Contributors and lifelong farmers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula, share their Breaking Barriers agronomic insights that challenge farmers to think differently.
Latest episodes
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34 min
Breaking Barriers: Don't Bet the Farm on Unproven Hybrids
On this episode of Breaking Barriers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula discuss the decisions that can make or break a growing season, from establishing successful cover crops to selectin…
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1 h 08
Breaking Barriers: Rethinking Wheat, Planting Technology & Lessons From Harvest 2026
Randy Dowdy and David Hula sit down for another wide-ranging conversation about harvest, crop performance and the lessons they’re taking into next season. With corn harvest underwa…
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52 min
Breaking Barriers: Unlocking the Yield Potential of Potassium
Potassium is often overlooked compared with nitrogen, but it plays a critical role in water management, nutrient movement, photosynthesis, stalk strength and overall crop performan…
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41 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: Is Your Corn Losing Yield Before Harvest?
Randy Dowdy and David Hula dive into the challenges farmers are seeing in the field, from long and drooping ear shanks to inconsistent planting depth and hybrid performance. They d…
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50 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: Finding Lost Yield Before Harvest
Randy Dowdy and David Hula discuss what farmers should be looking for as harvest approaches, from inconsistent planting depth and weed pressure to disease, ear development, hybrid…
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53 min
Breaking Barriers: The Secrets to Bigger Corn Yields & Healthier Soils
This episode of Breaking Barriers with Randy Dowdy and David Hula covers the latest crop conditions across the country, while also taking a deep dive into Pioneer's 100 years of in…
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50 min
Breaking Barriers: Stop Losing Soybean Yield - The Herbicide Mistake Costing Farmers
On this episode of Breaking Barriers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula share observations from their latest field visits across Nebraska, Iowa, Virginia, and Georgia, highlighting the mi…
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52 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: The Spray Application Debate Every Farmer Should Hear
As fungicide season approaches, Randy Dowdy and David Hula welcome aerial applicator Matt Crabbe for a deep dive into spray application technology. Fresh off a multi-day "Operation…
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43 min
Breaking Barriers: The Yield Potential Is There—Now Comes the Management
In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula compare notes from recent crop tours across the Corn Belt and discuss what they're seeing in fields from Georgia to…
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40 min
Breaking Barriers: Why Uniform Emergence Still Rules the Farm
In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula dive into the agronomic details that separate average crops from exceptional ones. From planter setup and seed dept…
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1 h 15
Breaking Barriers: How Better Combine Setup Saves Bushels and Fuel
On this episode of Breaking Barriers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula sit down with Todd Dale of Estes Performance Concaves for an in-depth conversation about combine performance, harve…
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41 min
Breaking Barriers: Weather Impacts on Planting and Yield Potential
In this episode of Breaking Barriers with R&D, Randy Dowdy and David Hula break down the harsh reality farmers are facing across the country right now—extreme weather swings that a…
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48 min
Breaking Barriers: It's Not A Race To Get It Done, It's A Race To Do Get It Done Correctly
In this episode of Breaking Barriers, Randy Dowdy and David Hula challenge farmers to rethink traditional practices and focus on what truly drives performance and profitability. To…
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43 min
Breaking Barriers: High-Yield Secrets, Family Traditions & Farming for Profit
This episode blends technical farming strategies with personal stories from the field. Randy shares the pride and connection built through his son Easton’s hunting success, highlig…
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51 min
Breaking Barriers: Farming Profitably in the Age of Rising Inputs
In this episode of Breaking Barriers, lifelong farmers and Total Acre founders Randy Dowdy and David Hula share practical agronomic insights designed to challenge farmers to think…
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45 min
Breaking Barriers: Profit Over Yield—Planting Readiness, Market Pressures & Smart Risk Management
In this episode, Randy and David discuss shifting weather patterns and planting readiness, global market challenges as Brazil surpasses the U.S. in production, and the mounting pre…
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41 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: Navigating weather challenges and the importance of crop insurance
In the latest episode of Breaking Barriers with R&D, Randy Dowdy and David Hula tackle a variety of topics this week ranging from weather challenges, farm management, weather chall…
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53 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: Profit First Thinking in an Unpredictable Farm Economy
In this episode, Randy and David unpack how farmers are approaching 2026 with a sharper eye on cost control—rethinking fertilizer rates, evaluating underperforming land, and naviga…
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58 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: Laying the Groundwork for a Profitable 2026
In this episode of Breaking Barriers with R&D, the duo digs into the fundamentals reminding us that success still starts with the basics. From dialing in soil pH and fertility with…
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55 min
Breaking Barriers with R&D: Innovations Shaping American Agriculture's Future
Join Randy Dowdy and David Hula on Breaking Barriers with R&D as they break down today’s biggest ag challenges and opportunities—from economic and policy pressures to extreme weath…