G’day Y’all: From Bushland Heat to Red Dirt Fields - RDA 413
Join us for a big announce ment about a program coming in August, 2025! The Red Dirt Agronomy crew dives into the challenges Oklahoma producers are facing during an unusually wet spring. From delayed planting and washed-out pre-emergent herbicides to concerns over replanting decisions and crop development, the crew unpacks what this weather means for wheat, sorghum, soybeans, cotton, and corn across the state. Dr. Josh Lofton, Dr. Brian Arnall, and Dr. Raeden Sharry offer timely updates and practical advice for managing weed pressure, evaluating replant potential, and making nutrient decisions under tight windows. Then, the episode takes a global turn as the team welcomes Dr. Tieneke Trotter, a visiting researcher from Central Queensland University in Australia. Dr. Trotter shares insights into her work with sesame as an emerging crop, the unique challenges of farming in northern Australia, and her efforts to revitalize crop judging competitions to inspire the next generation of agronomists. She also reflects on her family's experience living in Stillwater and the shared challenges and innovations that connect agricultural communities across continents.
Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast · Tieneke Trotter Ph.D., Josh Lofton Ph.D., Raedan Sharry Ph.D., Brian Arnall Ph.D., Dave Deken
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Show Notes
This episode of Red Dirt Agronomy brings the guys together to tackle the stormy spring season in Oklahoma.
With wheat harvest creeping closer, sorghum and soybeans struggling for traction, and cotton still holding on to potential, the conversation focuses on the realities producers are facing in muddy fields.
Herbicide failures, crop emergence, and tight planting windows make for a strategic balancing act.
The episode also welcomes Dr. Tieneke Trotter, a visiting scientist from Central Queensland University in Australia.
Dr. Trotter offers a fascinating look into her work developing sesame as an emerging crop in the harsh northern regions of Australia.
Her perspective connects the dots between farming systems across hemispheres, from shared pest challenges to a global push for crop diversification and youth engagement in agriculture.
Key Takeaways
- Rain continues to delay planting and disrupt herbicide schedules.
- Wheat maturity and quality vary widely across Oklahoma.
- Cotton growers may still have time to plant with minimal impact on yield.
- Sorghum and soybean replanting come with increased risk.
- Corn remains the most stable summer crop this season.
- Dr. Trotter is researching sesame as a climate-resilient crop in northern Australia.
- Pest pressure and herbicide resistance are significant concerns for sesame.
- Crop judging programs are being revitalized in Australia.
- Visiting researchers foster international ag collaboration and innovation.
- Living in Stillwater offered new perspectives on U.S. ag life for Dr. Trotter and her family.
Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and opening banter
00:54 – Oklahoma crop and field condition updates
03:12 – Herbicide challenges due to excess rain
05:30 – Sorghum and soybean replanting risks
06:18 – Wheat progress and patchy field reports
09:45 – Timing and temperature concerns for cotton
11:32 – Rain impacts on pre-emergent effectiveness
13:05 – Tips for replanting decisions and herbicide strategy
18:36 – Introduction of guest Dr. Tieneke Trotter
21:40 – Australian ag background and cropping systems
26:51 – Sesame as an emerging crop in Australia
32:00 – Pest management and weed pressure in sesame
35:45 – Crop judging revival in Australia
40:10 – Cultural insights from living in Stillwater
44:38 – Agronomy collaboration between countries
47:15 – Closing thoughts and wrap-up
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