The Rogue Agronomist: Recent Episodes
Stull Agronomy
Join Kyle Stull as he talks about agronomy and farm business topics. The Rogue Agronomist is based on Kyle’s past in Ag retail and his current venture as a crop consultant running his own business in the Midwest helping clients improve profitability and sustainability.
Is it a placebo or a tool and getting comfortable being uncomfortable are two things I want people to focus on for 2025. We may have to evaluate convenience over ROI and look at what certain practices cost us. There are potential savings we could utilize but some of it may come with changing our purchases or going without some things.
Things are changing in the retail landscape, can Ag Retail keep up? A very frank discussion on what’s going on and what the future may hold.
Strip-till identifies as no-till, what are EENF’s, and who’s making big money on this? Reading through the rules and opinions on what they mean, and why we have more questions than answers. Video also available here https://youtu.be/s3NL51Z_Dps?si=jDIGV4DulO3h9tOSRules can be found here https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-24-37.pdf
You’ve likely heard this expression, but how does it play into today’s agriculture? After seeing this video where he talks about an experiment they did it seems very easy to apply to agriculture. Could someone make a recommendation that might be easily shown to be based on flawed data but still feel like they are in the right? Dice Experiment Dr. Dan Ariely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1dVtG8xwQ
Have we lost our filter due to social media? Do you constantly dislike the content you are seeing? You may be hate following people without even realizing it...
With current market prices we could all be losing our heads, but while everyone keeps talking about the markets negatively those who have a plan and keep their emotions in check may come out ahead. Discussing taking the emotions out of decisions and why we can’t afford to have an ego in this market. Also, a discussion on ag mental health and making sure you reach out if you need help.
It’s concerning to think about the fact that we don’t have to “learn” and recall information like we used to. Is the ability to instantly find information causing us to not verify and evaluate that information? Find this and more at www.stullagronomy.com
Selling/buying the plot winners might be easy and exciting for some but what happens when the plot winner isn’t the hybrid a farm needs? Sales training and how “sell the mix” changed how I approached seed sales in a world of Type A personalities feeling like the outsider.
Sometimes we get the “what have you done for me lately” to creep into agriculture when we forget what has all transpired during the season. Short term memory loss is what I call it, and it affects all of us when we get busy.Check out Stull Agronomy on TikTok and Facebook for more up to date field updates
My journey in dealing with narcissists and their gaslighting ultimatums towards sales staff. Also ideas on how management can identify and help their staff deal with this problem.
Will saving $ on inputs put you on the path toward profitability…or will finding bushels and having someone in your corner create value you need to survive as we move forward with inflation and higher interest rates? Tune in to hear my thoughts
We spend all winter trying to find ways to save money and once the crop is planted we spend money to “improve” it. The importance of having a budget and focusing on per acre costs and not total price.
We all know about ESG’s (Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance) but who truly benefits from them and are they actually about sustainability or is it a huge cash grab? Tune in to find out my opinions on this controversial topic.
We all know about the Farm Crisis in the 80's but are there any comparisons to what is happening now? A look at what led to the Farm Crisis and what the current Ag environment shares with the 70's/80's
Is tissue sampling the key or is it a tool? Getting out in the field making observations may just be the best part of what any program does.
A Wednesday two-fer because....why not. With weather, rootworm issues, weed resistance, commodity prices, and input prices the past few years is this our new normal? Indecision and emotions may just be our downfall if we don’t work with people who push us to be better.
This past week we celebrated being in business for 5 years and with that comes a few changes. Listen in as I talk about the past and where we are headed in the future.
What is sticky trapping and does it provide a good picture of what is happening in your fields? An insider perspective on our current rootworm environment and what the industry is doing to adapt.
For information on sticky trap sampling check out these resources: https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/blog/ashley-dean-erin-hodgson/use-sticky-traps-monitor-corn-rootworm-beetles-summer https://ipcm.wisc.edu/blog/2021/08/corn-rootworm-beetle-scouting-3/
It’s that time of year again, time for those in ag retail sales to get indoctrinated on this year’s new training mantra. Could we improve sales training and are there way’s for employees to get the most out of training? Tune in and see my unique perspective…
As we see business hours get shorter, availability get less, and charges go up for services is it generational differences or could it be farmer consumer driven? An analysis of generational differences and changes in farmer purchasing habits.
I often get told my distrust for anyone trying to sell you products is rooted in competition, it’s more from past experiences. We should all have some skepticism with those who have financial gain from the products you are recommended.
As advisors should our role be to make others follow our agenda or should we provide information for informed decisions? Championing those who fail doing it another way is counterproductive.
Ag retail experiences, farming, and agronomy…Who’s idea was it to give these two guys a microphone anyway?
Does the vehicle you drive, the equipment color you use, or your career define who you are? My time as a company man and buying my dream car were things I thought defined who I am, but as I get older I’ve learned that what defines you is much more.
They’re new, they’re innovative, and they are everywhere…but beyond the money grab that is happening is there something we are missing? Are these companies really coming up with something we have all missed the past 200 years, or are they just the hot thing right now?
One of the most popular games in the world goes back to the farm, talking Farming Simulator with our client Jake Linskens. Find out what mods we use, or what a mod even is, and where we have reached peak simulation by flushing toilets…
We all know that one customer that everyone doesn’t like calling on, but does the fact they have some narcissistic tendencies make them a narcissist or does their personality type just not mesh with yours? The ag retail sales conundrum of giving up customers that you don’t mesh with but you may be looked down upon for not selling them.
As I have gotten further in my career and watched kids turn into adults taking on responsibilities it is never lost on me that I may just be a role model for them and some parents instill that trust in me when working with their children. You have the opportunity to cultivate (pun) these younger people, whether you acknowledge that or not is up to you.
Are you a new employee in ag retail, are you a manager of young employees in ag retail? Why training would benefit from mentorships and management taking a hands off approach.
Since the advent of Roundup Ready soybeans we’ve heard about trait yield drag, is there still yield drag in new traits or is it more about marketing and yield lag? An analysis of trait launches from RR soybeans to Enlist and SmartStax Pro.
We hear a lot about staffing issues in agriculture, is there a fix? For some, it may be simple, but for others it may take a management change and a realization of value.
Every program does something the others don’t do but none of them do it all. It’s free, then we want to charge for what used to be free, then change it to how much are you willing to pay… it’s broken and the only way to fix it is to stop the “we’re different because we’re different” BS
How important is hybrid selection? (It is, contrary what others say) Fungicide timing, effectiveness, and do you need two passes…all this and more from 5 years of managing tar spot across several genetic platforms.
With crop prices near record highs and variable weather you know we are going to see issues…sometimes the fix doesn’t come in a jug but everyone will be willing to sell you something to “fix” a problem if you seek out the wrong advice.
Do you expect a thank you from your supplier? Does it matter if they get a thank you back from you for services? Does anybody read these?
With story after story proclaiming all profits are taken away from higher input prices, what does this do to Ag mental health. Telling the difference between stress and anxiety, and ways to help others based on my journey with mental health.
Emotions are surging with commodity and input pricing, here we talk about taking a step back and working with people that can help you take emotions out of decisions, especially where we have much going for agriculture right now.
Why don’t I care if I am an Ag influencer and the importance of building your own brand.
Inputs are high, supply issues remain, but financially things look good for 2022 and even 2023. Are we headed for the next boom period in Ag? Maybe it’s time to get excited about the “good times”.
Why hasn’t the price of foliar fertilizer gone up? What exactly constitutes a biological product? Why did I pay 2x what I prepaid for chemicals this year? All this and more as we get out and work with our clients planning for 2022
As mergers and acquisitions happen and they talk about synergies what do they really mean? Are mergers good for you, does retail’s vision change as they get bigger, and what does farm size have to do with it?
As agriculture changes, so has hiring. As new younger hires get started in management in ag, be wary of falling for shiny shoes syndrome. Sometimes getting dirty gains more respect than degrees or even titles.
Some real talk about how great 2021 was for many farms and why you can still make decent money in 2022 even with higher inputs. Also, a discussion on agronomy services and avoiding lost opportunities by cutting services.
A discussion about genetic gain and how we may be missing out on bushels by sacrificing those bushels for hybrid familiarity when we are planting hybrids we have past positive experiences with. Recognizing what happens when we change practices that should be increasing yield but yields seem to plateau.
In an industry where hard work often pays off it’s often the easy decisions driven by emotions that cost us the most. As frustrations mount during planting and harvest, don’t let it affect your bottom line.
Drought tolerance, ethylene reduction, tar spot, fungicide “always pays”. There has been a lot of spin on fungicides this year, do we hate fungicides? How important is hybrid selection?
Join Clay and I as we talk about how the “Corn Revolution is Real” and our young businesses along with being open minded in the crazy world we currently live in.
There are plenty of times we focus on saving money, when our business is making money. Take emotions out of your decisions and run your farm as a business. I always say "don't trip over a dollar to pick up a penny"
That was the typical first time agronomist interview question, my how things have changed in 14 years. I could build a resume off of my career answering this, but in 2021 weed resistance has added to it. Are we all screwed, or can we turn the narrative for 2022?
To some people they are a fun activity and a source of pride, and to others they are a pain in the butt and a necessary evil. Field signs can even tell you a lot about the people you work with…especially if they hate them.
It seems like the best thing to happen to farms in the past few years but we still need to make sound agronomic decisions. Every bushel counts, but do the math and understand that even at high commodity prices we still can lose money making poor decisions.
Join Margy and I as we talk about social media and it’s importance in building a following, along with Ag retail’s relationship to crop consultants and various other topics including our favorite bands, dogs, and more.
I came across a post on Twitter the other day saying that “no matter how good of a person you are, you are the a**hole in someone else’s story”. One of my favorite quotes from a client is “everyone is the hero of their own story”. Trying to discern between the two can be hard, but if you don’t have a story at all you are likely the sidekick not a hero. Why it’s important to have your own story, why you need to make sure you give credit where credit is due, and why it’s ok to be an a-hole in someone else’s story.
Guest Jeremy Miner and I talk about agronomy basics and the scary pests that are popping up across the Midwest. Unscripted, just two agronomists talking about what we talk about.
People often brag about how they are different but when confronted with the question of why some will stumble or have a basic answer. Are they really different? A powerful question to ask potential agronomists and salespeople and something those people should be prepared to answer.
Join me and Michael McCammack as we talk about sports, accents, and our backgrounds in agriculture.
We have a desire to tell others how to do it, or to prove others wrong. Maybe it's more about how we approach teaching others than it is about telling them what they are doing wrong.
Elevated grain prices can lead to a white pickup invasion for farms. It's time to evaluate what you are being sold and still pay attention to your bottom line when it comes to value added products.
Programs can be difficult to understand, and don't get me started on discounts and how they are calculated. Listen as I describe some real life scenarios on why you have to pay attention to pricing.
It happens every year, prepay anxiety happens to many farms. Is it real or could you be overthinking things a little. It helps to put it all in perspective, tales from a former retail agronomist.
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Whether its your business or personal life your goal should always be to surround yourself with people that share in your success. In business, those people and businesses you work with that share in your success are the building blocks of your business.
We spend a lot of time gathering hybrid data at harvest but is that data really useful for making hybrid decisions for the next season? If it's not what is it good for?
New weed control options give us hope, but are still not the easy button. Where we are in the weed control/issues cycle and what you should do to combat resistant weeds.
Another guest, join me as we welcome Jeremy Miner a Technical Agronomist from Channel Seeds in Eastern Iowa. Talking Dorecho, 2020, and many other topics today.
The last thing we like to point to for something that affected crops is the weather, but many times it is the final problem.
Join me and Angie Setzer (our first real guest) as we talk about mergers within agriculture along with our thoughts on internships and numerous other topics.
Did you have a bad experience in the past with something? Was it one bad experience after years of good experiences? Sometimes we let emotions or principles dictate our business decisions regardless of potential changes a company makes.
Are agronomists telling you what to do because they think they can run your farm better than you do, or because that's their job to help you?
New insects, new diseases, neighbors spraying all get everyone worried, but how much attention should you pay to it? Why I don't get too worked up and how getting worked up may cost you in ROI.
Do you only pay attention to the data that confirms your ideas, or do you have a science mindset that allows you to make changes based on new data and changes in methods?
We've all heard it, "I can't afford to do that" but is that really the reason for not trying or upgrading to new technology?
Your worst fields are usually always your worst fields, do you focus on salvaging them or focus on managing the fields that have the potential to make you the most money? One of my biggest struggles every year is getting farms to focus on the fields that look good at 55mph and not the ones that look bad no matter how fast you drive.
I work hard at my job, but then again so do most people in agriculture. I know there are some people that don't particularly care for me, but that's for a good reason.
We're are seeing the driest soil conditions since maybe 2016, so why am I being cautious about planting right now?
Are you struggling with making a decision? The worst thing you can do for your business or even mental health is to be indecisive. Examples of why I've changed my habits the past few years and become more decisive and owned my decisions.
Does your agronomist practice acceptable risks or do they just hit the easy button and assume no risks? Blanket recommendations could increase your yields but may also negatively affect your ROI, don't fall into those traps.
Agronomists base decisions on past experience, probabilities, and knowledge but we're not right 100% of the time. There are 1,000 variables that affect your crop, sometimes Mother Nature throws a few curve balls.
There have been a lot of mental health stories in Ag lately, here is mine as I dealt with acne as a kid, and took a medication that caused suicidal thoughts. Also some thoughts on our prevent plant journey and how getting help isn't something to feel bad about.
Talking about organic growth as it pertains to your farm and the value of understanding costs and ROI. Also, covering the value of on farm testing and understanding whether micronutrients could pay for your farm.
For some reason we all have the inclination to tell people they are wrong online. Reasons I think that is wrong and what I did to stop myself from doing it.
After talking about how my wife responds to questions about what I do we decided to have her come up with her questions about what I do on a daily basis and my career history.
Has your input supplier dragged their feet in getting pricing to you in December every year? There may be a reason, and often its the same one.
It's fall again and that can only mean one thing...seed salespeople want to ride in your combine. Stories on how not to do it and thoughts from the farmer and seed seller sides.
We've all had some nostalgia for corn hybrids but where does that come from? Why there is a difference between having nostalgia for a corn hybrid and making a good seed decision. Christmas and corn hybrids are very similar, both should be enjoyed for the memories but only once a year.
Do you refer to any corn with the rootworm trait as "triple stack"? Why is true triple stack corn going away and what replaced it. How long will that last and what other advancements have we seen with insecticides and seed treatment.
If you sell only on price and constantly have to defend business every year, maybe you're not really bringing anything else to the table. Don't get stuck in the addition by attrition trap.
Whether it's shyness, being afraid of conflict, or even worry about asking a "dumb" question sometimes the biggest obstacle for people is asking questions. How you or others handle it can make a huge impact on your company or their career.
Sports metaphors galore, talking about putting in the work to understand the hybrids you plant and what we sell.
My struggles with balancing a new routine and how the past year's weather hasn't helped with my sanity.
Scouting adventures from being approached by the sheriff about marijuana to skunks, and being "attacked" by Air Force Reserve Unit F-16's and everything in between.
How do you value your time and where do you spend your time? If someone asked you how much your time is worth how would you respond, and when you look at the tasks you do how important/urgent are they?
Are you a retailer that has only a Facebook page? Are you struggling to create content that reaches your core customer base (agronomy)? It's cheaper and easier now than ever to create excellent content.
What is fair? Is my retailer trying to screw me over? Lessons learned from the farmer and retailer side, and how both should handle complaint claims.
General thoughts on sampling and questions to ask you retailer or person doing sampling.
Have you ever used DMX to motivate an employee? Listen to find out what I did and how others can inspire or disparage employees.
I've heard a few people say that going to school for agronomy is a waste of time and money and to that I say you get what you put into it. If you go in with the mindset it is a waste its likely you won't get much out. While you should go to college, you do still get better knowledge and experience in your field by having hands on life experience.
How often do you think about the influence you have on others? I talk about those who have influenced me in my career and life.
A discussion on what yield data is, and is not. Who should own your data and using ground truthing to verify results in season. Also, thoughts on satellite data.