{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/69b333ea00294d4abc384338/69effe72fd19588ed70c7312?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Rain Gauges, Row Units, and a Dad’s Cameo","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/69b333ea00294d4abc384338/1777335907275-82f8cc9a-1b8c-4638-a1a0-9ce813339978.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Ready to hit the fields? This episode of <em>Between the Rows</em> is all about that high-stakes first pass and the unpredictable Michigan spring.</p><h2>Episode Description</h2><p>The frost is lifting, the equipment is hummin’, and Ashleigh and Amanda are back to talk about the most critical time of year: <strong>The Planting Pass.</strong> From the back of a seed tender in the Upper Peninsula to the active discing fields of West Michigan, the girls check in from the thick of pre-season prep.</p><p>They dive deep into the \"non-negotiables\" of planting—discussing why technologies like down force and variable rate seeding are game-changers for uniform emergence and harvest consistency. But it wouldn’t be farming without a few curveballs; the duo discusses navigating record-breaking rainfall, the \"Billy Eilish\" method of documenting farm history, and an unexpected cameo from Ashleigh’s dad that nearly stole the show.</p><p>Whether you're making the call on early-season soybeans or just trying to keep the rye cover crop from taking over, grab your coffee (or Diet Coke) and join us between the rows.</p><h2>Show Notes</h2><h3><strong>Field Updates</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Ashleigh's Road Trip:</strong> Delivering seed and fuel tenders across the Upper Peninsula to get growers ready for the ground to break.</li><li><strong>Amanda’s Home Front:</strong> The discs are running, lime is being spread, and the team is putting in 11-hour shop days to get the planters communicating.</li></ul><h3><strong>The \"Planting Pass\" Deep Dive</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Non-Negotiables:</strong> Why <strong>Down Force</strong> and <strong>Variable Rate Seeding</strong> are essential for achieving that \"one-day emergence\" window.</li><li><strong>Uniformity is King:</strong> How consistent emergence in the spring leads to easier drying and better yields at harvest.</li><li><strong>Tech Talk:</strong> A look back at precision planting kits and how equipment upgrades have evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic.</li></ul><h3><strong>Weather &amp; Agronomy Challenges</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>Rain, Rain, Go Away:</strong> Analyzing the Davis weather station data—some areas have seen over 7 inches of rain, moving the conversation from \"pre-season\" to managing wet fields.</li><li><strong>Soybean Strategy:</strong> Is April too early for beans in Central Michigan? The girls discuss the \"10-year pattern\" vs. recent early planting trends.</li><li><strong>The Wheat Worry:</strong> Potential nitrogen leaching concerns following the heavy spring deluges.</li></ul><h3><strong>Between the Rows: Life &amp; Legacy</strong></h3><ul><li><strong>New Beginnings:</strong> Celebrating Ashleigh’s parents finally moving into their new home.</li><li><strong>Documenting the Farm:</strong> The importance of recording \"Farmer Stories.\" Amanda and Ashleigh discuss using video to preserve the legacy of grandparents.</li><li><strong>Dad’s Cameo:</strong> A hilarious mid-episode interruption involving a loader tractor and a \"scraped approach\" by Ashleigh's father.</li></ul><p><strong>Connect with us!</strong> Have a farmer story we should feature? Want to tell us your planting non-negotiables? Reach out to us on social media—we’re experts at \"volun-telling\" people to come on the show!</p>","author_name":"Ashleigh Bryant"}