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.

1. Rain continues to delay planting and disrupt herbicide schedules.
2. Wheat maturity and quality vary widely across Oklahoma.
3. Cotton growers may still have time to plant with minimal impact on yield.
4. Sorghum and soybean replanting come with increased risk.
5. Corn remains the most stable summer crop this season.
6. Dr. Trotter is researching sesame as a climate-resilient crop in northern Australia.
7. Pest pressure and herbicide resistance are significant concerns for sesame.
8. Crop judging programs are being revitalized in Australia.
9. Visiting researchers foster international ag collaboration and innovation.
10. Living in Stillwater offered new perspectives on U.S. ag life for Dr. Trotter and her family.

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

RedDirtAgronomy.com

In Episode 412 of the Red Dirt Agronomy Podcast, the team is joined by Mark Hodges, Executive Director of Oklahoma Genetics Inc., for a deep dive into the vital link between OSU wheat research and Oklahoma producers.
With decades of experience in both academia and the private sector, Mark outlines how OGI ensures OSU’s cutting-edge wheat varieties reach producers and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

The episode highlights the impact of Dr. Brett Carver’s nationally and internationally recognized breeding work, the growing emphasis on quality traits, and the importance of adapting to Oklahoma’s diverse wheat production environments.
Listeners will gain insight into how public breeding programs like OSU’s can compete with private industry while delivering real-world value to producers both in Oklahoma and beyond.

10 Takeaways

1. OGI plays a vital role in connecting OSU wheat research to producers through variety promotion and licensing.
2. Dr. Brett Carver’s leadership has transformed OSU’s wheat breeding into an internationally respected program.
3. Quality traits like milling and baking performance are increasingly important in wheat breeding.
4. OSU wheat varieties dominate Oklahoma’s planting landscape, covering around 70% of acreage.
5. The breeding program incorporates feedback from both producers and end users, including millers and bakers.
6. OGI reinvests its revenues into OSU’s research programs, supporting long-term innovation.
7. Wheat production strategies vary across Oklahoma, from dryland to irrigated and forage-focused systems.
8. New varieties are developed with specific markets and applications in mind, not just general use.
9. Oklahoma wheat has a global footprint, with exports reaching markets across multiple continents.
10. The future of wheat breeding is bright, with continued innovation tailored to producer profitability.

00:00 – Welcome and intro to the episode’s focus
02:00 – Meet Mark Hodges, Executive Director of OGI
04:00 – The critical role of Dr. Brett Carver in wheat breeding
06:30 – How OGI supports OSU’s wheat program
08:00 – Industry-driven improvements in variety development
10:00 – Adapting to Oklahoma’s diverse wheat-growing conditions
13:00 – The dominance of OSU-bred varieties in Oklahoma fields
17:00 – The rising importance of specialty traits and end-user feedback
20:00 – Success in Texas and beyond
23:00 – Looking ahead: The future of OGI and wheat breeding

RedDirtAgronomy.com

This week on the Red Dirt Agronomy podcast, the "Doctor's of Dirt, & Everything That Grows From It" talk about the southwest corner of the state—where the cotton fields stretch wide and the water’s been mighty scarce.
Dr. Brian Arnall, Dr. Josh Lofton, and Dave Deken catch up with Maxwell Smith, the IPM specialist working boots-on-the-ground in Altus.
Maxwell breaks down the unique challenges of farming cotton in a region where irrigation depends on the Lake Lugert-Altus canal system—and where just a few inches of water can make or break your season.

They talk through the nuts and bolts of the irrigation setup, why cotton works (when it works), and what’s pushing some farmers to roll the dice on dryland corn.
You’ll also hear why herbicide resistance is bringing back “old-school” weed control, how new cotton trait tech like ThriveOn is changing early-season insect control, and what the future looks like for peanuts in Caddo County.
If you grow cotton, peanuts, or anything under hot skies and dry dirt, this episode's got your name on it.

[00:00–02:00] Max Smith on Altus, cotton, and canal-fed irrigation

[03:00–06:00] Allocation math, irrigation upgrades, and lining the ditches

[06:30–10:30] Cotton economics, price drops, and crop-switching trends

[11:00–16:00] IPM 101: Bugs, weeds, and managing the early season

[16:30–20:00] Trait tech: What’s working, what’s not, and what’s next

[20:30–24:00] Rotation talk: Corn, cotton, and keeping weeds guessing

[24:30–29:00] Peanuts in Oklahoma: acreage trends, water woes, and weeds

RedDirtAgronomy.com