When the soil warms up in spring, the microbial organisms that break down the previous season’s corn stalks use nitrogen as a food source. When those organisms are busy breaking down the corn stalks, they tie up nitrogen that would otherwise be available in your fields for plant use. The tie up is often called…
Tag: 360 Y-DROP
Wet or Dry, N Placement Matters
During the 2015 season many growers experienced wet to excessively wet conditions. This led to extensive loss of nitrogen due to denitrification and/or leaching in many fields. Growers that were able to apply supplemental N last year often reaped very large rewards for additional midseason N applications. Fast forward to the 2016 season and many…
Big N Boost from Mother Nature in 2016
As new technologies and ideas have emerged in agriculture, growers have adopted them and adapted their cultural practices to continue increasing yields and managing inputs in order to maintain their per-bushel costs. This year has provided a great example for many growers in the realm of nitrogen management. In the past many growers simply multiplied…
Make this Year Count: The Final Exam
The words ‘final exam’ are likely scary for many, but for corn growers the pre-harvest period is the perfect time to grade themselves on this year’s efforts. Take this opportunity to walk your fields and gain insight on the past year while formulating any plans to correct preventable losses. Go to various spots in the…
Split Application: Time is Power and Money
Many parts of the country have experienced excellent growing conditions that include warm temperatures and near optimum moisture, leading to hopeful expectations for a strong harvest. While we tend to focus on what we can see above ground, what goes on below the surface can be just as impactful. Those same warm temperatures, good moisture…
N Placement Matters
As we continue to learn and study nitrogen I began measuring nitrate levels in a field on my home farm in Michigan. The field was planted on May 9th and received 15 lbs of actual N via AMS broadcast and incorporated on May 2nd. An additional weed-n-feed broadcast application of 60# of actual N via…
Nitrogen Placement in Dry Conditions
With the summertime switch from an el Niño to a la Niña weather cycle predicted by many crop models will come areas that receive ample moisture while other areas may find themselves wanting for water. As growers anticipate potential changes in moisture patterns it is beneficial to anticipate how those changes can affect the crop…
Less is More: Growing More Corn with Less N
The saying, “you can’t save your way to prosperity,” may be true in many instances, but is it possible to save money by spending less on nitrogen while increasing revenue through higher yields? The idea of reducing nitrogen inputs while increasing yield is a delicate balance and certainly not a practice that will work in…
Delayed Planting and Pre-Plant Anhydrous
In areas across the country that are experiencing delayed planting due to weather conditions, growers whose normal practice includes applying anhydrous pre-plant likely won’t want to wait too long to get into the field. The question then becomes how soon can corn be planted after applying anhydrous pre-plant without causing injury? When anhydrous is applied,…
Mid-Season N Applications Can Be Money Maker for Sprayer Owners
It’s the law of supply and demand — if you own a self-propelled sprayer, you are in demand. Strong yield response from mid-season nitrogen applications last season means that many of your neighbors are looking for a custom applicator that can feed their crop this summer. Your self-propelled sprayer can be the centerpiece of a…