining native system and slowly slipping from one cow per 10 acres to one cow per 8, then worse, as undesirable plants take over.08:15–10:15 Josh asks why producers quit using rest as part of management. The group suggests cattle numbers, tighter economics, incomplete management information, and the lingering influence of older production mindsets all played a role. They also note cheap fertilizer in the 1980s and 1990s made it easier to support...
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    34 mins
  • How Soybeans Shape Oklahoma - RDA 510

    How Soybeans Shape Oklahoma - RDA 510
    Mar 18 2026
    Soybeans are a lot more than a crop in the field, and this episode proves it. Dave Deken and Brian Arnall visit with Rick and Ginger Reimer of the Oklahoma Soybean Board about how soybean checkoff dollars are being invested in research, producer outreach, education, and consumer awareness across Oklahoma. From Red Dirt Soy and production research to classroom workshops and virtual reality tools, the Reimers share how the board is helping connect agriculture to both producers and the public. The conversation also digs into soybean rotations, the crop’s spread into new parts of Oklahoma, why soybeans are so important to livestock agriculture, and how the board has even supported feral hog control because of the damage those animals cause to crops and pasture. It’s a wide-ranging look at how soybean leadership, Extension partnerships, and strategic outreach are helping strengthen agriculture from the farm gate to the classroom Top 10 Takeaways This episode reframes soybeans as much more than a crop. The Oklahoma Soybean Board is investing not only in production research, but also in education, livestock-connected outreach, and public understanding of agriculture.Teacher training is one of the board’s biggest multiplier strategies. Ginger says the board has worked with nearly 800 teachers and is reaching around 20,000 students annually through workshops and classroom-ready materials.The soybean checkoff is tightly accountable. Rick emphasizes audits, compliance reviews, and documentation because every dollar being spent belongs to soybean producers.Research is still the budget anchor. Rick estimates about 60% of retained board funds go toward research, with another 20% to 30% supporting education and outreach.Soybeans and livestock are directly linked. Rick says most domestically used soybeans go into animal agriculture, which explains why the board supports pork, poultry, and related educational programming.Soybean production geography in Oklahoma has shifted. Counties once dominant in eastern Oklahoma are no longer the only leaders; major soybean production now includes north-central Oklahoma, and the crop is pushing even farther west.Western Oklahoma soybeans bring new management questions. Brian points to irrigated production and iron deficiency issues in high-pH soils as examples of why region-specific research matters.Digital outreach is becoming a bigger part of the mission. The board is expanding through social media, recorded workshop content, YouTube, and online education platforms.Feral hog control is a serious agricultural issue. The board’s support for control efforts shows how soybean leadership is responding to broader on-farm threats, not just soybean-only problems.Agricultural literacy is long-term risk management. Ginger makes the strongest public-facing point of the episode: informed teachers become informed communities, and informed communities shape the future of agriculture. Detailed Timestamped Rundown 00:02–01:06 Dave opens Episode 510 and frames soybeans as more than a field crop, tying them to livestock feed, producer research, ag education, and statewide outreach. He previews the conversation with Rick and Ginger Reimer of the Oklahoma Soybean Board and points listeners to Red Dirt Agronomy online for more resources.01:07–01:40 Dave introduces Brian Arnall, and the hosts set up the interview, noting it was recorded January 10, 2026, at the Oklahoma Wheat Commission booth during KNID Agrifest.01:41–03:24 Brian introduces Rick and Ginger Reimer. Rick explains his long tenure with the soybean organization and walks through the shift from the Oklahoma Soybean Commission to the Oklahoma Soybean Board after the national soybean checkoff was established, including the split of funds between the state and national boards.03:25–06:22 Ginger outlines her role in marketing, consumer information, and education. She explains how her classroom work evolved into teacher workshops that equip educators with supplies, books, curriculum, and hands-on materials. Rick adds that the board tracks reach by counting how many students those teachers serve each year. Ginger says they are nearing 800 teachers and about 20,000 students annually.06:22–08:41 The group discusses workshop themes including “Pork and Beans” and “Chicka Doodle Do.” Ginger describes using VR headsets to show students swine production and explains how different workshops are tailored for preschool through older students. Brian notes the board’s outreach goes well beyond soybeans alone and reflects the full agricultural ecosystem.08:41–10:32 Rick stresses accountability for checkoff dollars, jokingly summarizing it as “document or die.” He explains the importance of receipts, audits, and compliance reviews because the board is spending producer money. He estimates roughly 60% of the state board’s retained budget goes to research, 20% to 30% to education and outreach, and admin is kept near or under ...
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    33 mins
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