As with any biological system, very few decisions about production inputs in your operation ever have a single solution. The advantages and disadvantages of the options need to be thoroughly analyzed. Agronomists often consider the four R’s when developing a fertilization scheme: The Right product, at the Right time, at the Right rate, at the Right place. Specifically considering nitrogen fertilization options, [...]
Wheat harvest will wrap up shortly across the High Plains. It was an interesting year. A dry fall and winter was followed by an unusually wet spring. Late freeze and snow events added to the roller coaster that is growing wheat! As you prepare for sowing wheat again this fall, it is time to look [...]
Recently I was asked to contribute to an article Precision Ag Professional was putting together. The point of view from the corn belt on split nitrogen applications was interesting. I was a little surprised at the implied low number of split applications being made in the corn belt since this is a well-established practice under [...]
Alfalfa production in Southwest Kansas is a profitable crop. Initial seed costs are comparable with corn, but when amortized out for a five to seven year stand, costs are around $20 per acre per year. Furthermore, since alfalfa is a legume crop, nitrogen fertilizer is not required for production, assuming seed was inoculated and nodules [...]
Risk management appears to top the list of reasons. Weather causes uncertainty, which leads to questions about nitrogen movement. Nitrogen (N) losses and nitrogen use vary with the weather. Many areas this spring were wetter than normal, so growers ask where did the nitrogen go? Do I have enough N remaining in that field to [...]
Although Georgia has been one of the leading states in pecan production, several states in the west have become top pecan-producers, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Over the past several decades changing economic factors have led to increased pecan production in the high desert valleys of southern Arizona and New Mexico. Growers find [...]
Applying a pop-up or starter fertilizer at planting has become commonplace. Here are just a few things to keep in mind as you prepare your planter this spring. By definition, pop-up refers to fertilizer put in direct contact with the seed, and a starter fertilizer is typically placed a couple inches away from the seed [...]
Winter chill hangs in the air, but it’s not too soon to plan for topdressing. Today, we are focusing on the why, when and how of topdressing wheat. Topdressing is the process of adding a second round of nitrogen during late dormancy to early green up, compensating for any deficiencies and giving wheat an extra [...]
The cost of commercial fertilizer is a significant expense each year for crop production. But fertilizer has always been an input with a positive return on investment when applied at proper rates, and when replacing nutrients that are deficient in soils. One fertilizer source that is usually in great demand where available is manure. Beef [...]
Anhydrous and strip tilling can be a match made in heaven or a recipe for disaster. Seedbed preparation and a nitrogen application are accomplished at the same time with strip till, making it an efficient one pass operation. But, timing, soil type, soil moisture and application depth all affect the success of an anhydrous application. [...]
Sugar’s rich history predates the Age of Discovery, but it was Napoleon Bonaparte who started the sugar beet business. The British had blockades in place in the West Indies and Philippines during the war, so no cane sugar was getting to France. Napoleon commissioned his scientists to find a suitable replacement for cane sugar to [...]
