The spring of 2019 has brought weather-related planting delays and snags with agricultural input logistics. According to recent news release from Helena Agri-Enterprises, “barge traffic ferrying fertilizer north is at a standstill.”
In response to this season’s challenges, the retailer is emphasizing nitrogen management and working with farmers to ensure this crop is as successful as a it can be.
“Our problems started with an extremely short anhydrous ammonia season last fall, with applications off by as much as 70%,” Scott Dettmann, fertilizer manager in Helena’s northern business unit said in a recent news release. “After that, Mother Nature never let up.”
So, Helena Agri-Enterprises is working with farmers to meet the nutritional needs of their crop in alternative ways.
“If there were ever a year to step away from your traditional plan, this is it,” he said. Dettmann and Matt Boyer, an agronomist with Helena’s northern business unit provide these three considerations:
- Add a nitrogen stabilizer. According to the Helena experts, a nitrogen stabilizer will help farmers stretch their nitrogen supply for as long as possible.
- Split apply crop nutrients. Helena recommends applying nitrogen as close to the time the crop needs the nitrogen to minimize the risk of loss.
“If you’re doing a two-pass herbicide program, you’re already driving through the field,” Boyer said. “By cutting back on your upfront nitrogen, you can come back with a side-dress application without an additional pass across the field, which saves you time and money.” - Tissue sample. Particularly this season, measure which nutrients are deficient to make in-season adjustments.
