AgNow Episodes

The northern states, especially those in the Midwest and Northern Plains, offer ideal conditions for sugarbeet growth, where the cooler temperatures and extended daylight during the growing season contribute to high yields and quality sugar content. 

Outside of its agricultural impact, sugarbeet production is a cornerstone for rural economies especially along the North Dakota/Minnesota border, providing a stable source of income for farmers and supporting a thriving sugar industry that caters to both domestic and international markets. 

We're talking about sugarbeet production across North Dakota and Minnesota with Dr. Tom Peters.

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Soybeans are grown across the globe and within the U.S., soybeans are grown in 29 states.

The warm and extended growing seasons in the southern regions of the U.S. create an ideal environment for soybeans, allowing for multiple planting dates and harvesting.
Additionally, advancements in technology, such as precision farming and variety options, have played a crucial role in optimizing soybean productivity.

We're looking at soybean production across the southern United States, and we're talking with Auburn University's Dr. Eros Francisco and Oklahoma State University's Dr. Josh Lofton.

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As a staple food for millions of people around the world, rice plays a central role in many of our diets. 

Rice production demonstrates a commitment to sustainable agriculture, often leading the way in water management and innovative agricultural practices, which are a cornerstone of environmental conservation. 

We talked with Dr. Bruce Linquist with the University of California's Extension Service about rice production in one of the largest rice-producing states. 

With a couple of weather systems moving through this week, Meteorologist 

Matt Makens shows us who will benefit from the possibility of moisture! 

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Canola is grown for its high-quality oil, and its health benefits.  

When it comes to production, canola is used as a utility crop for rotational crops, and for enriching soil quality.  

It can adapt to various climates so canola is grown from Texas and Oklahoma well into Canada as well as states in the Northwestern United States. 

We'll talk with Dr. Anitha Chirumamilla of North Dakota State University about canola production across the northern United States and Dale Whaley with Washington State University about canola in the Pacific  Northwest.

Meteorologist Matt Makens has an outlook for November weather.

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The 2023 cotton crop is nearing harvest across much of the southern part of the United States, so we're taking a look at how one of the most exported commodities, has fared this year.

Meteorologist Matt Makens shows us how drought has mirrored much of the country's cotton-producing regions. He also has good news about rainfall moving into those areas.

Last week's NASS Report estimates that 90% of the boles across Oklahoma are open and about 12% of the state's crop is harvested. We talk with Jackson County, Oklahoma cotton producer Matt Muller about the 2023 crop in his area.

Finally, Texas A&M AgriLife's Dr. Jourdon Bell about last year's cotton crop took such a hard hit and how the 2023 crop across the Texas Panhandle looks as harvest approaches.

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2023 was a challenging year for wheat production across the Southern Great Plains, but with the promise of a changing weather pattern, producers are hopeful for at least an average year for wheat yields.

Meteorologist Matt Makens has an optimistic outlook for precipitation across the wheat-growing areas of the United States and is even watching snow possibilities as we near November.

Then, We talk with Kansas State University's Dr. Romulo Lolotto about the recent moisture and what it means for the wheat crop going into the soil across Kansas.

Finally, Oklahoma State University's Dr. Brian Arnall explains why late-September planted wheat has the chance to thrive even without rain since the seeds when into the ground across parts of Oklahoma.

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When people think of corn production in the United States, Interstate 80 comes to mind. 

While these states carry the country with acres of corn, many other states contribute to the national crop.

This week, we look at how corn production differs for producers along the Interstate 40 corridor.

Matt Makens has an update on the weather for the coming week focused on crop production.

Dr. Ron Heiniger with North Carolina State University explains why North Carolina has a perfect storm for crop diseases and how corn thrives.

Then Dr. Jason Kelley with the University of Arkansas explains how robust the Arkansas corn crop can be, even if they don't have 50"+ annual rainfall.

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Sorghum production in the United States has a rich and diverse history deeply intertwined with the nation's agricultural heritage. 

Today, sorghum is a vital grain crop, providing essential sustenance for humans and livestock and contributing significantly to the nation's agricultural economy. 

With its adaptability to various climates and its growing importance in food, feed, and even biofuel production, sorghum remains a versatile and resilient crop that continues to shape the agricultural narrative of the United States.

Matt Makens has a weather update for the sorghum-growing areas of the United States

We spoke with Ronnie Schnell Ph.D. of Texas Agri-Life Extension about how the 2023 sorghum crop fared across Texas.

We also talked with University of Nebraska Associate Extension Educator, Todd Whitney about the progress of the sorghum crop in southwestern Nebraska.

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