Northcentral

This spring and early summer are marked by many important fertility management considerations. Starter fertilizer continues to be a sound strategy for corn production. Placement of nutrients near the seed supplies early season crop needs and can lead to significant yield increases and grain moisture reduction. Soybean fertility should also be closely monitored. Soybeans now account for more potassium removal per acre than corn, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring of soil test levels.

With high prices for fertilizers—and all inputs—coupled with low prices for commodity crops, producers are looking hard at understanding their soil tests and improving nutrient recovery. In the coming season, it will be as important as ever to base crop management decisions on the best science available.

Agri-retailers contribute to nutrient management by providing appropriate products and sound advice. An important aspect of this service includes the communication of accountability: balancing nutrient inputs with crop removal at the farm and field level, as is done in a nutrient management plan. It also includes assuring the public that balanced nutrient management and best management practices contribute towards environmental sustainability.

Agri-retailers need to become familiar with the impacts of nutrients on the environment: both benefits and risks. A recent review of a Canadian report on such impacts contributes to a better understanding of the role of nutrients in sustainable agriculture and a healthy environment.

Research Results: Which crops responded to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers in 2004? They include tomatoes, green peppers, and corn. In Ontario, rates of N and P for optimum yield and quality of tomatoes and peppers exceed both current recommendations and crop removal by a wide margin. Regulation of nutrient management, if and when it is applied to high-value specialty crops such as these, could restrict production of important commodities if industry and government fail to support research and innovation. Check out the interpretive summaries of regional research at www.ppi-ppic.org/Northeast

Coming Events: InfoAg 2005 will continue the popular series of PPI/FAR conferences on the implementation of technology in crop and soil systems, data management, and communications. Springfield , Illinois, will be the venue for the 7th InfoAg Conference, July 19-21, 2005.

Greenhouse Gases and Nitrogen Fertilizer Use
The atmospheric concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) have been found to be increasing, causing some concern about their impact on increasing the amount of heat trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. The Kyoto Protocol, with Canada as one of the signatory countries, is committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the next decade. A study supported by the Canadian Fertilizer Institute looked at how N fertilizer management impacted emissions of N2O.

The results of this study indicate that N2O emissions are comparatively low from well-managed cropping systems in the northern Great Plains, and suggest that the specific N fertilizer system selected is of less consequence than ensuring the optimal use of N fertilizer additions. There is little argument that the N2O emissions, and amount of fertilizer induced N2O emitted, was significantly different among the sites with much lower emissions from the more arid locations. The great majority of the measured losses were at or below 0.4%, much less than the 1.25% used in calculations. It is important to point out again that a total of 82% of all fertilizer N used in Canada is applied in the prairie region of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Despite the high degree of uncertainty surrounding the estimates made in this study, the results clearly indicate a need to modify downward the N2O loss coefficient that is currently applied to fertilizer N use in western Canada.

Moisture conditions over the region remain, for the most part, above normal. The most recent Long Term Palmer Drought Severity Index shows the entire region normal or above. However, there remains some concern about moisture conditions in western Nebraska, parts of eastern Colorado, and northwestern Kansas. Nevertheless, soil moisture in most areas is excellent. Wheat is progressing well in most areas with higher than normal temperatures in February. The most recent reports showed 65%, 68%, 75%, and 60% of wheat in good to excellent condition in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska, respectively. Topdressing wheat is well underway in the region. With the excellent potential and relatively high rainfall over the past few months, we need to make sure that nitrogen (N) shortage does not limit yield.

Good moisture conditions over the region have resulted in a positive outlook and potential for spring plated crops and summer forages. Considering the good soil moisture outlook this season, producers and ag professionals need to make sure that fertility does not limit productivity. A priority should be given to complete and balanced nutrient inputs this spring. For example, consider that providing adequate phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) (along with N) increases the crops ability to efficiently extract soil moisture and improves N use efficiency. Also, as we enter the spring and approach the summer keep in mind that forage crops will need sufficient nutrition to get a good start. Take into account nutrient removal when planning the fertilization of hay and silage crops… remember, these crops have the potential to remove tremendous amounts of nutrients from the field. Another critical fact to consider this season is that the record yields of last year also exported record amounts of nutrients from fields. The greater than normal depletion of soil P and K needs to be accounted for in this year’s programs.

Asian soybean rust continues to garner the attention of most farmers and agribusiness in the Southeast region. With the discovery of over-wintering Asiatic rust on kudzu just north of Tampa, Florida, in late February, the region is braced for the need to scout soybeans frequently and to make timely fungicide applications. Planned fungicide applications may negatively impact fertilizer use on soybeans this year, because some farmers are setting limits on their expenditures in an effort to try to remain profitable. A quick warning to those farmers is warranted: neglect of potassium (K) nutrition needs could limit the economic return to fungicide applications. Potassium fertilization helps produce the crop that fungicides can help protect. Farmers should not overlook adequate K nutrition as part of their production plans this year.

Cotton farmers have been dealt an ugly blow because of the recent ruling by an appeals panel of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that U.S. farmers are unfairly receiving subsidies above the limit approved by the WTO agreements. This ruling was largely the result of claims against the U.S. subsidies by Brazil. While the ruling may have no immediate effect on cotton acreage in 2005, the next U.S. Farm Bill will strongly influence future cotton planting intentions. For more details, refer to an article by Farm Press Daily at:

http://deltafarmpress.com/news/050303-wto-ruling

A similar complaint against the U.S. soybean program was also filed by Brazil, which claims that subsidies of $2 billion a year to U.S. soybean farmers have hurt growers in Brazil.

Increased challenges for farmers as a result of crop production surpluses, international trade policies, and increasing production costs (including higher fertilizer prices), may affect crop acreages in the next few years, which in turn will influence the fertilizer market opportunities. Meanwhile, farmers are pushing ahead in 2005, hoping for another year of favorable weather in the Southeast.

Contacts at soil testing laboratories indicate that soil samples are beginning to stack up. The University of Arkansas soil testing lab, for example, is receiving about 2,000 samples per day. If soil test recommendations from the samples are followed, that could be positive for the fertilizer market. Based on past experiences, when soil sample numbers are up, fertilizer tonnage used also tends to rise. Time will tell.

New Products?
We continue to hear more about sustainable agriculture and consumer demands for food safety. This spring, some individuals and companies are focusing on this attention by promoting products or programs that are claimed to be more environmentally friendly or safer for the consumer than traditional methods of farming. While there is value in keeping an open mind and having a willingness to try new things, remember that any quick-fix approach that is offered should be examined closely. A few things to consider when thinking about trying new products this season:

1. Does a product sold as “natural” or “organic” mean that it is better or more effective?
2. Low rates of application are suggested to have very large impacts. Does the product mode of action and the application rate make sense?
3. Does the product use unspecified “trade secrets” to be effective?
4. Testimonials of neighbors about specific products are important, but are replicated research and demonstration trials being conducted to prove the effectiveness of the products?

Everyone involved in agriculture should be working towards sustainability, land stewardship, and farm profitability…but the use of unproven products and practices does not help meet this goal.

Water, Water, Water…
It seems like every spring, the talk involves the water supply for the upcoming growing season. In the West, no other single input has a larger influence on the success of a farming operation. Whether the irrigation water comes from rivers and reservoirs, or it is pumped from the ground, water availability and quality affects everyone involved in agriculture.

The long-running drought in the Southwest has been lifted with excellent winter rainfall. However, in the Pacific Northwest, the winter has been extremely dry, setting up a dry outlook for the upcoming season. It seems like there are always areas of surplus and areas of drought.

Whatever your local condition, consider how you can adapt to make the best use of your available water. Improving irrigation efficiency can dramatically cut pumping and energy costs, reduce fertilizer loss, and increase yields. All this is done while providing more water for wildlife and recreation. Each state provides modern climate monitoring tools to estimate the water needs of crops and to assist with irrigation scheduling. On many farms, irrigation technology has greatly advanced during the past few decades, but attention to irrigation management has not always followed.

Ethanol in California?
Ethanol production in California is usually associated with wine making. However, another first for California will occur with the groundbreaking of the first large-scale ethanol production plant in Madera. The California demand for ethanol represents approximately one-third of the current total domestic market. However, fuel ethanol is currently imported to the West from the traditional Corn Belt region of the country. The company plans to capitalize on California’s demand for energy and animal feed by processing corn to ethanol and selling the byproducts to the state’s dairy industry, the largest in the U.S. Where will the corn come from?