Patio Ponderings
Exploring the Expected and the Obscure in Agriculture
From a lifetime in agriculture to deep dives into leadership, rural life, and the evolving food system, Patio Pondering is a podcast where thoughtful conversations meet the open air. Hosted by Jim Smith, Ph.D., a seasoned Swine Nutritionist, agricultural thinker, and storyteller, this podcast explores the connections between our agricultural roots and the broader world.
What started as daily reflections—scribbled with a morning coffee in hand—has grown into a podcast that uncovers the insights, challenges, and sometimes-forgotten history of the industry that feeds us all. Whether solo pondering or engaging in candid discussions with guests, this show digs into everything from livestock production to food trends, rural business shifts, and the personal stories that shape agricultural life.
Now available in both audio and video formats, Patio Pondering brings these discussions to life on YouTube and podcast platforms alike. Whether you prefer to listen on the go or watch the conversation unfold, you’ll find fresh perspectives, candid storytelling, and the kind of conversations that make you think twice.
Subscribe and join the conversation—because agriculture is more than just dirt and livestock. It’s a story worth telling.
Patio Ponderings
Episode 44: Jim Smith - Uneven Corn Emergence, Soil Compaction, and the Hard Truths We Avoid
In this solo episode of Patio Pondering, host Jim Smith, Ph.D., a swine nutritionist and farmer from Northeast Indiana, digs into the agronomic and personal lessons behind uneven corn emergence in the 2025 growing season. Drawing from his own no-till, cover-cropped fields, Jim discusses how planter setup, sidewall compaction, and low oxygen conditions caused by saturated soils all play a role in delayed or inconsistent emergence.
If you’re evaluating emergence issues, troubleshooting planter performance, or wondering how excess rainfall and waterlogged soils affect early plant growth, this episode blends field-level insight with big-picture perspective.
👉 Topics Covered:
- 2025 corn emergence variability
- Diagnosing sidewall compaction and oxygen-limited soils
- Impacts of no-till, cover crops, and planter setup
- How saturated conditions hinder root development
Pour a cup of coffee, take a seat on the patio, and join Jim for a grounded look at emergence, compaction, and the conversations we all need to have—on and off the farm.