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 Fusion
• Follow Faith on X @FaithLois12
• Dirt to Dollars: Follow Kyle Olson & Chase Perry on Facebook
  
  

After You Listen:

• Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodes
• Share this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionals
• Join the conversation—send your questions, field observations, or feedback to infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

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 @FaithLois12

After You Listen:

• Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodes
• Share this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionals
• Ready to stop guessing? Email Faith infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.

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 @FaithLois12

After You Listen:

• Subscribe to RhizoMetRx to stay updated on new episodes
• Share this episode with fellow growers, consultants, or agronomy professionals
• Ready to stop guessing? Email Faith infinityagsolutions@gmail.com.