In this episode of The Acre Advantage, Dan Bjorklund and Dave Lemke break down how early-season stress—cold soils, uneven emergence, and disease pressure—can quietly impact your crop all season long.

From crown rot risk in corn to slow soybean emergence, this conversation focuses on what’s happening right now in the field—and what growers should be watching next.

• Why early stress compounds throughout the season
• How cold, wet soils increase risk for crown rot and root diseases
• What to check at V5—including how to evaluate the crown
• How uneven emergence impacts yield potential
• Why genetics and field conditions matter more in variable years
• When a V5 fungicide application may be worth considering
• How tools like SkyScout help you scout smarter and respond faster

• Early decisions set the tone for the entire season
• Stress now doesn’t disappear—it compounds
• Scouting is critical between emergence and V5
• Protecting plant health early protects yield later
• Never let the plant have a bad day

This isn’t about reacting later—it’s about paying attention now.

The growers who protect yield aren’t guessing.
They’re watching the field, reading the conditions, and making the right call at the right time.

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Too wet to plant? This episode breaks down what persistent rain and cool soils mean for planting decisions, early-season disease risk, and crop stress in corn and soybeans—and how to stay ahead when conditions aren’t ideal.

Key Takeaways:

• Wet, cool soils increase risk. Expect higher disease pressure, compaction issues, and uneven emergence.
• Conditions matter more than the calendar. Waiting for fit fields can protect yield more than planting early.
• Scouting early changes outcomes. Identifying issues before they spread allows for timely, more effective decisions.
• Think ahead, not just today. Early-season conditions set up in-season stress, disease, and nutrient needs.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction & spring outlook
05:31 Corn planting & disease concerns
12:02 Soybean disease & variety decisions
17:39 Scouting & field monitoring
25:25 Stress mitigation & nutrition
30:49 Soybean disease management

Bottom Line:
This spring is testing patience. The right decisions now will show up at harvest.

Nearly two years after announcing our GROW Solutions Center, Jamie Orr, GROW Agronomy Lead, and Janette Smith, GROW Grain Lead, join Ashley on the podcast this week to share the GROW Solution Center’s accomplishments thus far and discuss how they are putting farmers’ needs at the forefront of Landus.

With a growing virtual team made up of agronomists, grain marketers, and data analysts, the Landus GROW Solutions Center is making it easier than ever to connect with growers and answer any questions they may have.

“[Farmers] aren’t working 9-5. They start their mornings early and they finish their nights late. They work weekends. So, the virtual team helps them be better. We’re here to answer their questions...It’s just about being there when the farmer needs you most.” - Janette Smith, GROW Grain Lead

While the GROW Solutions Center continues to serve as a form of constant communication, it has also been used as a tool to establish meaningful relationships between Landus and our farmer-owners. Making it known that we are there to support growers every step of the way has been a major goal. With over 3,700 grain accounts and 95% of agronomy customers contacted, it is safe to say their team is doing just that.

Jamie explains that by reaching out, Landus is better able to understand and serve the farmer of tomorrow; one that has a succession plan, operates sustainably, and is self-sufficient. Whether it be on the phone, in person, or through the Landus portal online, pairing the work of the virtual GROW team with our field teams helps to provide service to the farmer in any way they need us.

If you have any questions regarding your operation, please contact the GROW Solutions Center at 515-800-GROW(4769).

Follow us on our social media channels: https://linktr.ee/landusag

When the season starts, farmers formulate a “game plan.” A plan that they curate with the help of their agronomists on what outcomes are likely to occur throughout the growing and harvest seasons. Last year presented challenges that we knew would present hardships. However, in every game plan lies an area of uncertainty. According to Landus ‪Technical Agronomy and Precision Lead, Dan Bjorklund, “that’s what makes agronomy fun.”

In this episode of the GROW Podcast, Landus ‪Optimization and Procurement Lead, John King, delivers his market updates and talks with Dan about the challenges that lie ahead for 2024.

Technology and innovative solutions will be key to conquering the 2024 obstacles, so be sure to attend one of our Innovation Connector events that will be happening later this March.

• View the full AcreEdge Performance Portfolio
• Purchase any AcreEdge product and be entered into the Edge of Your Seat Sweepstakes! View the contest details here.
• Read more on the state-of-the-art facility being constructed in Boone
• Connect with us

Think of the most intriguing questions in ag. Does it have to do with sustainability? Labor? Succession planning? The bad news is that these are just a few of the topics that farmers are asking themselves. The good news is that Landus is hosting farmers to its Des Moines Connector to answer these questions and so many more on April 3 & 4.

Brooke Blessington from LANDWERX hosts this special release of the GROW Podcast. Join Brooke Blessington, LANDWERX Innovation Hub Director, and three guests who are showing their technology, solutions, and (of course) innovation. If you’re interested in attending the Innovation Connector events, register at www.Landus.ag.

Learn more:

• https://www.landus.ag/innovation-by-landus
• https://www.landwerx.org/
• https://www.rowbot.com/
• https://tesseractventures.io/

On this episode of the GROW Podcast, host Ashley Kaldenberg sits down with Derek Hommer, a risk management consultant from Nationwide, and Ahad Mujeeb, a EHS team member from Landus to talk about grain bin safety. February 19 – 25 is grain bin safety week, and given our farmers and team members are in contact with grain bins regularly, we felt it was important to stop and take a minute to remind listeners to be mindful of the dangers and how to stay safe.

Derek and Ahad offered numerous tips, but most importantly a zero entrance stance. If we avoid entering grain bins there is a 100% chance that an engulfment or entrapment accident will happen. Listen now for suggestions on avoiding entry and other ways to stay safe when it comes to grain bins and other safety hazards as we prep for planting.

Links referenced in this podcast:

Nationwide Grain Bin Safety Week

Landus Fire Department & EMS Grants

Elide Fire Extinguishing Ball

John King brings the technical breakdown in the ever-changing fertilizer and chemical markets. The fertilizer market has been on the downturn while the Ukraine-Russia conflict, paired with Europe's mild winter, has lessened Europe’s need to purchase product from other countries. Internationally, markets have been waiting for India to tender urea, which has come to fruition this week. Supply on the fungicide market is tight; get your chemical portfolio penned in as soon as possible. Overall, the market is in a transitional period. Keep in contact with your local supplier and know that there is little downside left in the next 30 days. As always, give the GROW Solutions Center a call or text if you have any prep planting questions (515) 800-GROW (4769).

The Farmer of the Future is well-equipped for 2023 with updated Landus locations. Our Mitchellville, Rake, and Boone facilities have undergone massive updates in 2022 and are nearing completion ahead of the 2023 planting season. Follow our social media pages to keep updated on the locations that are being renovated!

The Agronomy Trio (minus one) is back again with their compiled results from the 2023 harvest. Which hybrids did the best? Did any of them manage stress better than expected? What should you expect from your seeds for next harvest? Get the latest on the agronomy markets, the stressors predicted for the 2024 crop, and more in this episode of the GROW Podcast.

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