Fertilizer
This year’s program features all new agronomic content to help farmers grow and harvest high-yielding crops. Two of the key sessions: selecting a corn planter that’s right for your farm, and developing a systems approach to success with early-season soybeans. We look forward to seeing you there!
The “Big Beautiful Bill” includes a lot of wins for agriculture, and whatever is good for ag is good for fertilizer.
Many early-planted soybeans in the Midwest are in the R2 to R3 growth stages now, ideal treatment timing for most disease issues. Agronomists offer three reminders to help you make the call — plus a fourth tip on herbicide rescue treatments.
Farmers and aerial applicators tell Randy Dowdy and David Hula some of the key considerations for effective fungicide applications are timing, droplet size and product reach in the crop canopy.
New Rabobank research shows the potential effect of losing this critical shipping channel to the global fertilizer market.
Unlike most leaf diseases, tar spot starts impacting the crop at the bottom of plants. That means fungicides you apply must penetrate and get deep into the crop canopy to provide effective treatment. If you opt to not treat the disease, consider making plans to harvest early and pre-booking some dryer gas.
Wheat streak mosaic virus decimated some fields this season, say K-State Extension specialists. The problem is also showing up and expanding in other key wheat-producing states. What farmers do this fall will determine whether the disease is reined in or takes off again next season.
Josh Linville, vice president of Fertilizer for StoneX Financial Inc., says the current fertilizer and corn price ratio is at historic levels with potash the worst in history, UAN the second worst in history, and urea ranking as the third worst.
New studies highlight how thiosulfates not only supply sulfur but also significantly reduce nitrogen loss by slowing the conversion of ammonium to nitrate in the soil.
The Seilers use cover crops and no-till to improve soil health, reduce input costs and improve profitability.
Fertilizer prices have been on a steady climb, despite grain prices continuing to lag. Josh Linville with Stone X points to the driving force: Global production is lagging behind demand.
In some cases, the sulfur deficiency can be traced back to last fall when ammonium sulfate and DAP were taken out of fertilizer programs to reduce costs. In other scenarios, the corn just isn’t getting adequate sulfur — but the problem can be corrected.
As a director of an on-farm research business with a footprint in North Dakota and Iowa, and a 3,000-acre farmer himself, Chad Rubbelke approaches long-standing struggles with optimism that the next idea may just work.
“For now, we don’t believe there’s going to be much in the effect in terms of fertilizer production from either country, though it would be a little silly to not consider it,” says Josh Linville from StoneX.
Mother Nature is throwing a lot of weather curveballs this season. Keep your eye on the ball and score big at harvest with these practical nitrogen management recommendations.
As one of the most important early season nutrients, Farm Journal field agronomist Ken Ferrie explains the best way to manage phosphorus is one you’ve probably heard of before.
From emergence to maturity, nitrogen is a crucial nutrient for corn, but plants have different nitrogen demands at different growth stages. Consider how corn yields are influenced by nitrogen at VE, V6, V10-V12 and R5-R6.
“It’s another option to have some control over fertilizer prices, which have been extremely volatile in the past couple of years,” says Josh Linville vice president of fertilizer at StoneX.
The commission now has about 80 days to create a strategy for how the federal government should respond to the report findings, per President Trump’s original order in February.
Dust storms can occur anywhere there’s loose soil and wind. Along with Illinois, states including Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas have also experienced the problem this year.
Many farm organizations say the 68-page document released on Thursday is filled with “fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides,” positioning that will sow seeds of distrust with the American public.
A chief concern is whether glyphosate will be targeted by the report, which is expected to be unveiled on Thursday. A number of farmers have voiced concerns collectively and individually this week.
According to USDA’s latest Crop Progress Report, 74% of the Illinois corn crop is planted, which is three points behind average, but a 20-point jump in just a week. Illinois farmer Brent Johnson says his May planted corn has been his best yielding corn the past few years.
In addition to the expanded distribution for the company, this agreement also included The Andersons venture capital arm, Maumee Ventures, investing in Phospholutions.
“Let’s just put it this way, things are happening this spring we’ve never seen before,” says Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX.
“UAN is easily the most important topic right now,” says Josh Linville at StoneX. “That is because it is no longer a price story—it’s a ‘can you even find it supply story.’”
Analyzing both old and new growth, a sap test measures nutrient levels in the plant’s vascular tissues to identify current and soon-to-occur deficiencies.
Here are five takeaways from the latest semi-annual report, including the top tariff fronts to watch for impact to fertilizer prices.
SUL4R-PLUS is a slow release granular product providing sulfur, calcium and fulvic acid and is designed for use in soybeans, corn, small grains, alfalfa, forages, fruits or vegetables.
Maximizing ROI is Brian Scott’s No. 1 goal as he evaluates planting populations on his northwest Indiana farm. In 2024, the sweet spot was 100,000 seeds per acre, which cost $53 per acre in seed and yielded 76 bu. per acre.