More in Fertilizer

Nitrogen application is one of the many important decisions corn and soybean farmers are making now – a decision that impacts both profitability and the environment. Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension specialist in plant nutrition and soil fertility, reviews important guidelines that can help protect this nitrogen (N) investment while enhancing environmental protection....More

No one can predict the future, but the economic fundamentals are pointing towards a significant bump up in variable input costs for 2012, particularly for fertilizer, says Bruce Erickson, agronomic education manager, American Society of Agronomy....More

It's that time of the season when many producers wonder if foliar fertilization could help improve soybean growth and grain yield, and some also wonder about corn. They wonder if preplant fertilization was adequate; if late planting dates, replanting and cold or excessively wet conditions limited early nutrient uptake; or if assumed adequate soil nutrient levels may limit yield when growing conditions are excellent....More

Many questions are crossing grower’s minds regarding nitrogen (N) application. However, with this season’s variability in precipitation, Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension specialist in soil fertility and plant nutrition, says those are difficult questions to answer generally....More

It's human nature to worry about not "measuring up" to our neighbors, says Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension specialist in soil fertility and plant nutrition. However, he says just because your neighbor is taking action to prevent nutrient problems that may or may not occur this growing season is not a good reason for you to jump on board....More

When crop prices are high, interest increases in selling additional products or services, says Fabian Fernandez, University of Illinois Extension specialist in soil fertility and plant nutrition. More often than not, he says, these products and services do little to nothing for the crop....More

One of the rainiest Aprils on record and a wet, cool start to May have delayed planting of field crops across Ohio and in surrounding states, but Ohio State University (OSU) experts remain optimistic that corn and soybeans can still go in the ground with little impact on yield potential - and the added bonus that when soil conditions become favorable, both crops can be planted without great risk of cold-weather injury....More

Soybeans can remove significant amounts of nutrients per bushel of grain harvested. As a result, they may sometimes respond well to starter fertilizers, depending on several factors, says Dorivar Ruiz Diaz, Kansas State Research and Extension (K-State) nutrient management specialist....More

Now that we finally have a hint of spring, producers start thinking about planting corn and planning on nitrogen (N) fertilization applications. In case you haven’t noticed, fertilizer prices are a little higher than they were this time last year. This typically leads to questions like: “Should I consider the use of an inhibitor?”...More

Nitrogen (N) loss in cornfields has been widespread across large swaths of the Midwest for three straight years, says Peter Scharf, University of Missouri (MU) Extension nutrient management specialist. Between 2008 and 2010, corn growers saw yield losses from too much early rainfall and/or soil-moisture levels that have robbed crops of N applied before or even shortly after planting....More

University of Illinois (U of I) research shows that most cornfields are not responsive to sulfur, but for those that are, the response is large, says Fabian Fernandez, U of I Extension specialist in soil fertility and plant nutrition....More

You wouldn’t attempt to shoot a moving target while blindfolded, yet that’s exactly what some growers do when it comes to managing phosphorus (P)....More