Episode Summary:

On Episode Five, Brennan and Robbie are joined by Dr. Bod Kemerait, UGA Plant Pathologist for Agronomic Crops. This week, you will learn about nematode and disease management, taking steps to mitigate nematode and diseases for the 2025 planting season, and Dr. Kemerait’s international work teaching agriculture students around the world to improve productivity worldwide. A long episode with some extra information, but as always with Dr. Kemerait, it is packed full of a lot of great information!

Dr. Kemerait’s Faculty Profile: https://plantpath.caes.uga.edu/people/faculty/bob-kemerait.html

Chapter Markers:

Episode Summary:

On Episode Three, Brennan and Robbie are joined by Dr. Camp Hand, UGA Extension Cotton Specialist and Host of the Talkin’ Cotton Podcast. The guys discuss the art, science, and fun of harvesting cotton. This week, you will learn some of the process cotton farmers go through to pick cotton each fall.

Dr. Camp Hand’s Faculty Profile: https://www.caes.uga.edu/about/personnel/person.html/22478/camp-hand.html

Chapter Markers:

0:00 Cold Opening Intro

0:13 Ag in the Cab Podcast Intro

1:44 Robbie and Brennan’s opening segment (discussing the weather & the Sunbelt Ag Expo)

3:42 Introduction of Dr. Camp Hand

5:00 Discussion on the state of the 2024 cotton harvest

8:22 Discussion on how a cotton farmer decides when the right time is to pick the cotton field

12:00 Discussion on why cotton has varying height between fields and regions

15:22 Discussion on crop rotation and the benefits of cotton production

19:34 Discussion on the importance of following plant back restrictions for herbicides, like Cadre, in crop rotation plans

22:14 Discussion on current ways cotton modules are made (round bale picker versus dump picker and module packer)

23:58 Discussion on scrapping cotton and why picking cotton a second time is not profitable

26:43 Discussion on recommended off season management to prepare for the next cotton production year

29:13 Discussion on the Talkin’ Podcast, a biweekly cotton production podcast that Dr. Hand hosts

29:47 Discussion on how a cotton farmer determines when a field that has had a large loss of production is not worth picking

32:54 Discussion on when to plan for insects, nematodes, and diseases for cotton production

34:50 Discussion on where to find the Talkin’ Cotton podcast to listen every other week and the challenge and fun of producing podcasts

36:47 Brennan and Robbie’s Closing Segment (discussing Hurricane Helene agriculture damage, crop insurance, and smutgrass control)

43:13 Ag in the Cab Podcast Outro

Cotton Harvest Websites and Information:

UGA Cotton Team Website: http://www.ugacotton.com/

UF/IFAS Cotton Fertility Publication: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG200

UF/IFAS Cotton Growth and Development Publication: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG235

UF/IFAS Perennial Grass Addition to Cotton/Peanut Rotation: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG257

Video from Dr. David Wright on Perennial Grass Addition to Cotton/Peanut Rotation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CGqI1rIG9E

Talkin Cotton Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2350262

Episode Summary:

This week on Episode Two of the Ag in the Cab Podcast, Brennan and Robbie are talking with Dr. Leanne Dillard, Alabama State Extension Forage Specialist and Auburn University Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Forage Agronomics. This episode focuses on the benefits of grazed cover crop forages for cattle and other livestock, integrated crop and livestock systems, as well as updates on Dr. Dillard’s current research.

Dr. Leanne Dillard’s Faculty Profile: https://agriculture.auburn.edu/about/directory/faculty/leanne-dillard/

Chapter Markers:

0:00 Cold Opening Intro

0:20 Ag in the Cab Podcast Intro

1:51 Robbie and Brennan’s opening segment

2:32 Introduction of Dr. Dillard

6:01 Discussion on what multi species blends of winter cover crops is

8:30 Discussion on the use of annual ryegrass and how to maximize that winter cover option

16:43 Discussion on fertilizing winter annual forages

19:41 Discussion on winter annual forages for non-cattle livestock and stockpiling summer perennial forages

23:45 Discussion on integrated crop and livestock systems

26:05 Discussion on Alabama Extension tour during the American Forage and Grasslands Council national meeting tour visiting Tim Tucker’s farm using drones to overseeding summer crop fields with annual ryegrass

28:31 Discussion on how nitrogen fixation and nitrogen transfer works for leguminous winter cover crops

30:38 Discussion on annual clovers being used in winter forages and cover crops

34:27 Discussion on other options for farmers and ranchers that are not using winter forages to provide food options for their livestock

36:13 Discussion on other current research focus for Dr. Dillard

39:54 Brennan and Robbie Closing Segment

41:39 Ag in the Cab Podcast Outro

Winter (Cool) Season Annual Forage Recommendations:

Florida: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AA266

Georgia: https://swvt.uga.edu/content/dam/caes-subsite/statewide-variety-testing/docs/performance-trials/2024/winter-crops-2024.pdf

Alabama: https://aaes.auburn.edu/variety-tests/small-grain-forage-variety-trials/

Pasture Planning for Winter Forages (from Mississippi State Extension)

http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/pasture-planning-for-winter-forages#:~:text=Healthy%20stands%20of%20cool%2Dseason,annual%20ryegrass%20or%20small%20grains.