In this episode of Red Dirt Agronomy, the team sits down with Dr. Jayson Lusk, Vice President and Dean of Agricultural Programs at Oklahoma State University, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of agriculture and leadership in higher education.
Dr. Lusk reflects on his journey from researcher to administrator, the challenges of guiding a land-grant institution, and how he stays grounded in the needs of Oklahoma's producers.
The discussion explores the evolving role of faculty engagement, the value of public communication, and how Extension can remain impactful in an increasingly digital world.

The episode also covers Dr. Lusk's strategic vision for OSU agriculture, including plans to revitalize off-campus facilities, launch a beef center of excellence, and leverage big data and AI to support producer decision-making.
With insights into the delicate balance of university leadership and the importance of staying connected with faculty and stakeholders, this conversation offers practical value for anyone invested in the future of agricultural research and outreach.

Key Takeaways

1. Leadership Through Service: Dr. Lusk's path to administration was driven by a desire to amplify impact, not personal ambition.
2. Extension Still Matters: Public-facing efforts like podcasts and producer engagement remain central to OSU’s land-grant mission.
3. Strategic, Not Micromanaged: Dr. Lusk emphasizes empowering faculty and fostering collaboration over top-down control.
4. From Data to Decisions: OSU aims to invest in tools that help producers turn data into practical, on-farm choices.
5. Modernizing Infrastructure: Upgrading aging research farms and facilities is a top priority to support future ag innovation.
6. Beef and Wheat Focus: Strategic investment is centered on Oklahoma’s two leading ag sectors—cattle and wheat.
7. Funding Realities: OSU’s ag programs benefit from strong state support, offering resilience amid federal funding uncertainty.
8. Collaboration Counts: Lusk believes faculty success drives college success—and that includes interdisciplinary teamwork.
9. Measuring Impact, Not Just Output: Dr. Lusk calls for better ways to reward high-impact work that goes beyond publication metrics.
10. Producers as Stakeholders: Oklahoma taxpayers fund OSU’s ag work, and deserve results they can see in the field.

Timestamps:

00:04 - Welcome and episode intro
03:16 - Dr. Lusk’s path from faculty to administration
07:08 - Strategic decisions in leadership roles
13:33 - Navigating university structure and transitions
18:42 - Measuring impact in research and extension
30:56 - Challenges and strategy behind the new OSU Ag Hall
34:28 - Dr. Lusk’s strategic vision for OSU Agriculture
38:24 - The future of ag data, decision tools, and AI

RedDirtAgronomy.com

In Episode 414 of the Red Dirt Agronomy podcast, the team dives deep into the current cotton season in Oklahoma with Dr. Jenny Dudak, Oklahoma State University’s Extension Cotton Specialist.
The conversation kicks off with a crop update from Dr. Josh Lofton, who notes mixed outcomes across wheat and summer crops, and a challenging planting season influenced by erratic rainfall.
Dr. Brian Arnall and Dr. Raedan Sharry contribute technical insights on soil nutrient conditions and weed management tactics.

Dr. Dudak shares her perspective on the cotton planting outlook across Oklahoma, detailing issues like thrips, herbicide resistance, and the narrow windows available for cotton growers in different regions.
She also discusses how new technologies and research, including residual herbicides and skip-row planting studies, could help producers cut costs while improving yield reliability.
The conversation closes with thoughts on the long-term viability of the cotton industry and its infrastructure in Oklahoma.

Timestamps:

(00:03) Welcome and podcast intro
(01:30) Crop update and planting challenges
(07:00) Weed control concerns in double crops
(11:45) Cotton planting status and early-season issues
(13:00) Scouting for thrips and weed competition
(18:00) Overview of Dr. Dudak’s background and research focus
(27:00) Cotton expansion into northern territories and risk factors
(38:30) Emerging cotton technologies and herbicide advancements
(41:00) Cotton vs. corn in southwestern Oklahoma

(45:00) Cotton infrastructure and future outlook

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This episode of Red Dirt Agronomy brings the guys together to tackle the stormy spring season in Oklahoma.
With wheat harvest creeping closer, sorghum and soybeans struggling for traction, and cotton still holding on to potential, the conversation focuses on the realities producers are facing in muddy fields.
Herbicide failures, crop emergence, and tight planting windows make for a strategic balancing act.

The episode also welcomes Dr. Tieneke Trotter, a visiting scientist from Central Queensland University in Australia.
Dr. Trotter offers a fascinating look into her work developing sesame as an emerging crop in the harsh northern regions of Australia.
Her perspective connects the dots between farming systems across hemispheres, from shared pest challenges to a global push for crop diversification and youth engagement in agriculture.

1. Rain continues to delay planting and disrupt herbicide schedules.
2. Wheat maturity and quality vary widely across Oklahoma.
3. Cotton growers may still have time to plant with minimal impact on yield.
4. Sorghum and soybean replanting come with increased risk.
5. Corn remains the most stable summer crop this season.
6. Dr. Trotter is researching sesame as a climate-resilient crop in northern Australia.
7. Pest pressure and herbicide resistance are significant concerns for sesame.
8. Crop judging programs are being revitalized in Australia.
9. Visiting researchers foster international ag collaboration and innovation.
10. Living in Stillwater offered new perspectives on U.S. ag life for Dr. Trotter and her family.

00:00 – Introduction and opening banter
00:54 – Oklahoma crop and field condition updates
03:12 – Herbicide challenges due to excess rain
05:30 – Sorghum and soybean replanting risks
06:18 – Wheat progress and patchy field reports
09:45 – Timing and temperature concerns for cotton
11:32 – Rain impacts on pre-emergent effectiveness
13:05 – Tips for replanting decisions and herbicide strategy
18:36 – Introduction of guest Dr. Tieneke Trotter
21:40 – Australian ag background and cropping systems
26:51 – Sesame as an emerging crop in Australia
32:00 – Pest management and weed pressure in sesame
35:45 – Crop judging revival in Australia
40:10 – Cultural insights from living in Stillwater
44:38 – Agronomy collaboration between countries
47:15 – Closing thoughts and wrap-up

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