As farmers begin to rein in production costs, big ticket items such as fertilizer naturally get a lot of scrutiny. Agronomists at this year’s Farm Journal Corn and Soybean College say that’s understandable, and they want to remind growers to make adjustments based on information and not emotion.
“It’s so important you don’t go into panic mode as you make these decisions,” says Isaac Ferrie with Crop-Tech Consulting. “Thinking through the process now on how to best allocate available dollars for nutrients and other inputs for next season will help you manage through this period.”
Here are five takeaways from the 2024 Corn and Soybean College program:
1. Start with the basics. During periods of increased fertilizer prices, it’s still important to use soil tests to find current, baseline nutrient levels.
“That gives you the big picture on fertility and what you have to work with in soils, so you aren’t just winging it on decisions,” Ferrie says.
Also keep in mind the 4Rs: right product, right rate, right time and right placement. Even in these tough times, they are still relevant and valuable.
“Right now, we’re concerned about the short-term, but we need to balance that with long-term thinking as well,” he adds. “What kind of shape do you want your soils to be in, once we cycle out of these low commodity prices?”
2. Weigh significant decisions with your agronomic team. This isn’t the time to break off working with key agronomists, retailers or other consultants. Retain those you know can help you manage through the year ahead. Talk openly with them about how to accomplish that.
“Stayed dialed in with the ones who have partnered with you in better financial times. Continue to harness their knowledge and weigh their insights on fertility decisions,” Ferrie says.
3. Know your margins. Having a handle on your budgets and expenses is going to become more important than ever moving forward.
“Do you know what you plan to spend on fertilizer this fall?” Ferrie asks. “What have you budgeted, or is there a price point you need to be at to make your budgets work for 2025? That’s helpful information to share with your retailer and agronomist.”
The easiest route to make room in the budget could be making a blanket cut in fertilizer across all acres, but that won’t necessarily deliver the best outcomes.
“If you have a dollar amount budgeted for fertility, look at how to use those dollars most effectively by field or group of fields. There are likely some fields that offer a bigger ROI than others, for the dollars invested, because of the soil type, current fertility levels and moisture-holding capacity, for example,” says Matt Duesterhaus, Crop-Tech Consulting research agronomist.
4. Evaluate soil pH. Farmers tend to focus on addressing the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but Ferrie says the first thing to consider is soil pH.
Keeping soil pH at adequate levels makes macronutrients and micronutrients more available to crops, boosts herbicide effectiveness, promotes populations of soil microorganisms and improves soil structure.
“Soil pH drives everything else in the field nutrient-wise,” Ferrie says. “You want to keep it around neutral for optimum performance and avoid having a soil pH that’s too acidic or basic.”
Soil pH should generally range from 6.0 to 6.8 in mineral soils, but bear in mind different field crops can require different soil pH levels for optimum performance, adds Ohio State Extension.
Depending on your soil pH, your fields might require a lime application. If your retailer doesn’t mention checking soil pH in your fields, be sure to ask about it.
5. Maximize fertilizer efficiencies. Depending on your farming practices, here are some ways to get the most ROI, based on 4R principles, with your fertility program in 2025:
Count starter fertilizer as part of your total application not an addition.
Broadcasting nitrogen or sulfur as a herbicide carrier makes better use of an existing application and helps save on application fees. Also, banding fertilizer with the planter uses an existing application and can more efficiently manage the carbon penalty early in the season.
“You’ll see a bigger response to 30 lb. of nitrogen per acre applied with the planter than to 60 lb. per acre broadcast,” says Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, citing on-farm studies.
Apply a higher rate of starter if you’re dealing with cover crop or continuous corn residue to compensate for the greater carbon penalty. Following a dry fall, remember you will have more residue and a higher carbon penalty the following spring.
Some incentive programs pay growers to reduce their nitrogen rate. Before enrolling, put out test plots to measure the effect. If you do reduce your total nitrogen rate, split your application to become more efficient. Test soil for nitrate at sidedressing to make sure the crop doesn’t go hungry.
“In many areas across the country, the last several years have been friendly to low nitrogen rates because the weather has been dry,” Ferrie says. “Don’t get caught if the summer turns wet.”
Be sure to apply enough early nitrogen to carry corn well into the rapid-growth stage. “The purpose of the nitrogen that we sidedress is for grain fill after pollination,” Ferrie says. “If you don’t apply enough nitrogen up front to supply corn well into the rapid-growth stage, it’s essential you don’t delay the timing of your sidedress application.”
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