RhizoMetRx

Faith
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES

RhizoMetRx is where dirt meets data. Agronomist Faith breaks down the chemical, physical, and biological factors driving crop performance—going beyond outdated checklists to deliver real, actionable agronomy. If you’re ready to understand the hidden half of the plant, improve profitability from the root up, and rethink soil fertility, this podcast is for you. 

  1. 4H AGO

    When Did We Stop Farming for ROI? Auditing Your Fertility Plan for 2026

    In this solo episode of Rhizometrx, host Faith issues a wake-up call to growers as they head into the 2026 planning season. With margins tighter than ever, Faith challenges the industry's obsession with chasing the "last five bushels" regardless of cost. Faith opens the books on real-world data, comparing traditional "build and maintain" fertilizer programs against the Baseline RX approach. She breaks down a sobering case study where chasing a specific Phosphorus PPM number resulted in a $165/acre net loss over four years. Conversely, she shares incredible success stories of fields crushing their 5-year APH by 30 to 60 bushels while spending less on fertility. If you are tired of trading money to grow corn and ready to detach your emotions from arbitrary soil test numbers, this episode is your blueprint for auditing your inputs and reclaiming profitability. In this episode, you’ll learn: ROI vs. Ego: Why chasing high yields for the sake of a number often leads to "trading money," and why it's okay to leave bushels on the table if they aren't profitable. ** The $165/Acre Mistake:** Faith walks through a data set showing how a 4-year Phosphorus build program cost a grower significant capital with negative ROI. Potassium Pitfalls: A look at a potash application plan that bled $25/acre per year simply to move a soil test number that didn't correlate to yield. Grow the Crop, Not the Acre: The mindset shift needed to move away from building soil test levels (PPM) and toward feeding the specific crop in front of you based on true limiting factors. Real-World Wins: Faith shares data from a grower who, by addressing limiting factors rather than broadcasting bulk fertilizer, achieved yields 50+ bushels over their APH on significantly less fertility spend. Resourcefulness: Why modern farmers need to adopt a "Depression-era mindset" of resourcefulness—auditing every dollar and ensuring it performs—even when markets eventually turn back up. After You Listen:  Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    35 min

  2. FEB 5

    From Root to Rumen: Bridging the Gap Between Agronomy and Animal Nutrition with Dr. Blaine Ellison

    In this special episode of Rhizometrx, Faith steps outside the traditional agronomy bubble to welcome Dr. Blaine Ellison, a veterinarian and ruminant nutritionist. Together, they explore the undeniable connection between the health of the soil, the quality of the crop, and the performance of the animal. Faith and Blaine discuss a critical disconnect in modern agriculture: why agronomists and animal nutritionists rarely talk to one another. They dive deep into how chasing high tonnage and planting populations often results in indigestible fiber (lignin), creating headaches for nutritionists trying to balance a ration. From the dangers of excessive potassium in dry cow diets to the misunderstood role of phosphorus in fertility, this conversation challenges producers to look at their farm as a holistic system rather than fragmented parts. Meet the Guest: Dr. Blaine Ellison is a veterinarian turned ruminant nutritionist with over 30 years of experience. He has worked as a consultant for large herds, served in tech service for major companies, and operates his own private feed business. He approaches nutrition from a theoretical standpoint, having learned from the original authors of nutritional models. Key Topics & Takeaways: ** The "Silo" Effect:** Why the vet, the nutritionist, and the agronomist need to be in the same room. A disjointed team leads to solving problems that shouldn't exist in the first place. Quantity vs. Quality: How pushing for maximum tonnage (via high planting populations) creates tall, lignified plants that are high in indigestible fiber, forcing nutritionists to supplement energy back into the ration. The Potassium Paradox: Agronomists often push Potassium (K) for yield, but high K levels in forages can be metabolically toxic to pre-fresh cows. Blaine explains the importance of managing DCAD (Dietary Cation-Anion Difference) starting at the soil level. Calcium Bioavailability: The parallels between plant-available calcium (for root structure) and bioavailable calcium for the ruminant (to prevent milk fever). The "Zero Baseline" Mistake: Just as agronomists often assume the soil supplies zero nutrients (leading to over-fertilization), nutritionists often assume forages supply zero micronutrients (leading to over-supplementation). Manure Management: Viewing manure not just as a waste product, but as a carbon-rich fertility asset—provided it is accounted for correctly to avoid nutrient loading near the barn. After You Listen:  Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    51 min

  3. JAN 29

    Agronomic Tips for 2026 - What Your Traditional Soil Test Isn’t Telling You

    As the 2026 crop planning season heats up, Faith welcomes back Nebraska agronomists Kyle Olson and Chase Perry to dig through the data. After reviewing thousands of Indicator soil tests from across the Corn Belt, the trio discusses the glaring trends emerging between farms managed with biology in mind versus those stuck in a synthetic rut. In this deep dive, they explore why manure-fed soils are showing vastly superior CSAT scores compared to synthetic-only systems, and how over-applied nitrogen in 2025 likely contributed to the heavy disease pressure seen across the Midwest. The group also tackles the geographical battle of Potassium vs. Magnesium—contrasting the high-K soils of Nebraska with the high-Mag, tight clays of Illinois—and why chasing a "perfect" grid-sampled PPM number is burning through your budget without boosting your ROI. In this episode, you’ll learn: The Manure Advantage: Why 10 out of 10 growers prefer manure over synthetics, and how the carbon bond in manure drives higher CSAT scores and long-term soil efficiency. Nitrogen & Disease: The correlation between heavy front-loaded nitrogen programs and increased disease pressure (Tar Spot, Southern Rust). Why "too much N" often looks like a deficiency because the plant is plugged with nitrate. The Phosphorus-Zinc Link: Why you should never apply Phosphorus without Zinc. Faith explains how high P levels often induce Zinc deficiencies and why maintaining a 10:1 ratio is critical. The K:Mag Divide: A look at regional soil differences. While Nebraska growers enjoy decent Potassium availability, Illinois and Wisconsin growers fight High-Magnesium soils that tighten up and block K uptake late in the season. Manganese as the Governor: How Manganese regulates Potassium uptake and why low Manganese levels can lead to "luxury consumption" of K without yield gain. Grids vs. Zones (Again): Why grid sampling co-mingles soil types and hides the true limiting factors, whereas zone sampling offers a customized rifle approach to fertility rather than a shotgun blast. Resources & Links Mentioned: Dirt2Dollars: Kyle and Chase’s educational video channel Creekside Agronomy (Kyle Olson) CMP Enterprises (Chase Perry) After You Listen:  Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    1h 9m

  4. JAN 22

    Rethinking Nitrogen & Building Better Soil Systems: A Crop Cast Roundtable Re-Air

    In this special episode of Rhizometrx, we are unlocking the archives to bring you a powerhouse roundtable conversation that originally aired on The Crop Cast. As we head into the 2026 growing season, the themes discussed here—managing input costs, rethinking nitrogen efficiency, and questioning traditional soil sampling—are more relevant than ever. Faith joins Crop Cast host Sean Nettleton, along with Nebraska agronomists Kyle Olson and Chase Perry, for a no-holds-barred discussion on the state of modern agronomy. The group dives deep into why "grids suck," why over-applying nitrogen is burning out your soil’s carbon engine, and how moving to a system like Baseline RX can help you cut costs without cutting yield. If you are looking for a blueprint to navigate tight margins while building long-term soil resiliency, this is the conversation you need to hear. In this episode, you’ll learn: The "Grid Sucks" Mentality: Why grid sampling often creates artificial variability rather than identifying the true biological and physical variability that zone sampling captures. The Nitrogen Paradox: Why too much nitrogen often looks like a deficiency, and how excess N burns up Water Extractable Organic Carbon (WEOC), leading to stalk quality issues and disease pressure. Fungicide as a Symptom: The linear relationship between over-applying nitrogen and the need for multiple fungicide passes. Are we treating disease, or are we treating a self-inflicted nutritional imbalance? Profitability Over Yield: Shifting the goalpost from "highest yield at all costs" to "highest ROI." How to use tools like Ferticast to make intelligent cuts to your fertility budget without sacrificing the crop. The "Easy Button" Problem: How modern agriculture has relied on band-aids (more chem, more fert) rather than addressing the root cause: soil health. Resources & Links Mentioned: The CropCast: Sean’s podcast powered by BW FusionFollow Faith on X @FaithLois12Dirt to Dollars: Follow Kyle Olson & Chase Perry on Facebook After You Listen: Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    1h 25m

  5. JAN 15

    50 Years of Farming: What 1970s Newspapers Can Teach Us About Agronomy Today

    In this solo episode of Rhizometrx, host Faith Lois takes listeners on a journey through her family’s 168-year farming history, sparked by a collection of old newspaper clippings from the 1960s and 70s. Faith reflects on the surprising agronomic wisdom found in these decades-old articles—from growers producing 200+ bushel corn and 70+ bushel wheat in an era before modern genetics and technology, to university recommendations that mirror the principles of Baseline RX today. This thought-provoking episode challenges the narrative of "progress" in agriculture. Are we really more efficient today, or have we lost sight of the fundamental soil health principles (like carbon and WEOC) that previous generations intuitively understood? Faith discusses the lessons we can relearn about nutrient placement, crop rotation, and building soil tilth to make every fertilizer dollar work harder in 2026. In this episode, you’ll learn: Looking Back to Look Forward: Faith shares insights from 1970s newspaper clippings that show farmers achieving yields comparable to (or better than) today's averages in wheat and corn, despite having fewer technological tools. The Lost Efficiency: A discussion on how previous generations naturally maintained carbon-rich environments through diverse crop rotations and manure, leading to higher nutrient efficiency than we often see in modern, synthetic-heavy systems. University Wisdom Then vs. Now: An analysis of old recommendations that advised against applying extra nitrogen on manured ground—a stark contrast to today's "insurance application" mindset that often burns out soil carbon. The WEOC Connection: Why building Water Extractable Organic Carbon (WEOC) is the key to unlocking the efficiency that past generations enjoyed, and practical ways to do it (like incorporating small grains or reducing recreational tillage). Winning the Margin Game: Faith’s closing thought: If everyone can grow 250-bushel corn, the winner isn't the one with the highest yield, but the one who can produce it consistently for the lowest cost per bushel. Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow Faith on X @FaithLois12After You Listen: Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsReady to stop guessing? Email Faith infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    44 min

  6. JAN 8

    Implementing Baseline Rx: The Process

    In this solo episode of Rhizometrx, host Faith Lois takes listeners through the nitty-gritty details of implementing the Baseline RX program for the 2026 growing season. Moving beyond theory, Faith breaks down exactly what the process looks like—from zone creation using water flow and elevation maps to interpreting an Indicator soil test and building custom fertility scripts. Faith addresses the elephant in the room: the anxiety many farmers are feeling right now. She challenges listeners to control the controllables and shift their mindset from "we've always done it this way" to understanding why they are applying every pound of fertilizer. Whether you're looking to start small with one field or overhaul your entire operation, this episode is a blueprint for taking accountability, gaining confidence in your decisions, and finally understanding the limiting factors holding your yield back. In this episode, you’ll learn: Who Baseline RX is For: Growers tired of guessing, ready to move beyond standard PPM soil tests, and willing to take an active role in their farm's management. The Implementation Process: A step-by-step guide to zone delineation (using water flow, elevation, and soil texture), sampling points, and why grouping "like with like" removes artificial variability. Interpreting the Data: What happens after the samples come back? Faith explains the consultation process, including discussing WEOC (Water Extractable Organic Carbon), CSAT scores, and setting realistic yield goals based on APH and historical NDVI maps. The Scripting Phase: How fertility scripts are built to disperse yield goals across zones, utilizing tools like Ferticast to fast-track nitrogen decisions and optimize budget allocation. Mindset Shifts: Why "we've always done it this way" are the most expensive words in agriculture, and how understanding your data leads to confidence in conversations with retailers and suppliers. Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow Faith on X @FaithLois12After You Listen: Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsReady to stop guessing? Email Faith infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    51 min

  7. JAN 1

    Trend Line Yield is a Trap: Evaluating Product Performance with Mason Claude

    In this episode of Rhizometrx, host Faith is joined by Mason Claude, a self-described "agronomy nerd" and BW Fusion agronomist. They dive deep into why relying solely on yield to evaluate product performance is a mistake that could be costing you money. Together, they challenge the "trend line yield" mindset and offer practical, data-driven methods for evaluating what’s actually working on your farm—from measuring stalk diameter to understanding why 50 pounds of phosphorus might perform exactly the same as 100 pounds. In this episode, you’ll learn: The Yield Trap: Why benchmarking success solely on yield is flawed, especially if you aren’t calibrating your yield monitor or accounting for field variability. Phenotypic Indicators: How to use biomass, stalk diameter, and root mass as early indicators of product performance long before the combine rolls. The "Secondary Root" Reality: Why roots developed before V4 don't matter as much as the secondary root system, and how stalk diameter directly correlates to late-season nutrient uptake. Data vs. Your Data: Why aggregate industry data means nothing if it doesn't apply to your specific limiting factors, and how to set up valid on-farm trials (3 reps, 3 fields, 3 hybrids). The Macro-Micro Connection: How over-applying macronutrients like phosphorus can induce micronutrient deficiencies (like zinc), forcing you to spend money to fix a problem you created. Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow Faith on X @FaithLois12After You Listen: Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    57 min

  8. 12/25/2025

    Challenging the “Way We Have Always Done It”: Agronomic Tough Pills to Swallow Part 2 with Crop Cast’s Sean Nettleton

    In this special Christmas episode of Rhizometrx, Faith and Sean Nettleton (host of CropCast) continue their deep dive into agronomy's "hard pills to swallow." Building on last week's discussion about grid sampling and planting populations, Part 2 tackles even bigger misconceptions. The duo explains why traditional PPM values on a soil test rarely correlate to actual nutrient uptake, citing recent grain removal analysis data. They also dissect the linear relationship between over-applying nitrogen and needing multiple fungicide passes, and why "fungicide season" in crops is a lot like "flu season" in humans—often a result of stress and imbalance rather than just disease pressure. As you reflect on the 2024 season and plan for 2025, this episode challenges you to rethink fertility efficiency, micronutrient application, and the true cost of chasing high yields. In this episode, you’ll learn: PPM vs. Uptake: Why high soil test levels (PPM) don't guarantee that nutrients are getting into the plant. Faith and Sean discuss how CSAT scores (WEOC/CEC) are a better indicator of nutrient availability. The Nitrogen-Fungicide Link: Sean shares his observation that fields with excessive nitrogen often require more fungicide. Overloading N can thin cell walls, burn up carbon, and weaken the plant's natural immunity, making "fungicide season" a symptom of management rather than just weather. Grain Removal Analysis: New data suggests that standard university removal rates might be overestimating what crops actually take off the field, further challenging the "build and maintain" fertility mindset. The "Moron" Theory: The misconception that adding more on (more fertilizer, more plants) automatically leads to more yield. The hosts discuss why high-yielding zones are often efficient because they cycle nutrients better, not because they have higher applied fertility. Kernel Weight vs. Kernel Count: Why chasing kernel count might be less effective than managing for late-season grain fill and heavier kernel weight. Human Health Parallels: Just as "flu season" is often driven by stress and poor diet (sugar/alcohol), plant disease pressure is often driven by nutritional imbalances and environmental stress. Resources & Links Mentioned: The CropCast: Sean’s podcast powered by BW FusionFollow Faith on X @FaithLois12After You Listen: Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodesShare this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionalsJoin the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

    1h 8m
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About

RhizoMetRx is where dirt meets data. Agronomist Faith breaks down the chemical, physical, and biological factors driving crop performance—going beyond outdated checklists to deliver real, actionable agronomy. If you’re ready to understand the hidden half of the plant, improve profitability from the root up, and rethink soil fertility, this podcast is for you. 

Information

  • Creator
    Faith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 RhizoMetRx
  • Show Website
    RhizoMetRx

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