Alabama Crops Report
The Alabama Crops Report Podcast is where the research meets the row. When time is tight and every minute matters, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System agronomy team makes decision-making simpler for farmers by bringing Extension expertise straight to the tractor cab. Producers can expect to hear a wide range of topics throughout the year. From insect scouting tips to fertilizer application recommendations and harvest updates—timely issues in the field will be addressed by agents and specialists from all over the state. Episodes will be 10 to 15 minutes long in conversational form. New episodes will drop weekly during the production season. Li...
Season 6 Episode 6—Corn Planting Update
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham are talking corn planting with Eros Francisco, an assistant professor and Extension grain crops agronomist, and....
Season 6 Episode 5—Alabama Drought Reach
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Josh Lee, Jacob Sizemore and Chandler Gruener talk with Laura Bell Cooley of the Auburn University Water Resources Center and Brianne....
Season 6 Episode 4-Alabama Peanut Producers Association
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk talk with Alabama Peanut Producers Association Executive Director Libbie Johnson. Additionally, Kris Balkcom and Amanda Sherer....
Season 6 Episode 3-Climate Outlook
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, Chandler Gruener hosts along with Josh Lee and Brenda Ortiz. They talk with Florida State Climatologist David Zierden of Florida State University....
Season 6 Episode 2-Cotton Jassid Update
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, host Scott Graham provides a cotton jassid update with Josh Lee, Blake Lanton and Jacob Sizemore. The recap covers what they learned....
Season 6 Episode 1—Managing Stress in the Agricultural Industry
The Alabama Crops Report Podcast is back for Season 6 with a few new voices stepping up to the mic. From uncertain crop markets to damaging pests, there are many....
Season 5 Episode 20 — State Harvest Summary
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, Simer Virk is joined by fill-in co-host Blake Lanton and a room full of Alabama Extension experts. The group recaps the 2025....
Season 5 Episode 19—Cover Crops
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk sit down with Audrey Gamble, an associate professor of crop, soil, and environment sciences in Auburn’s....
Season 5 Episode 18 — Harvest Update for 2025
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk sit down with Extension experts Eros Francisco, Chandler Greuner, Blake Lanton, and Josh Lee for a general....
Season 5 Episode 17 — Peanut Harvest Update
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk sit down with Extension experts Kris Balkcom, Cade Grace, and Blake Lanton to talk about the....
Season 5 Episode 16 — Bringing New Chemistries to the Market
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham visit with Wilson Faircloth from Syngenta as they learn what it takes for agricultural companies to....
Season 5 Episode 15 — New Specialists Join the Team Transcript
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham welcome two new specialists to the Alabama Extension at Auburn University agronomic crops team. Chandler....
Season 5 Episode 14 — Cotton Insect Management
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham discuss cotton insect management strategies with Extension veteran, Ron Smith. Graham and Smith, both cotton....
Season 5 Episode 13 — July's Reconciliation Bill: What It Means for Ag
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham visit with Max Runge, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System economist with Auburn University about the....
Season 5 Episode 12 — Crop Talk: Alabama Field Conditions
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk talk about Alabama field conditions with agronomic crops Extension agents Blake Lanton, Cade Grace, and....
Season 5 Episode 11 — Cotton Planting: There's Still Time
On this special episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham talk with Steve Brown, Cade Grace, Eddie McGriff, Aaron Wells, Ron Smith, and Blake....
Season 5 Episode 10 — 2025 Alabama Peanut Outlook
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk talk with Kris Balkcom, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System assistant Extension professor specializing in peanuts.....
Season 5 Episode 9 — 2025 Corn Crop Outlook
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham talk with Alabama Extension Plant Pathologist Amanda Scherer, Grain Specialist Eros Francisco, and Weed Specialist....
Season 5 Episode 8 — Cotton Conversation with Steve Brown
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham enjoy a cotton conversation with Steve Brown and Amanda Scherer. The group talks planting dates, soil....
Season 5 Episode 7 — Disease Management in Cotton & Peanuts
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham talk cotton and peanut disease management with Alabama Cooperative Extension System Entomologist and Plant Pathologist, Amanda....
Season 5 Episode 6 — Wiregrass Roundup
In this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham talk about Wiregrass crop production with Extension Agents Sedrick Mack and Aaron Wells. Both agents....
Season 5 Episode 5 — Spring Planting Prep
In this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham visit with Blake Lanton, an Extension agent in central Alabama about soil sampling and spring....
Season 5 Episode 4 — Ag Market Trends
In this episode of the Alabama Crops Report podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham talk agricultural markets and trends with Alabama Extension Economists Adam Rabinowitz and Wendiam Sawadgo. Take....
Season 5 Episode 3 — Nutrient Management Part Two
In this episode of the Alabama Crops Report podcast, hosts Simer Virk and Scott Graham continue their nutrient management discussion with Rishi Prasad. Different areas of the state call for....
Season 5 Episode 2 — Nutrient Management Part One
This episode features Rishi Prasad, the nutrient management guy. He says where the nutrients go, his research follows. The group discusses chicken litter production and its wide use on Alabama....
Season 5 Episode 1 — 2025 Crop Consultant Roundtable
Season 5 of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast kicks off with a crop consultant roundtable discussion, hosted by Blake Lanton and Simer Virk. A room full of consultants who serve....
Season 4 Episode 8 — Auburn University TAPS Program
To wrap up Season 4 of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk welcome a large crew of Alabama Cooperative Extension System professionals, industry partners, and row....
Season 4 Episode 7 — Updates from the Peanut Fields
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, Mr. Peanut himself, Kris Balkcom, joins hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk to talk about the world of peanuts. Balkcom, an Alabama....
Season 4 Episode 6 — 2024 Crops Recap for Central Alabama
As the year is coming to an end, now is a great time to look back at the events of the past growing season. On this episode of the Alabama....
Season 4 Episode 5 — Auburn University Variety Testing Program
Selecting the right crop variety is one of the most important decisions a farmer can make. The Auburn University Variety Testing Program is a great resource that helps guide farmers....
Season 4 Episode 4 — Corn & Soybean Harvest Update
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report Podcast, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk are joined by two guests: Eros Francisco, an Alabama Extension grain specialist, and David Russell,....
Season 4 Episode 3 — West Central Crop Update with Blake Lanton
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Simer Virk sit down with Blake Lanton, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System agronomic crops regional agent. Lanton serves....
Season 4 Episode 2 — Cotton Defoliation with Steve Brown
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, long-time hosts Scott Graham and Amanda Scherer join new host Simer Virk for a discussion on cotton defoliation. A cotton podcast episode....
Season 4 Episode 1 — Prospective Planting Report from USDA
Season four of the Alabama Crops Report brings with it a new host! Long-time guest to the podcast, Eros Francisco, joins Adam Rabinowitz as a host to kick off the....
Season 3 Episode 11 – Aloha from Alabama Extension!
Aloha from Alabama Extension! On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Amanda Scherer and Scott Graham welcome colleagues from Auburn University and the University of Hawaii to the....
Season 3 Episode 10 – Watershed Planning for Irrigation
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Scott Graham and Adam Rabinowitz sit down with first-time guests Eve Brantley and Adam Newby. Brantley is an Alabama Cooperative Extension....
Season 3 Episode 9 – Preharvest Marketing Plans
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, hosts Adam Rabinowitz and Katelyn Kesheimer sit down with Wendiam Sawadgo, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System economist. As harvest is right around....
Season 3 Episode 8 – Crop Updates from the Wiregrass
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, listeners get a regional crop update from the Wiregrass. Hosts Adam Rabinowitz and Scott Graham sit down with Sedrick Mack, an Alabama....
Season 3 Episode 7 – Nutrients from Poultry Litter
Litter happens! On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report podcast, hosts Scott Graham and Amanda Scherer talks with Kent Stanford, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System nutrient management specialist. The....
Season 3 Episode 6 – Hessian Fly Outbreaks
On this episode of the Alabama Crops Report, Katelyn Kesheimer, one of the regular hosts of the podcast, is switching into the guest seat. Hosts Scott Graham and Amanda Scherer....
