The Pioneer® Made To Grow™ Podcast
Get leading agronomic tips and advice to help overcome today’s toughest farming challenges. Hear from trusted industry voices with unique perspectives on the hottest topics in Canadian agriculture.
The newest podcast for Canadian farmers
Each episode, host Andrew Campbell chats with leading experts about the latest Ag innovations, industry news, best practices, tips, tricks and more.
S4 Episode 6: The Good & Bad of the 2022 Growing Season
Dec 27, 2022
Our 2022 Year in Review is here! In this episode, Andrew is joined by Ontario Area Agronomists, Paul Hermans and Greg Stopps, to take a look back at the 2022 season and learnings to take into 2023. Follow along as we go through the wins and challenges of the past year including fertility, growing conditions, compaction, drought, and disease and insect pressure for corn, soybeans and wheat. Plus, get our recommendations on how to set yourself up for success in the new year.
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S4 Episode 5: Seed reliability from field to bag
Dec 12, 2022
Your farm deserves the highest quality seed. So, how does Pioneer ensure that? In this episode, Andrew takes us through the seed production and rigorous testing processes that get your seed from the lab to the bag. Hear from guests Aaron Schwarte, Seed Production Research Scientist at Corteva Agriscience, and Monica Garcia, Seed Quality Testing Lab Manager at the Corteva lab site in Chatham, ON about the hard work that goes into meeting the highest quality standards, legal requirements and planning for future hybrids and varieties.
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S4 Episode 4: “Are you okay?”
Nov 29, 2022
This episode tackles the ever-important topic of mental health in agriculture. With about 85% of producers living with high stress levels, Andrew welcomes Megz Reynolds, Executive Director of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, to discuss how you can identify and help yourself or a loved one who might be struggling with their mental wellbeing. Corteva Canada President Bryce Eger then shares how the company is helping farmers improve their mental health, providing practical tips you can employ to ensure you and those around you are staying healthy.
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S4 Episode 3: "Clubroot is definitely that swear word around here"
Nov 15, 2022
Go West, young man! In our first-ever episode focused on Western Canadian farming, Andrew learns all about the ups and the downs of Saskatchewan’s 2022 growing season. Joined by Jenna Gregoire, a Pioneer Area Agronomist based in the northwest of the province, and Pioneer Sales Representative and farmer Kyle Laturnus, the three discuss the weather and disease challenges like clubroot, as well as the work being done to continually improve canola hybrids and yields for the Prairies.
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S4 Episode 2: "Is 300 bushel corn and 100 bushel beans possible?"
Nov 1, 2022
Soybean and corn yields are increasing by 1% or more annually. How’s this possible? Who’s responsible? Corteva Crop Scientist, Dr. Lucas Borras, and Dave Harwood, Technical Services Manager in Eastern Canada for Corteva, join Andrew to discuss just how far agronomy and genetics have come in the past 40 years and where they’re headed. The guests chat about the many factors contributing to the yearly yield increases, as well as new challenges that could limit yield gains in the future.
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S4 Episode 1: "Just Keep (Cover Crops) Simple"
Oct 18, 2022
In this premiere episode of Season 4, host Andrew Campbell welcomes OMAFRA’s Soil Management Specialist, Anne Verhallen, and Pioneer Reps Dan Petker and Andy Van Niekerk for a conversation on growing cover crops - the benefits, watch-outs, and expert tips for success. They discuss how cover crops are a great means to preserve soil health, reduce erosion, suppress unwanted weeds, become a feed source and build organic matter. If you’re thinking about getting into cover crops, this is the episode for you!
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S3 Episode 6: The key things you should be looking for when managing soybeans mid-season
July 12, 2022
Beans are in the ground, weed management is done, what's next? In the final episode of Season 3, Andrew welcomes OMAFRA Soybean Specialist Horst Bohner and Greg Stopps, Pioneer Area Agronomist, to discuss how to deal with key diseases such as white mould, insect pests like bean leaf beetle or spider mites, and nutrient deficiency. Tune in for tips and advice on scouting, spraying and more.
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S3 Episode 5: What are we in for this year with Tar Spot?
June 28, 2022
Since spreading from the US to Ontario (where it was first found in 2020), Tar Spot is becoming more prevalent. In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the corn disease – what to look out for, management tips, and what breeders are doing to combat it. First, Scott Heuchelin joins Andrew from Iowa. As the North American Pathology and Phytosanitary Lead for Corteva Agriscience, he shares learnings from south of the border that can be applied here. Next, John Seliga, Pioneer Area Agronomist for Southwestern Ontario gives us a local perspective on what you can do to ensure your corn stays protected from the new disease.
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S3 Episode 4: How do you manage your nitrogen?
June 14, 2022
Looking to improve your nitrogen use in corn and boost yields? This is the episode for you. Andrew welcomes OMAFRA corn specialist Ben Rosser, Pioneer Area Agronomist Paul Hermans and Brett McArtor, a Field Trial Specialist with Corteva’s Granular business. Together, they discuss the latest research and data from their trials across Ontario that can help you make decisions for your crop.
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S3 Episode 3: Picking the right traits to face the challenges you may have
May 31, 2022
As more US soybean acres move to Enlist E3™ varieties and with resistant weeds becoming more prevalent in Ontario, Andrew talks to Phil Emmott, Crop Protection Territory Manager at Corteva Agriscience, and Pioneer Area Agronomist Chris Olbach about how growers north of the border stand to benefit from the Enlist™ weed control system. Learn how controlling weeds with a program approach can help ensure good agronomics, optimum soybean yields and a sustainable system, while giving you ultimate spray flexibility.
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S3 Episode 2: "Ways to make your life easier” with your on-farm plots
May 17, 2022
Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3… In this episode, Andrew is joined by Dave Harwood, Technical Services Manager for Corteva Agriscience, and Holly Loucas, Pioneer Area Agronomist, for a round table discussion about performing on-farm trials. With years of experience trialing new products and methods, hear their insider tips on how best to plan, manage, and collect valuable data from your on-farm trials so you can continue to improve and refine your operation.
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S3 Episode 1: "The Cost of Mismanaging Soil Fertility"
April 27, 2022
With fertilizer costs surging, there’s no better time to kick off Season 3 of the podcast. Andrew’s back with the premiere episode, welcoming Dave Hooker, Crop Systems Agronomist at the University of Guelph, and Pioneer Area Agronomist Greg Stopps to game plan for the months ahead. Learn about the latest fertilizer application best practices, using manure as an alternative, and exciting new products like biologicals and nitrogen stabilizers that can maximize your fertilizer inputs to help ensure a net positive profit.
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S2 Episode 1: “Sustainability is embedded in every decision we make”
September 28, 2021
Government and industry collide in our premiere episode of Season 2 as Andrew welcomes Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, and President of Corteva Canada, Bryce Eger. Join the conversation as Andrew and his guests discuss risk management programs, food security, climate change, advancing farm technology, and bridging the gap between producers and consumers.
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S2 Episode 2: "These are my number one & number two priorities for soybeans"
October 12, 2021
In this episode, Andrew goes on-site at the Corteva Research Station outside of Woodstock, ON to chat with our experts about white mould and SCN in soybeans. First, Area Agronomist John Seliga looks back at the rollercoaster 2021 season and shares his crop protection planning advice for 2022. Next, Soybean Breeder Evelyn Valera shares her insights on breeding tolerant varieties and tells us why she’s excited for what’s to come.
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S2 Episode 3: This emerging issue is coming to centre-stage
October 26, 2021
That’s right, we’re talking corn rootworm. With populations and resistance on the rise, Andrew talks to Clint Pilcher, Global Technology Educator for Corteva Agriscience, about how to stay ahead of the pest with a proper management strategy, while sharing updates on new Bt and RNAi technology. Next, Andrew visits a corn plot in Denfield, Ontario with Pioneer Area Agronomist Greg Stopps, who explains how to identify corn rootworm damage, gives us a peak into testing new rootworm solutions like nematodes, and shares the one simple practice he recommends to everyone.
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S2 Episode 4: Build a robust system that allow growers to get awesome weed control
November 9, 2021
What does it take to build a solid weed management plan for next year and beyond? In this episode, Andrew finds out. First up is Mike Cowbrough, Provincial Weed Specialist for OMAFRA. From what cover crops to plant to herbicide layering, Mike shares his top tips for giving crops a competitive advantage over weeds like Canada fleabane, waterhemp and bluegrass species. Next, we hear from Corteva Soybean Breeder Nadia Krasheninnk and Category Leader Dave Kloppenburg to get the latest on the Enlist E3 weed control system - the trait and herbicides - and how you can build a weed control program around the novel technology.
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S2 Episode 5: "We're not growing BMR corn, we're making milk"
November 9, 2021
Dairy farmers, this one’s for you. In this episode, Andrew and his guests break down the facts and fiction of BMR corn. Get expert advice from our Dairy Strategic Account Manager, Ashley Knapton, on whether it can be the right fit for your operation, and hear the latest on BMR genetics bred for your region from Suzanne Mickelson, Corteva Research Scientist & Silage Corn Breeder.
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S2 Episode 6: Busting Through Ahead of 2022
December 7, 2021
In our season 2 finale, Andrew and Pioneer Agronomist Paul Hermans look back at the ups and downs of the 2021 season for corn and soybeans in Ontario. They explore every challenge the year had to offer, including drainage issues, diseases like white mould and tar spot, and of course, curveballs from mother nature. Paul then shares his insights to help you hit the ground running next season with effective seed and fertility plans, smart investments, and much more.
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S1 Episode 1: "Stacking the Deck"
The show’s premiere episode provides a roadmap on mitigating planting risks and best practices for planting depth, soil temperature, and more. Andrew welcomes Pioneer Field Agronomist Gary Brinkman, Pioneer Area Agronomist John Seliga, and Corteva Evaluation Zone Lead Travis Coleman.
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S1 Episode 2: Seed Treatments: Protecting More Than Just Seed
In this episode, Andrew chats with Mark Howieson, Facilities Manager at the Centre for Seed Applied Technology, about SAT recipe development and testing. Andrew is then joined by Travis Schoonbaert, Corteva Category Lead for SAT, and Pioneer Agronomist Holly Loucas to discuss the latest innovations in seed treatments and when and why you should treat your corn and soybean seed.
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S1 Episode 3: "Better is better before bigger is better"
In this episode, Andrew and his guests tackle farm management. First up is ag entrepreneur Kristjan Hebert, who runs a 22,000 acre grain and oilseed operation in Saskatchewan. With a career spanning from accounting to risk management, he shares with Andrew what he’s learned along the way and advice on growing your farm revenue. Andrew then welcomes Chris Olbach, Pioneer Area Agronomist in southwestern Ontario, who provides his management tips on soil fertility, seeding and making data-driven decisions to maximize returns.
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S1 Episode 4: Will digital replace those that don't adapt?
In this episode, Andrew and his guests break down the latest and greatest in farm tech – where to start, what’s worth investing in and what’s on the horizon. Ian McDonald, OMAFRA Crop Innovations Specialist, provides insight on the most valuable tech to adopt; Anthony Lackore, Area Digital Leader at Corteva, discusses new opportunities that digital agronomy brings; and Brent Vanden Bosch, a farmer who’s been collecting data since the 90’s, shares how Granular Farm Management Software helps optimize decision-making on his operation.
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S1 Episode 5: “We're always motivated for better"
June 1, 2021
In this episode, we’re giving you the lowdown on Pioneer Research and Development (R&D). How do your favourite hybrids and varieties make it to market? What gets tested and where? And most importantly, what is Boreas? Find out as Andrew welcomes Jordan Spear, Corteva Evaluation Zone Lead for soybean breeding; Sheila Murphy, Research Operations Lead at the newly expanded Corteva R&D Centre in Woodstock, ON; and Dave Harwood, Technical Services Manager for Eastern Canada.
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S1 Episode 6: “It’s the right year to run fungicide field tests”
June 15, 2021
In the final episode of Season 1, we’re turning our attention to fungicides. While it may be common practice to spray wheat in Eastern Canada, does it pay to spray corn and soybeans too? Find out as Andrew welcomes Albert Tenuta, Extension Plant Pathologist with OMAFRA; Greg Stopps, Pioneer Area Agronomist for Southwest Ontario; and Jamshid Ashigh, Corteva Zonal Biology Leader for Canadian Fungicides. We’ll guide you through the factors to consider when deciding to spray, what’s beneficial for your bottom line, how to make fungicides work for your farm, and the latest innovations.
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