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…
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…
Today’s growers try to walk the fine line between producing large crops as efficiently as possible while working hard to maintain environmentally friendly practices. A term we hear tossed around quite a bit today is NUE, which stands for Nitrogen Use Efficiency. You often hear numbers like .8#/bu or 1.1#/bu associated with the concept –…
Many producers had a good application window for anhydrous ammonia applications this fall. Many of us unhooked from the applicator around Thanksgiving feeling good about our nitrogen plan. Then we had one of the warmest and wettest Decembers. Statewide Average Ranks: 1895 – 2016 Dec ’15 – Feb ’16 Temp – ? – ?…
With warmer temperatures and spring rains right around the corner, now is the perfect time to refresh our understanding of the forms of nitrogen and how to reduce the risk of nitrate loss. The process of moving from the applied form to nitrate is nitrification. So when we talk about nitrogen management, we are really…
The results are in. In 2015, 360 Yield Center collected data from over 100 field trials across the Corn Belt to test 360 Yield Center products against traditional nutrient management practices. Previously on the blog, we’ve shared five trials as a preview to our 2015 Yield Book. Now, you can have access to our full…
The precipitation map tells the story of 2015 growing season. From flooding rains, low nitrate levels, lack of oxygen and yellow, stunted corn to to areas that had almost ideal weather patterns and record yields. It is a year that most of us, regardless where we farm, won’t forget anytime soon. The Regional Agronomy Managers…
A new year always brings the promise of change and promises to do things better. Eat better, exercise more, and don’t forget Valentine’s Day. But as farmers, we have another goal to consider that has one of the greatest impacts on our 2016 profits: nitrogen management. In today’s tough economic environment, this is a critical…
This year was dynamic regardless of where you grew corn. In the central Corn Belt, we received more rain than we had seen in decades (or ever). In the northern Corn Belt, there was some of the best environmental conditions we have ever seen. As an agronomist, I can learn the most about systems and…
Margins are tight. In some areas, fertilizer prices have eased a bit, but certainly not enough to offset the low corn price. With that in mind, input efficiency is more important than ever. As we look for ways to produce more corn with less, nitrogen planning is critical. Of all the factors that contribute to…
