Explore every episode of the podcast Wheat Pete's Word – RealAgriculture

Welcome to Wheat Pete’s Word for Wednesday, November 4th! In what host Peter Johnson calls one of his longest episodes yet, the show opens with an urgent reminder to prioritize farm safety as harvest and field operations wrap up. Johnson then delves into the nuances of crop sequencing versus simple rotations, shares listener field observations... Read More

Did you know an 1894 wheat variety called Johnson once topped the Ottawa trial plots? It sure did, and with that, welcome to this October 28th edition of Wheat Pete’s Word! In this episode, RealAgriculture resident agronomist Peter Johnson dives into winter cereal issues across Ontario, the provincial corn DON survey results, and corn shrink... Read More

From massive corn kernels, to harvest yield variations, frost concerns, and crucial soil health insights, there’s plenty to cover in this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word! Host Peter Johnson breaks down what’s happening in fields across Ontario, from massive corn kernel size to variable moisture levels and DON toxin risks. He also addresses frost impacts... Read More

Plots! I got plots! High-yielding soybeans, variable-rate seeding, rotation payoffs, and late-season wheat updates headline this edition of Wheat Pete's Word. In this episode of The Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down plot results showing 90-plus bushel soybeans, the massive impact of early planting dates, and impressive yield gains from crop rotation. He also tackles... Read More

The harvest dust is flying everywhere and there are some big yields rolling in in Ontario. This week on Wheat Pete's Word, we hear how soybean and corn harvest is going with big yield reports rolling in alongside some stark yield variability across regions. Meanwhile, growers face key agronomic questions on spray windows, weed management,... Read More

Crop alerts, 35-tonne silage, and a whole lot of harvest progress across the province kick off this September 30th edition of Wheat Pete's Word. Host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson marks this Truth and Reconciliation Day and breaks down the incredible variability in yield, ideal planting conditions for winter wheat, and crucial mid-season corn alerts that... Read More

What an opportunity! When you get the chance to plant wheat in September in optimum soil conditions, you need to take it! On this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down harvest updates, critical winter wheat seeding tips, fall weed management reality checks, and a whole host of unexpected late-season corn issues.... Read More

Harvest '26 is officially underway, and yield reports are rolling in alongside some crucial fall agronomy questions! On this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down high phosphorus prices and whether you can cut back rates, early soybean and edible bean yields, and why proper water management makes all the difference. Have... Read More

Hold onto your hats! Ontario got a taste of Western Canadian wind this week, and it left a trail of crop damage in its wake. On this episode of The Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down the severe weather impacts, discusses critical safety measures for pulling out stuck machinery, and dives deep into late-season agronomy... Read More

Say it ain't so! Only 41 bushels per acre soybeans and 155 bushels per acre corn? Pete's own harvest predictions are in, and they aren't great for some areas. But there's so much more to talk about on this week's episode of Wheat Pete's Word! Also, on the Word: Extreme weather continues to dominate across... Read More

Can you believe it? Paisley Johnson, big brother to Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson took top honours in the 2026 International Plowing Match farmstead beautification contest. Hats off to Paisley! Meanwhile, torrential downpours and severe hail have hit parts of Ontario and the U.S. On this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson covers rapid... Read More

Right on schedule, tar spot is back in Ontario corn crops, making disease management and leaf wetness a key focus this week. Host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson breaks down highly variable crop conditions across North America, from severe drought to drowned-out acres, and shares critical agronomic management advice for late-season disease control and cover crop... Read More

From extreme weather swings to agronomy decisions late in the season, Peter Johnson (aka Wheat Pete) is back to tackle a backlog of agronomy questions! After starting off with a heart-warming story about a proud future farmer, Pete dives straight into managing crops under severe drought and record-breaking rainfall, why ag media ranks as the... Read More

Welcome to this (early-recorded) edition of Wheat Pete's Word for Wednesday, August 5th! Host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson jumps right into the fun—which, in this case, means brand new insect alerts and emerging crop diseases. From budding agronomists taking out thistles with weed whackers to the absolute non-negotiable legalities of loading grain on the road,... Read More

Welcome to this edition of Wheat Pete’s Word! Some wheat yields in Ontario are turning out poorer than expected. Could it be dry weather or is a new pest entering the picture? On this episode, host Peter Johnson dives into wheat woes, a $10,000 fix for soil compaction, real-time tire load technology, managing severe drought... Read More

Corn yields across Ontario are showing huge potential, but managing leaf disease and timing fungicide applications will be critical to capitalizing on it. On this episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson breaks down crop stress, market shifts, disease watch-outs, and cover crop management. Plus, get the latest insights on dry-down struggles in wheat,... Read More

Holy wheat, what a crop! At least in some fields, says Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson in this week’s edition of Wheat Pete’s Word. This week, we're catching up on the huge variability showing up in winter wheat yields, a flood of fungicide questions driven by wildly different moisture conditions, and practical agronomy insights on everything... Read More

Wheat harvest is underway in Ontario, with excellent wheat quality, but winter barley is putting up disappointing yields. What's the issue? Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson tackles that, plus plenty of questions about nitrogen, soybeans, and fungicide decisions in this week's Wheat Pete's Word episode! Have a question you'd like Wheat Pete to address or some... Read More

  Happy Canada Day! This week, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson celebrates Canada while tackling a wide range of timely crop production topics, from correcting last week's dogbane recommendation, to assessing hail damage, managing herbicides in extreme heat, and evaluating nitrogen losses after heavy rainfall. He also shares a firsthand lesson from Phytophthora root rot in... Read More

What a season so far! From hail, flooding, and saturated soils to herbicide injury and drone application debates, there’s no shortage of agronomy topics to tackle this week on Wheat Pete's Word. Your host Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson covers everything from edible bean herbicide damage and fungicide application by drone to yellow soybeans, volunteer crops,... Read More

Warm June temperatures pushed crops ahead in a hurry, but cooler conditions have many cereal growers hoping for a strong grain-fill finish. This week, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson covers everything from the value of wheat in the rotation and booming forage yields to armyworm alerts, soybean insects, sulphur deficiency, weed control timing, and nitrogen management.... Read More

It's early June, and the west, as well as the east, are a tale of extremes: dry soils and surprisingly strong nitrogen levels in Ontario, flooding in parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, drought concerns in the U.S., and plenty of crop management questions in between. From late-season phosphorus responses in wheat to stripe rust explosions,... Read More

Get in on the fun, baby! This week, resident agronomist Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson covers everything from winter canola opportunities and wheat pollination weather to stripe rust concerns, crusted crops, volunteer corn control, and why chasing perfection is still a worthwhile goal. Along the way, Pete reminds listeners to stay open to new ideas, question... Read More

Between nitrogen misses, stripe rust confirmations, aphid thresholds, and some eye-popping phosphorus response in wheat, there’s no shortage of agronomy lessons this week. Host of Wheat Pete's Word, Peter Johnson, covers everything from late nitrogen rescue strategies to cereal leaf beetle scouting, while also diving into corn planting dates, strip-till timing, and why Ontario growers... Read More

Cold soils, uneven planting progress, and plenty of agronomy questions are front and centre in this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word. Host Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson digs into the risks of pushing wet soils, why early soybeans continue to surprise, and how weather extremes are hammering crops across North America. From changing corn maturities and fleabane... Read More

Cool nights, hot wheat markets, and plenty of agronomy curveballs — Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is back with another packed episode of the Wheat Pete’s Word podcast! From drought-stricken U.S. wheat crops driving market rallies, to nitrogen application headaches in Ontario wheat, Pete covers a wide range of timely crop management issues. There’s also discussion... Read More

Cold soils, slow burndowns, split nitrogen timing, and wheat disease pressure are all on the table in this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word. Host of the weekly podcast, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson, digs into the ongoing planting debate around cool conditions, shares observations from across Ontario and beyond, and answers a long list of listener agronomy... Read More

Spring may be pushing wheat and weeds ahead, but cooler nights are keeping planting decisions complicated this week. In this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson covers everything from cold-weather spraying risks to nitrogen timing, plus an early-season insect alert and strong reminders on cover crop value. There’s plenty of ground covered, literally... Read More

It’s go-time across Ontario, but the window isn’t exactly wide open. Between wet fields in Ontario, drought in parts of the U.S., and even a hard freeze out west, this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word covers just how variable spring conditions can be. From nitrogen timing decisions to weed pressure already baked into yield potential, Peter... Read More

It’s mid-April and, as always, the weather is keeping everyone guessing—too wet in Ontario, too dry in the U.S., and snow still piling up out west. In this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word, there’s no shortage of agronomy updates, market concerns, and practical ideas to help manage tight margins. From fertilizer supply challenges to nitrogen economics... Read More

It’s a classic early April juggling act—frosty mornings, slow-to-arrive spring warmth, and just enough field opportunity to keep everyone guessing. This week, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson digs into frost applications, lingering corn harvests, and the big agronomy questions rolling in as the season tries to get going. From nitrogen timing to sulphur strategy and soil... Read More

It’s April 1st—and while there’s no shortage of surprises in this episode, none of them are jokes. From global fertilizer disruptions to frost-damaged wheat and standout western crops, host of Wheat Pete's Word Peter Johnson covers a wide range of timely agronomy observations and listener questions. There’s a mix of “yowzers” moments and practical takeaways... Read More

Cold mornings, wide weather swings, and plenty of field activity set the tone for this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word. From early spring opportunities in southwestern Ontario to stark regional contrasts and agronomy insights, Peter Johnson covers a lot of ground—along with a few practical tips growers can put to use right away. This episode leans... Read More

It’s another week of wild weather swings across Ontario, and Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is leaning into what that means for both risk and opportunity heading into Plant 2026. From frost seeding oats and early sulphur applications to concerns about winter injury and fertilizer handling, there’s plenty to unpack. This episode also covers practical watch-outs... Read More

On this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson checks in from Ontario as spring conditions start to shift. From teaching the next generation of agronomists at Ridgetown Campus to assessing winter crop conditions across the province, Pete covers a wide range of agronomy questions. He also digs into management considerations for extremely... Read More

Spring has officially arrived—at least meteorologically—and Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is feeling the energy shift. With warmer temperatures across parts of Ontario and winter wheat already breaking dormancy in the deep southwest, the conversation on Wheat Pete's Word this week ranges from big wheat yield potential and unusual winter weather in the U.S. Pacific Northwest... Read More

After a well-earned family break, Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is back—and there’s no shortage of agronomy to cover in this late February episode. From manure management mishaps to sulphur math confusion and long-term compaction damage, this week’s Word is packed with practical lessons and listener-driven questions. As always, the episode blends sharp agronomy insight with... Read More

It’s the mid February edition of Wheat Pete’s Word, recorded a week early as Pete heads south for a family reunion. With an apology on maybe being slow to answer questions, this episode dives deep into paradigm shifts in soil biology, nitrogen thinking, and practical agronomy questions from the field. From dicamba stewardship to manganese... Read More

In this episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, Peter Johnson celebrates a slightly belated Canada’s Agriculture Day with a heartfelt "hats off" to the producers navigating the tough realities of weather and livestock. With the polar vortex finally breaking in the East, Pete shifts from shivering at minus 20 to digging into some truly staggering yield... Read More

February is rolling and Peter "Wheat Pete" Johnson is ready for more agronomic curveballs! This week’s Wheat Pete's Word podcast topics range from global grain logistics and soil biology to practical fertility math and a strong defence of tile drainage. Pete also digs into listener questions on sulphur, phosphorus, starter fertilizer, and lodging risk, while... Read More

In this week’s edition of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson battles the frigid conditions of late January in southwestern Ontario, finds silver linings in longer daylight, and dives into agronomy insights from conferences, provincial yield data, soil biology, nutrient questions, and crop management queries. Colder temps can’t stop the agronomic learning —... Read More

It may be a frosty January, but Wheat Pete’s bringing the heat with updates from near and very far. In this week’s episode, Pete dives into early planting in Alberta, puzzling oat flower failures, and where sulphur is truly paying off. Plus, he tackles questions on winter crop survival, winter canola rotations, and the science... Read More

Wheat Pete is back in the pulpit this week with passionate calls for better manure stewardship, more diverse crop rotations, and a wary eye on weed resistance. He shares standout moments from Ontario’s winter ag conferences and dives into listener questions on phosphorus placement, product flops, and winter wheat survival. Have a question you’d like... Read More

The new year is off and running, and Wheat Pete is energized by the learning and connections happening at Ontario’s winter ag conferences! In this first episode of 2026, Peter Johnson dives deep into fertilizer economics, the legalities of road safety, fungicide's value with or without disease, and how to keep those tar spot losses... Read More

It’s the final Word of 2025, landing just in time for Christmas! In this special year-end episode, Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson shares agronomic insights with a philosophical twist — encouraging rest, reconnection, and a deeper look at the long-term impacts of what we do, both in the field and in life. Have a question you’d... Read More

It’s the second-last Word of 2025, and Wheat Pete is diving into resistance risks, fertilizer economics, and the big agronomic takeaways from recent conferences. From septoria strains in the UK to corn-on-corn nitrogen credits, there’s no shortage of head-turning info this week — plus a reminder to challenge long-held practices (like plowing down red clover).... Read More

This week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word features snow complaints, yield highs and lows, and some fascinating developments in nitrogen-fixing wheat. Host Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson delivers updates from the field, research trials, and social media chatter—with his usual blend of insight, storytelling, and agronomic know-how. Smile at someone, shovel snow (again), and read on... Read More

On this episode of the Wheat Pete’s Word podcast, host Peter Johnson blends safety tips, agronomy advice, and some hard-earned patience. From bin safety and conference deadlines to corn stalk residue and the eternal yield monitor debate, this episode is packed with timely updates and thoughtful reminders for winter planning and spring prep. Oh—and remember:... Read More

We’re rolling into meeting season, Ontario’s wheat acres are way up, and Wheat Pete has residue on the brain. In this jam-packed episode of Wheat Pete's Word, host Peter Johnson dives into plot data, soil compaction, and residue trials with some surprising findings. Plus, he answers listener questions on nitrogen, economics, and whether seed-to-soil contact... Read More

Short days, dry corn, and long economic conversations — this week, host of Wheat Pete's Word, Peter Johnson tackles everything from crop stress lessons to how not to waste cash on unnecessary tillage. Plus, he issues an alert on DON levels and gives a nudge for more farmer-to-farmer data sharing. Let’s dig in! Have a... Read More