In The Mix

Front Row Ag
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In The Mix by Front Row Ag delivers expert-led conversations on commercial cultivation systems, built from real-world experience across high-performance facilities. Each episode features industry operators and Front Row Ag specialists breaking down environmental control, fertigation, water quality, and data-driven decision making. Focused on proven methods—not theory—this podcast helps cultivators identify limiting factors, improve consistency, and drive measurable results.

  1. Jun 3

    Why Some LED Grow Upgrades FAIL the Math

    Two facilities. Same canopy size. Same yield target. Completely different electrical bills. In this episode, we break down the lighting math most growers skip: watts per square footPPFD and uniformityfixture spacingmounting heightPPE efficiencyunder canopy lightingwhy some facilities massively overspend on LEDsThis conversation explores how modern lighting design affects yield, operational costs, and long-term profitability in commercial cultivation environments. Whether you're planning a retrofit, building a new room, or trying to lower COGS, understanding the math behind your lighting matters more than marketing brochures. 00:00 Why two identical facilities can have radically different power bills Chapters 00:16 The mistake growers make when buying LEDs 00:46 Calculating watts per square foot 01:04 Traditional HPS benchmarks explained 01:27 Why lowering watts/ft² matters 01:42 Single tier vs multi-tier lighting limitations 02:30 The simplest lighting calculation every grower should know 03:10 PPFD and lighting budget considerations 03:44 The hidden problem with “perfect” uniformity 04:28 Why dimming fixtures means wasted CapEx 05:01 How often facilities replace lighting systems 05:25 LED efficiency improvements over time 06:23 The tradeoffs between spectrum and efficiency 07:15 Why modern LED spectra perform differently 07:47 Why mounting height changes everything 08:16 Diode strength and discharge intensity 08:53 How some facilities reach sub-30W/ft² 09:55 Under canopy lighting discussion 10:47 New research on redistributing lighting wattage 11:30 Practical takeaways for growers 12:40 Why photometric planning matters

    13 min

  2. Apr 30

    SIU Researcher Dr. Jose Leme on Trichomes, Water Stress, and Biostimulants in Cultivation

    What happens when you stress plants on purpose? In this video, we break down university research from Dr. Jose Leme’s lab on plant stress, trichomes, water deficit, and biostimulants. Topics covered: Stress signals vs real stressTrichome development and plant defenseWater deficit strategies (dry back vs dry out)Biostimulants like seaweed, humic acid, chitosan, and silicaHow timing, environment, and genetics affect outcomesSome of the results challenge common assumptions. If you're interested in plant science, controlled environment agriculture, or optimizing plant performance, this is worth understanding. Chapters 00:00 Intro – Who is Dr. Jose Leme? 01:20 The trichome methyl jasmonate experiment 03:34 Why trichomes behave unexpectedly 05:20 Trichomes as a defense mechanism 10:45 Measuring trichomes (limitations) 11:56 Size vs concentration 24:09 Genetics vs environment 34:27 Water stress experiment 35:00 When stress backfires 36:31 Nutrients vs stress 37:00 Dry back vs dry out 45:36 Pushing genetic potential46:10 Biostimulants and signaling 47:05 What showed promise 48:48 What’s still unknown

    50 min

  3. Apr 30

    Hiring a Lead Cultivator: What To Look For

    Most facilities make the same hiring mistake: choosing a head cultivator based on plant knowledge instead of leadership ability. In modern controlled environments, success depends less on hands-on growing and more on managing systems, people, and performance. This video breaks down: Why designing around one cultivator is riskyWhat actually matters in a lead roleHow to avoid costly hiring mistakes

    5 min

  4. Apr 30

    Light Interruption Can Cause Herms (+How to Stop It)

    Light interruption is one of the most overlooked risks in indoor facilities—and it often shows up after a build is “complete.” In this breakdown, Egan O’Keefe (Co-Founder of Front Row Ag, VP of Cultivation at Story of Maryland) explains: Why commissioning doesn’t end when the building is handed overWhere light leaks actually come from (doors, ductwork, equipment)How even small LEDs can impact sensitive varietiesThe difference between resilient vs. finicky geneticsWhy green aisle lighting is a safer—but not perfect—solutionThis is practical, field-tested insight for operators who want consistency, not surprises. Chapters 00:00 – New facility mistake most teams make 00:30 – What commissioning actually means 01:15 – The hidden issue: light interruption 01:40 – Hallways, traffic, and light exposure 02:00 – Why most doors fail 02:20 – How to actually find light leaks 02:40 – Ductwork and mechanical system issues 03:00 – Fixing doors and sealing rooms 03:20 – Equipment LEDs and hidden light sources 03:50 – Why even tiny light matters 04:05 – Two types of genetics 04:45 – When light leaks don’t cause problems 05:00 – When they absolutely do 05:15 – How herms start from small light exposure 05:30 – Why early detection matters 05:40 – Green lighting in aisleways (pros & limits)

    7 min

  5. Apr 14

    VPD for Every Stage of the Grow Cycle

    In this video, we break down the VPD ranges we use from veg through late flower, why plant posture is one of the most underrated metrics in the room, and the exact reason your humidity spikes every time your CO2 runs out. What's covered: VPD targets for veg (and why 0.9–1.0 is the sweet spot)Whether to use leaf surface temp or ambient air temp and why it mattersWeek 1–3 flower VPD and day/night humidity targetsHow to ramp VPD through late flower without running mold riskThe CO2/stomata/humidity connection most growers don't connectUsing plant posture as a real-time environmental feedback signal📊 VPD charts referenced in this video are available in our Grow Guide - link below. 🔗 https://books.frontrowag.com/frontrowaggrowguide2025ggusv12 Chapters 00:00 Intro — Common VPD Questions00:06 VPD in Veg: The 0.9–1.0 Sweet Spot01:03 Running Rooms Warm in Veg01:44 Leaf Surface Temp vs. Ambient Air for VPD02:03 Why Ambient Temp Is the Better Benchmark03:16 Week 1–3 Flower: Targeting 1.0–1.2 VPD03:57 Day vs. Night Temp and Humidity Strategy04:07 CO2, Stomata, and Humidity Spikes Explained06:12 How to Read Plant Posture as Environmental Feedback08:24 Week 4+ Flower: Ramping VPD Through Late Cycle09:04 Day/Night Temp Differential Strategy09:35 Managing Mold Risk as VPD Rises10:07 Using a VPD Chart to Plan Week by Week10:43 Adjusting for Your Facility and Equipment

    11 min

  6. Apr 14

    What It Really Takes to Grow Purple

    Purple expression is one of the most misunderstood traits in cultivation. In this conversation, we break down why plants turn purple, when it’s genetically driven, and what actually happens when growers try to force purple expression through environmental stress. Lower air temperatures, cold root zones, spectrum manipulation, nitrogen tapering—these strategies can increase anthocyanin expression, but they don’t come for free. Many of the same levers that push color also slow photosynthesis, reduce energy availability, and introduce yield or consistency trade-offs. We also dig into: Why genetics set the ceiling for purple expressionWhy chilling root zones is especially riskyHow spectrum shifts are often the least damaging optionWhere nutrient tapering fits (and where it doesn’t)Why environmental uniformity matters more than most people realizeHow microclimates inside a room can quietly wreck nutrient strategyThis is not a “how-to force purple” guide. It’s a reality check on trade-offs, decision-making, and choosing the least damaging path for your operation.

    13 min

  7. Apr 14

    How Top-Performing Commercial Cultivation Teams Organize the Day

    High-performing commercial cultivation teams don’t improvise the day. They start with a master production calendar, translate it into a short list of priority tasks, and use structured morning and end-of-day meetings to keep labor aligned and prevent drift. This conversation breaks down how top-performing teams organize the day—from calendar to canopy—so work stays efficient, predictable, and repeatable at scale. 00:00 - Why the day needs structure 03:10 - The master calendar as the real decision-maker 07:45 - Limiting the day to a few priority tasks - Why top teams avoid overloading the schedule 12:30 - Morning meetings: setting direction, not micromanaging 18:20 - Labor flow and task handoffs - How experienced teams sequence work across rooms and crews 24:10 - End-of-day meetings: closing the loop 30:40 - Scale changes structure, not principles - What stays consistent from small to very large facilities 36:00 - Why efficiency creates better outcomes

    16 min

  8. Apr 14

    What Other Crops Can Teach Us About Canopy Design, Defense, and Yield

    Most growers treat this crop as biologically unique. That assumption breaks more things than it fixes. In this conversation, John Sokolik explains how well-studied crops like hops, tomatoes, hackberry, and lima beans reveal practical lessons about canopy density, light penetration, pest pressure, and plant defense signaling. Topics include leaf area index, under-canopy lighting, plant communication via jasmonic acid, and why some tissues become energy sinks instead of contributors. If you want higher efficiency—not just more biomass—this is the lens to use. Chapters 00:00 – Why treating this crop as “exceptional” causes problems 01:06 – Hops: same family, different canopy strategy 02:48 – Light penetration and under-canopy lighting results 03:55 – Leaf Area Index and diminishing returns 05:37 – Hackberry as a pest pressure warning sign 08:29 – Plant-to-plant communication and defense signaling 12:52 – Tomato trichomes and transferable research 14:00 – What growers should actually apply

    22 min
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About

In The Mix by Front Row Ag delivers expert-led conversations on commercial cultivation systems, built from real-world experience across high-performance facilities. Each episode features industry operators and Front Row Ag specialists breaking down environmental control, fertigation, water quality, and data-driven decision making. Focused on proven methods—not theory—this podcast helps cultivators identify limiting factors, improve consistency, and drive measurable results.

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  • Creator
    Front Row Ag
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Front Row Ag
  • Show Website
    In The Mix

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