NASCAR drivers may get all the glory. But just like a grower depends on their hands in the field, a driver depends on the team around them. And without the eyes in the sky of the team spotter, a NASCAR team would be blind as they tried to coordinate their strategy on the track. So in this episode, we’re back at the Charlotte Motor Speedway with Brett Griffin, NASCAR spotter for Kaulig racing, owner of Spot-On Activations, and host of the podcast, Door, Bumper, Clear. He also hosts “Leading the Field,” Nutrien Ag Solutions’ new video series, and we’re going to talk about what he’s learned from touring growing operations across North America, where the business worlds of sustainable agriculture and NASCAR racing intersect, and how NASCAR spotters help foster the teamwork that it takes to win races.

Over the last six years at Kaulig Racing, Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice have built a winning Xfinity series program, bringing in veteran NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger to lead them to a series of big wins this year and positioning them to compete for a championship in Phoenix. Similarly, growers are building, growing and planning sustainability in their farming operations year over year as well, prioritizing long-term success. Nutrien Ag Solutions is proud to be a sponsor of Allmendinger's #16 Chevy Camaro, because he exemplifies the hard work and determination that it takes to find success in the field. So in this episode, Tom and Sally visit with AJ in the infield at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a few hours before his thrilling comeback win in the Bank of America ROVAL 400. He tells us what it means to represent agriculture on the track, how cooperation and hard work power success in both the worlds of racing and farming, and how he's positioning himself to bring home a championship this year in Phoenix.

Growers build their legacy in the farming success they have today, but also the impact they leave for the future. But if an operation doesn't have the financial support it needs, that could affect its viability for future generations. So in this episode of the Future. Faster Podcast, we're talking to John Maman, sales and marketing director at Nutrien Financial. We'll discuss some of the financial tools Nutrien offers for supporting a grower's economic and operational sustainability, how these financing tools support Nutrien's broader ESG goals, and how to limit risk for growers in sustainable practice-specific farming operations. Plus, Tom and Sally discuss the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in the state of Florida and throughout the American Southeast. They explore what crops and farming operations suffered the most, how the affects will ripple out across the agriculture industry, and what it means for sustainability practices.

Having their hands in the dirt is nothing new to farmers in North America. But it turns out they're not the only ones "working the field." In every cubic inch of soil, there's a miniature ecosystem living, breathing and feeding—and the health of that ecosystem can have a vast impact on crop yields, water retention and even the overall success or failure of a given planting season. So in this episode, we're talking to Lizzie French, a principal scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions' Champagne, Illinois research lab, for a critical year-end overview on ensuring next year’s soil health, and how that can reduce our reliance on other inputs. We'll talk about soil sampling, cover crops and other critical tools to ensure that your soil is working for you, plus hear about her incredible background as the daughter of missionary parents that sparked her interest in soil management practices. Plus, Tom and Sally discuss equipping growers with the terminology and tools they need to discuss sustainability practices with consumer products groups, and why that's so important in 2022.

Another growing season is winding down, and harvest time is upon us in the American South. And so, in this episode, we'll talk with Nutrien Ag Solutions South Region Agronomist Clara Millsaps to get an update on how the harvest is expected to progress in her area, what sorts of conditions and yields farmers can anticipate this year, and why now is the time to make plans for cover cropping and soil sampling. It's certainly been a year of extremes in North America, and Clara will tell us how that's impacted the growers she talks to on a regular basis. Plus, we'll look ahead to how growers can incorporate other sustainable practices into their operations next year, detail the sorts of ROI they can expect, and discuss the regional differences that make some practices better than others for growers in the South. Clara will offer her insights about which cover crops work best in this unique region, and Tom and Sally will detail how soil sampling can be a game-changer for your sustainability strategy.

Controlling nutrient runoff is essential for protecting waterways, improving water use efficiency and boosting growers' profitability. So in this episode, Tom and Sally discuss how Nutrien Ag Solutions is helping farmers take on the challenge. Through the Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes (SNO) program, growers can get paid to reduce their nitrogen use through improved management practices—for example, introducing products like enhanced efficiency fertilizers. Plus, they'll talk about a similar sustainability reporting program by Nutrien's downstream partner Ardent Mills. What's more, Brandon Laws and Taylor Ivy, senior product marketing managers at Loveland Products, are on the show to talk about how their products can make sustainability goals like more efficient nitrogen use and water management more achievable. They'll be highlighting how their current products fit into sustainability programs like SNO, as well as what impact they have on both crop yield and quality. They'll also be telling us about other upcoming products that will fit into that sustainability portfolio. For more information on SNO and how Loveland Products fit into the program, go to info.nutrienagsolutions.com/sno For more information on Ardent Mills's program, contact sky.hoffman@nutrien.com.

California is in the middle of a historic drought. And since 1990, average annual water allocation to growers from state water systems has been cut in half as water resources dwindle. So how do growers plan for their crop when faced with an unreliable water supply? On this episode, Chris White, General Manager of the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, is going to explain how they get water to the 240-thousand acres of agricultural land east of the Diablos. He'll give an in-depth explanation of water transfer markets, including how much it costs and how transportation affects water quality. He'll also talk about regulatory decisions that have affected water use and distribution in the area, including one which pushes water agencies to achieve groundwater balance by 2040. Plus, Tom and Sally will be telling us about farmers in the Netherlands protesting government restrictions on nitrogen fertilizer use, how even banks are targeting net-zero scope three carbon emissions goals, and how data-sharing by growers can help negotiate more realistic and effective sustainability practices.

In earning the distinction of being "carbon neutral," Ontario-based Maple Leaf Foods had to reduce its carbon footprint, and then invest in projects that offset its remaining output of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It certainly wasn't an easy process. But it was absolutely worth it, according to Director of Sustainability Strategy and Partnerships Mauricio Alanis. So in this episode, we ask Mauricio why it was so important for Maple Leaf Foods to achieve this goal, how they made it happen, and what it has meant for the company's bottom line. He also shares insights from Maple Leaf's ongoing carbon partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions. Plus, Tom and Sally discuss how this summer's water management efforts are playing out across North America, where many growers are dealing with historic drought conditions, while others are stuck with submerged farm fields from *too much* rain.

The agriculture industry isn't the only one grappling with massive supply chain disruptions right now.

But any grower can tell you they're feeling the pinch in the cost of their inputs, which have risen as a result of a cascade of global pressures and unexpected interruptions.

So in this episode, we talk to Mat Taylor, Senior Director of Procurement at Nutrien Ag Solutions, about his experience managing the company's fertilizer supply chains.

He'll help us understand what's causing the disruptions, how ag inputs are shipped around the world, why economic sustainability is an important factor in long term decision making, and how growers can take steps today to help address tomorrow's potential supply chain issues.

Plus, Tom and Sally will discuss notable news from Indigo Agriculture, which has announced that its carbon farming program has produced 20,000 tonnes in soil carbon credits that it will sell as emissions offsets to buyers including JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and the North Face.

They are the first agricultural soil carbon credits to be verified and issued by the Climate Action Reserve, a non-profit registry with the distinction of being the largest state-level climate market.

Read more about the story here.

It's been a busy year full of insights on the Future. Faster. Podcast.

And if you missed even one episode, you missed a lot.

So in this, our 25th podcast episode, we're listening back to some of the highlights from the last year of the Nutrien Ag Solutions podcast project.

We'll hear some of the most important lessons, and some of the most memorable moments, including actionable insights for cover cropping this fall, how last winter’s climate predictions have held up this summer, and so much more.

The guests from whom we'll hear clips include:

Jeff Tarsi, President of Global Retail at Nutrien Ag Solutions

Patrick Reed, Vice President of Sales and La Crosse Seed

Christine Chitwood, Northern High Plains Division Research and Sustainability Manager

Brent Smith, Global Vice President of Sustainable Ag, Innovation, Marketing and Proprietary Products at Nutrien Ag Solutions

Eric Snodgrass, Science Fellow and Principle Atmospheric Scientist at Nutrien Ag Solutions

Ryan Bond, Senior Director of Crop Protection and Nutrition Innovation at Nutrien Ag Solutions

David Elser, Senior Vice President for North America Retail at Nutrien Ag Solutions

Most crops are in the ground for the summer here in North America. But that just means that the time is upon us to look ahead to the fall and winter.

And so in this episode, we’re going to review some of the sustainability programs that Nutrien Ag Solutions is rolling out for later this year, so that you can get prepared to maximize your yields, capitalize on those new sustainability revenue sources and do right by your growing ecosystem.

Plus, Tom and Sally explore some of the new ways that technology is supporting growers in their efforts to add value to their crops, including blockchain tracking and biofuels carbon intensity research, and discuss plans for expanding Nutrien Ag Solution's sustainability offerings westward.

Learn more about the Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes program and sign up now.

The State of Iowa is home to some of the richest, most productive farm fields in North America. But it’s also the site of one of the greatest agricultural climate disasters of all-time, the 2020 Derecho storm event that flattened six million acres of crops. In this episode, we talk with Bill Northey, former USDA Under-Secretary and the new CEO of the Agri-Business Association of Iowa, about how growers in that state are adjusting their practices to promote climate resilience and nutrient management.

He explains how extreme weather events have elevated growers’ awareness of climate issues, and about how the Agri-Business Association of Iowa is expanding its 10-year test plot project to explore how variable rate nitrogen application can be used to maximize nutrient retention and crop yield in varying soil and planting conditions. Plus, Tom and Sally discuss how a Spring season full of economic and policy volatility, like the Federal Reserve’s planned interest rate hikes, will effect growers at a farm-level.

Read more about the relationship between interest rates and land value.

The State of Florida is as unique a place to farm as it is important to the North American food supply, serving as America's "winter vegetable basket."

But whether it's citrus or tomatoes or cabbage or one of the other 300 crops harvested in the Sunshine State, David Royal from the Nature Conservancy says 4R nutrient management principles are as important as ever when it comes to protecting Florida's complex and varied watersheds and keeping growers growing.

In this episode, he updates Tom and Sally on some of the innovative approaches growers are taking in Florida, and how they're doing a better job of telling their sustainability story to regulators and to the public.

Plus, Tom and Sally dig in on the volatile global market conditions and the uncooperative weather that have hampered planting this year, and analyze what it will mean for growers going forward.

Most crops are in the ground for the summer here in North America. But that just means that the time is upon us to look ahead to the fall and winter.

And so in this episode, we’re going to review some of the sustainability programs that Nutrien Ag Solutions is rolling out for later this year, so that you can get prepared to maximize your yields, capitalize on those new sustainability revenue sources and do right by your growing ecosystem.

Plus, Tom and Sally explore some of the new ways that technology is supporting growers in their efforts to add value to their crops, including blockchain tracking and biofuels carbon intensity research, and discuss plans for expanding Nutrien Ag Solution's sustainability offerings westward.

Learn more about the Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes program and sign up now.

To till or not to till is an issue that many sustainability-conscious growers grapple with each year.

But with the right equipment, strip till offers an attractive third option, allowing growers to reduce the impact of tilling while minimizing their fertilizer application with targeted, variable-rate application technology.

In this episode, Dave Sender, the regional sales manager at Environmental Tillage Systems, joins us to discuss how strip till can help lower an operation’s carbon footprint, build soil health, reduce inputs and improve yields. ETS produces the Soil Warrior line of strip till equipment, and Dave will tell us why it's is an increasingly popular practice for growers who want the best of both worlds.

Also, Tom and Sally provide an update on the Nutrien Ag Solutions Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes Program, which has gone live.

Growers who enroll can get paid to participate in practices that keep nitrogen applications on crops in the field, reducing runoff into reservoirs or aquifers. But it also prevents nitrogen from being exposed to the environment and being released as the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide.

Click here to learn more or get involved in the Nutrien Ag Solutions Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes Program.

In this day and age, consumers have high expectations for how their food is grown and the practices that growers employ.

And for farmer Janette Veazey-Post of Lamb Farms, Inc. and Lakeshore Dairy, LLC, meeting those expectations is an important way to generate new revenue and give back to the land on her 13,000-acre operation.

In this week's episode, Janette joins us to discuss what prompted her jointly-run family operation in New York and Ohio to get involved in the Nutrien Ag Solutions carbon pilot, how she collects data on their operation, and how they benefited from incorporating sustainable practices in their farm fields last year. 

Plus, Tom and Sally talk about when growers can expect to learn more about Nutrien Ag Solutions sustainability program announcements for 2023 and what those might look like.

Learn more about the Nutrien Ag Solutions Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes Program

Brian Arnall spends his days drilling out soil samples from Texas to Nebraska, and everywhere in between.

As the Precision Nutrient Management Extension Specialist at Oklahoma State University, he knows that every acre of every farm field is unique. And without a precision plan for the variable rate application of fertilizers that accounts for that uniqueness, growers could be missing out on opportunities to improve their margins and their sustainability metrics.

In this episode, Brian discusses the true "cost" of soil sampling, why growers need to back up their sustainability efforts with solid data reporting, and some of the extreme soil conditions he's encountering in the southern Great Plains.

Plus, Tom and Sally discuss a new USDA supplemental crop insurance program for growers looking at improving their Nitrogen use efficiency. The Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) program provides supplemental coverage when a producer is prevented from post/split applying nitrogen in the 2-3 week V3-V10 corn growth stages due to wet weather and field conditions.

PACE is available for non-irrigated corn in select counties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The deadline to apply is March 15. Learn more from these resources:

Frequently Asked Questions

Crop Criteria

New Supplemental Insurance

Topics / Conversation

Farmers face a unique slate of challenges as they prepare to build on their sustainability successes in the 2022 growing season.

Supply chain, labor and policy uncertainties have come to a head, leaving growers in search of opportunities to improve their margins and solve problems that they may never have faced before.

And that means that Nutrien Ag Solutions will be a more valuable partner than ever before, according to newly-promoted Senior VP for Retail North America David Elser.

He believes that 2022 is poised to be the Year of the Agronomist, as Nutrien Ag Solutions' experienced team helps growers overcome these challenges and thrive in uncertain times. In this episode, David explains how his roots on a family farm in Iowa are an asset in the C-Suite, how he's continuing to build trust with growers, and why sustainable ag needs champions in the field.

Plus, Tom and Sally wrangle with the definition of sustainable agriculture, and decide that maybe "do the right thing" is a pretty good start.