Editorial Blog

Treat Sulfur Like a Macronutrient in Corn to Boost Yields

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:11:59 GMT

A farmer recently asked Ken Ferrie the question, “With organic matter above 3.5%, do I need to worry about applying sulfur?”

Ten years ago, Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, says his answer would have been different than what he recommends today.

A decade ago, 3.5% organic matter would have supplied enough sulfur and quickly enough in the growing season to meet the corn’s needs. At that point in time, the biggest response from sulfur occurred in soils at 2.5% organic matter or less, with soils at 1.5% organic matter and below showing the greatest response.

“Today, we are seeing pretty substantial sulfur responses in our corn plots at and above 3.5% organic matter,” he says. “I still believe that, in total, 3.5% organic matter soils will supply enough sulfur. The issue is those soils just don’t supply sulfur quickly enough in the spring.”

As proof, Ferrie says he is increasingly seeing the “yellow sulfur whorl” in soils with 3.5% organic matter between the time corn emerges and the V8 to V10 growth range. As the corn plant gets bigger, roots go deeper and the soil gets more active. Over time, the soil will release organic sulfur and that symptom of sulfur deficiency will gradually disappear.

“But under the concept of never let corn have a bad day, corn showing a sulfur deficiency is having a bad day,” he says. “This is especially true for those G and L1 hybrids that will flex down if you stress them in that window before tassel and right after emergence.”

Why More Sulfur Is Needed Today: What has occurred is less acid rain is falling today, so fields are getting less sulfur from the atmosphere. You can trace this fact back to the Clean Air Act of 1970. So, while it’s good that acid rain has been reduced, it has resulted in less sulfur being available for crops to tap into.

What that means now is that farmers in much of the Midwest must treat sulfur more like a macronutrient rather than a micronutrient.

“The continued drop in the soil’s ability to supply sulfur has now reached the level that we have to start thinking about applying sulfur every year ahead of corn, no matter what the organic matter is,” Ferrie says.

Different Soils, Different Nutrient Needs. He adds that farmers have some options to consider for sulfur use as part of their 4Rs strategy.

“In soils not subject to leaching -- which most 3.5% organic matter soils are less likely to have large amounts of leaching -- the sulfate could go on in the fall, when the phosphate and potash go on,” he says.

“Sulfur could also go on in the spring if that’s when you put your P and K on; it could go on at planting on the corn planter or be top-dressed with your pre-emergent nitrogen program,” he says.

Elemental sulfur must go through a biological breakdown to get to sulfate.

“This reaction doesn’t get into full swing, though, until soil temperatures are above 75 degrees F, which means elemental sulfur doesn’t make it to the dance until later in July and August,” he says. “That is great if you still need sulfur then, but in the 3.5% organic matter soils they usually release enough sulfur by mid-June to take care of the deficiency issues.”

The right placement and right timing of sulfur applications are important.

“Sulfate in a 2"x2” application with the planter is a good way to achieve good application timing. Sidedressing sulfate in the middle of the row with a coulter at sidedress time is usually too late, at least in central Illinois. By the time the root system and the sulfate get together, the plant has grown out of its sulfur deficiency,” Ferrie says.

He notes that Y-dropping sulfate next to the row can improve the sidedress response. “We’ll need to go early on small corn, which means we need to go slow and not splash product on the small corn plant and cause burn. Again, these are recommendations for higher organic matter soils that only have a temporary sulfur problem early in the season,” he adds.

Sandy Soils Need Another Strategy. In sandy, leachable soils, farmers need to put together a program that keeps the corn plant supplied in sulfur all season, and not just up until V10.

“When we do sulfur plots in corn, we can now see the sulfur checks show up the following year in soybeans,” Ferrie says. “These check plots from last year show up in color, and they can be seen in aerial imagery and with the naked eye.”

In the plots that got sulfur in the corn the previous year, the deficiency is a lot rarer than what Ferrie sees in high organic matter soils.

“This would suggest that we’re seeing some carryover effect into the soybeans. But this, too, is something we didn’t see years ago,” he says. “You could put a sulfur plot out on corn and not see anything show up the following year in soybeans. So, this is somewhat new in the last five, six years that we’re starting to see in our plots.”

Soybeans Tell a Different Story. However, Ferrie says he is not seeing a positive yield response from sulfur in soybean plots following corn.

“I think this lack of response is due to the fact that soybeans set their yield much later than corn. When soybeans are setting pods and starting grain fill, these higher organic matter soils are supplying enough sulfur to meet the plants’ needs,” he says.

So, back to the original question, do farmers need sulfur in 3.5% organic matter soils?

“Our plots would say yes, in corn – somewhere around 15 pounds to 20 pounds of sulfate,” Ferrie says.

However, in soybeans, Ferrie’s plot research doesn’t show a consistent response to sulfur in soils with high organic matter. At least not yet.

“If sulfur is going on the corn in these soils in a corn-soybean rotation, I think it’ll be longer before we see any payback or response in the soybeans,” he says.

Ferrie adds that depending on where farmers live, the results and needs for sulfur applications can vary. For instance, growers farming downwind of a large city like Chicago may still be receiving enough acid rain to meet their crop’s sulfur needs, due to all the fossil fuel being burned on the roads and highways.

“When all the cars in Chicago are electric, then you’re going to have to join the rest of us and start applying sulfur,” he says.

Check out this Boots In The Field podcast:

For more information on sulfur, read:

Your Fields Are Likely Low On Sulfur: Here’s How to Fix It

Want 200-Bu. Corn? You’ll Need 34 Pounds Of Sulfur Per Acre

Farm Journal Test Plots: Starter Hits the Spot

Ferrie: When to Expect Yield Response From Starter Phosphorus

Time Management Hack: Grab a Tomato Kitchen Timer

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:34:24 GMT

Is there something on your to-do list that keeps sinking to the bottom? Have you been putting off what you’ll know is a boring or avoidable task?

Big-picture planning and important business decisions, such as strategic plans, quarterly financial reports and HR recordkeeping take time and focus. But, to really maximize your time for those tasks, build in time for short breaks. That’s right, hours on one task can lead to less productive work.

Business owners should use the Pomodoro Method , says CEO adviser and leadership coach Susan Drumm, who as managing director of Meritage Leadership has trained C-suite executives for 20 years.

This time management technique was invented in the 1980s and is named after the classic tomato-shaped kitchen timer. (Pomodoro is Italian for tomato).

Drumm says the Pomodoro method is simple and effective.

Step 1: Set a timer for 25 minutes and give one task your undivided attention for that time.
Step 2: When the timer dings, take a break and do a totally different task for five minutes.
Step 3: After your five minute break, spend another 25 minutes working on the original task.
Step 4: Take another five minute break and lather, rinse, repeat!

After you’ve completed four “pomodoros,” take a nice, long 30-45-minute break.

“The Pomodoro method works for several reasons,” Drumm says.

First, we can usually work on any task—no matter how boring or difficult—for 25 minutes.

Second, when we take a break to do something totally different, it gives our brains a rest and allows us to recommit to the task at hand surprisingly refreshed.

“We can stay focused because we’re working in relatively short bursts, rather than asking ourselves to commit to three straight hours of work we’re not that excited to do,” she says.

Kickstart Your Strategic Plan

The Pomodoro method reminds me of an approach Top Producer Columnist Sarah Beth Aubrey uses for strategic planning. Her system, called the “Strategic Plan On A Page In One Hour Or Less,” combines long-range thinking with short-term goals.

“The plan-on-a-page concept is a strategic-thinking tool for individuals or teams,” Aubrey says. “One hour is set aside to work through five sections to create strategic direction. Shorter and more frequent planning efforts shouldn’t replace major initiatives, retreats or professionally facilitated sessions. But there is a case to be made for short quarterly planning bursts.”

Learn more about how to create your plan in an hour .

The Pomodoro Method is one of several leadership strategies Drumm recommends. Learn more: 6 Unexpected Productivity Tips for Leaders and CEOs

Just Like a Banana, Gratitude Doesn’t Age Well

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:24:25 GMT

To inspire your team, find the time to acknowledge their work, contributions and achievements. This is especially true during a crisis.

Your farm is facing unprecedented turmoil. The coronavirus pandemic continues to deliver terrifying statistics and disruptions to daily life.

As a leader, your job is to keep hope alive and focus on gratitude, explain Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick, leadership coaches and authors of the new book, “ Leading with Gratitude .”

“Many people need encouragement,” Elton explains. “Others don’t. But just about everyone performs better when they get it.”

2020: The Year of Gratitude

By showing more gratitude, you can bolster moral and profitability for your farm, Elton says. Here’s how:

Make gratitude habitual. In the best workplaces, people feel praised every seven days, Elton explains. “Gratitude never gets old if it is aligned with the core values of the organization,” he says.
Be specific with praise. You want the recipient to understand what behavior triggered your gratitude in order to repeat it. “Non-specific praise is actually disheartening for an employee, since it implies their manager has no idea of the unique value they bring to the team,” he says.

Avoid catch-all appreciation. Comments such as, “Thanks, everyone, for all your hard work,” or “You all make me proud,” will have little effect, Elton explains.
Provide heartfelt and public appreciation. “Your gratitude should be expressed publicly and your criticism in private,” Elton says. “Gather people together. The team in attendance will learn as much or even more than the person being thanked.”

Look for moments to say a sincere thank you to someone important to you. Stay well, stay connected and most importantly, stay thankful.

To download a 5-minute gratitude plan to help inventory your blessings, visit AgWeb.com/gratitude-plan

Read more from Top Producer .

Current Adoption of E-Commerce for Crop Inputs

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:18:40 GMT

The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal. The opinions expressed below are the author’s own.

It’s easy for any of us to have an emotional reaction to change. Or to let one anecdote frame our perception of a trend. A terrific example is e-commerce. During the past year and a half, a lot of talk has focused on e-commerce and how it represents a threat to traditional ag retail.

Consolidation, technology, farmer demographics and more are influencing the present and future of ag retail.

To fill in the lines and give an accurate picture of how farmers are using e-commerce options today , Farm Journal conducted a detailed research effort . Of the respondents to the Farm Journal survey, 13% plan to buy some of their crop inputs online in 2019. USDA’s Farm Computer Usage and Ownership survey in 2017 reported 23% of farmers bought any type of farm input (generally categorized) online. That makes sense as online outlets for machinery parts, smaller components and hardware have gained more traction in the digital age than the complex distribution and storage of seed, fertilizer and crop chemistries.

Chip Flory and I discussed these trends on AgriTalk radio recently:

E-commerce isn’t the only change affecting retail. Farmers are using technology in general to transact differently with their suppliers. Just think about how many customers you text today compared with even five years ago. All facets surrounding sales and customer relationships are changing.

With an online poll this fall, AgPro asked its audience, “For your business, do you feel farmers are more loyal than 10 years ago?” Out of 76 respondents, 93% said no.

What are you doing to be in that 7% making customers more loyal?

Think About This: When Uncertainty Is Certain

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:18:19 GMT

On the morning I am writing this, while I ate my cereal, I scrolled through our President’s Twitter feed. The ongoing trade tensions with China are top of mind for everyone in agriculture. And unfortunately, the tensions add a great deal of uncertainty to an already rocky growing season.

In mid-May, J.P. Morgan analyst Ann Duignan sent a note to investors saying the fundamentals of agriculture are “rapidly deteriorating.” Duignan says three factors are driving her observation: declining exports, a poor crop of corn and soybeans and the trade war with China.

What does this mean for ag retailers? Throughout May, the top trending stories on AgProfessional.com were about the slow-starting planting season and trade with China. And when our next magazine issue hits your mailbox, your customers will be closing in on the final days to make a prevent plant decision. With spring insurance prices of $4 for corn and $9.54 for soybeans, Jamie Wasemiller with the Gulke Group says , along with the bearish nature of futures prices moving forward, the premiums provided by prevent plant could be close to or even higher than profits from producing a crop on those acres.

Our team has been helping you keep up with the news on trade with China, planting progress, and more. Be sure to check AgProfessional.com , as our leading ag news team continues to bring you the best analysis and important details affecting your customers and your business.

And while you’re on the website, click “Newsletters” at the top of the page to sign up for our newly launched AgPro Daily e-newsletter, which every weekday brings subscribers the top five trending stories.

Management Hack: Grab a Tomato Kitchen Timer

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:15:14 GMT

Kickstart Your Strategic Plan

Billionaires: They Are Just Like Us!

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:10:10 GMT

There’s a Case IH Steiger 470 Quadtrac parked alongside a Case IH Patriot sprayer at a field day. In that scene, I don’t think it matters if you are a farmer, a toddler, or in this case, a billionaire. You’re likely to climb up the ladder and into the cab of your machine of choice.

In this example, Steve Case (co-founder of America Online) did exactly that—he got into the cab of the Steiger with a huge smile on his face.

My takeaway: it’s easy for Steve Case to get excited about agriculture.

The field day, which took place on Tuesday, was hosted at the AgriCenter International in Memphis and was part of Case’s Rise of the Rest Tour , which aims to put a spotlight on entrepreneurs across the country and get venture capital interest to extend beyond New York, California and Massachusetts.

As Case explains, last year 75% of venture capital invested was concentrated in just those three states. He sees a bigger (and missed) opportunity. Memphis was the 35^th city the Rise of the Rest tour has visited. Joining him in Memphis were others from his firm, Revolution, including J.D. Vance , author of Hillbilly Elegy.

“We think there’s going to be a revolution in food and agriculture thanks to technology,” Case said. “It’s important to know that 250 years ago, 90% of the economy in the U.S. was based on agriculture. We went from an agrarian economy to an industrialized economy to a digital economy. And there’s huge potential for ag in the third wave of technology. In many ways farmers are the original innovators in this country.”

At the ag-focused stop on the tour, which was immediately after the group at breakfast at Kimball Musk’s restaurant The Kitchen , two startups as part of the AgLaunch accelerator were highlighted— Rantizo and Rabbit Tractor.

“For 60 years our industry has grown more productive by thinking bigger and getting bigger,” says Pete Nelson, director of AgLaunch. “Now it’s time to go the other way.”

Rantizo is a drone-based application technology. Rabbit Tractor is a startup focusing on automated ag vehicles.

Case and Vance asked the entrepreneurs questions, which included what types of farms their technologies targeted; how easy would it be for farmers to use their products; and what their biggest challenges were.

I asked Case that as farmers are exposed to more and more technology, how should they focus to be able to keep up with the needed technology. And he said, “Lean in. Farmers should figure out what technology can help them on their farm because we need farmers to be innovative to grow more food, at affordable prices and be profitable.”

This week on AgriTalk, Chip Flory and I talked more about this experience and what it could mean to be highlighting entrepreneurs across America:

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So What’s The Big Deal In 2018?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:09:26 GMT

The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal. The opinions expressed below are the author’s own.

Sometimes, it takes hindsight for us to realize that a moment in time was monumental. Plenty of other times, a crisis or major event makes something obviously impactful into the future. And sometimes we are in the moment, where we know we are navigating uncharted waters.

Without trying to sound dramatic, through the first quarter of 2018 the year is already shaping up to be the type of year we won’t forget. Below are four stories that are set to impact the industry in 2018.

Every story in March issue of AgPro addresses change. That’s not by some kind of formula or coincidence. But rather, it’s reflecting how this industry is evolving, adopting technology, practicing stewardship and serving farmers.

In the cover story, our team reports on a likely disruptive force in the way farmers buy crop inputs. So many companies are entering e-commerce, and so many details are involved that even on the story’s final draft, we had to cut 600 words to make the story fit the magazine. By that measure alone, this is a big story.
In the Crop Fertility Quarterly, we are reporting on some of the latest practices with nutrient management and soil health . Both areas are garnering more attention from farmers and the general public. We detail how a new case study proves that ag retailers play a positive role in helping farmers manage macro- and micronutrients.
The three 2018 Consultants of the Year, who were recognized by the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, each have served as advisors to farmers for more than 30 years. Their stories travel an impressive timeline in how the ag industry has evolved.
Also with more than 30 years of experience, appraiser Richard Gilmore shares his top seven lessons for assessing agricultural asset values in 2018 . The examples he gives illustrate the shifts that lenders, farmers and ag service providers have experienced in recent years and how those changes impact business decisions today.

Technology Provides A New Level Of Scrutiny

Thu, 28 Jun 2018 00:12:08 GMT

The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal. The opinions expressed below are the author’s own.

Technology has transitioned from an add-ons to fully integrated with a large majority of high horsepower tractors and combines being outfitted with automated steering from the factory, as just one example.

Another integrated technology that has gained momentum, is telematics. Telemetry systems provide tracking, machine usage/load, and other key data in fleet management.

For retailers, the impact on fully using telematics and analyzing the data to make decisions can yield big payback. For example, Southern Sates Cooperative improved the efficiency of their sprayers and spreaders by 8% since fully deploying the technology in their fleet management program. Vehicle location is an important tool. Remotely tracking assets has led to greater efficiencies in serving customers.

It’s not just about when you are using the machine, but how the machine is being used, and what’s next for that machine.

An example of telematics helping manage workflow is at some fertilizer plants, Southern States has set up a geo-fence, so the plant manager receives a real-time alert via text message when tender trucks are heading back to the plant, so they can start blending loads.

And there are more and more telemetry systems being distributed across agriculture. Just this morning , Farmers Edge announced that Nufarm in Australia will be distributors of its product lineup, including its telematics product lineup.

I recently talked more about telematics, and how it pays back with Chip Flory on AgriTalk: