Northcentral

Throughout the Northcentral region, winter is a time of planning. Below are a few things to consider about nutrient programs.

• Nutrients should be supplied in quantities that optimize production. Soil tests, estimates of crop removal, and yield goals are key pieces of information.
• Nutrients should be placed for access all season long. Placement of nutrients near the seed at planting is important for crops like corn, wheat, and sugarbeets. Nutrient requirements later in the season may also require a more distributed supply throughout the soil profile.
• When needed, nutrients are a cost-effective input. Quantities needed are not very sensitive to market conditions, so recommended rates will need to be followed regardless of crop price.
• Nutrients interact with one another. If more than one nutrient is needed, applying all of those required will likely produce the highest yielding crops. Ignoring needed nutrients can limit crop response to the ones that were applied, reducing their effectiveness.

Keeping these key concepts in mind when planning will ensure that a nutrient program will have the best possible chances of being effective.

Ontario farmers planted a large winter wheat crop in the fall of 2002 - reports suggest a million acres. Michigan growers increased their wheat acreage as well. Including muriate of potash in the spring nitrogen topdress is a good way to supply potassium on soils that need it.

Conditions in the fall brought considerable rain to most of the region. The areas where drought was strongest in July-August-September may have highly variable nitrogen availability this spring, depending on whether the water induced large losses of nitrogen or not. Nitrate tests in spring 2003 could be very useful.

Forage yields in 2002 were low for second and third cut due to summer drought. This encouraged a lot of late fall cutting. Where late fall cuttings were taken, make sure that the nutrients removed are replaced, particularly potassium. Unless the soil test is very low, however, potash topdressing is best left until right after the first cut.

The following chart approximates the 2002 nutrient removal in selected states and provinces.

High yields do not just happen by chance, but rather are the result of persistent attention to detail. Careful attention in planning and implementation of new and improved crop and nutrient management and technology are essential. Are you using the right tools to position yourself for a successful and profitable crop in 2003?

Growers in areas with a good soil moisture outlook for summer crops should take advantage of these conditions by making sure that soil fertility levels are sufficient to produce top yields. Crop nutrition, after water, is the most common factor that limits crop yield in the Great Plains Region. Nitrogen is the nutrient that most often limits crop growth and yield, while P and K are commonly limiting factors as well. Although applying most P and K in broadcast incorporated applications is common where tillage and management practices allow, application of P and K starter in some crop production systems can provide significant benefits. For example, potential benefits of starter fertilizer in corn production are accelerated early plant development that results in increased competition with weeds, decreased erosion due to quicker soil cover, reduced grain moisture at harvest, improved nutrient use efficiency, increased yield and crop quality, and earlier harvest. Several soil factors and management practices affect whether starter response is likely. There are many sources for more detailed information on this topic, including PPI's website . Regardless of crop, tillage, fertilizer placement, or other management practices, make sure that fertility levels are sufficient to take advantage of favorable soil moisture levels this spring. As the old saying goes… "Make hay while the sun's shining."

Looking ahead to 2003,the best approach is to prepare for a good season. Most often, Midwest conditions are favorable for a good crop, so a sound management plan is to position the cropping season to take advantage of a good year. Work toward correcting nutrient deficits based on soil tests, crop removal, and realistic yield goals. Allowing any deficits to continue is a sure way to put crops in a weaker position to deal with any stresses that occur. Correcting those deficits also positions the crop to make best use of a favorable growing season.

Producers caught in economic pressures of low grain prices and high cash rents are looking for shortcuts to improve the bottom line. Cutting nutrient supplies is seldom a good strategy to improve profits. While it can save on inputs, cutting nutrients puts a ceiling on crop yield potential, removes flexibility on timing and placement of fertilizers, and increases susceptibility of the crop to weather and pest stresses. All this points to shortcuts in nutrient management being an exercise in false economy.

The tight economy seems to give a green light to those who promote substandard nutrient management programs. There has been an expansion of marketing efforts by people selling lower-rate nutrient programs. Low-rate, low analysis materials and low-rate programs may save a few dollars on inputs, but can substantially increase the risk of reduced yields and profits. Be sure recommendations meet needs for crop growth and required soil nutrient build up. Calculate the total needs and the total amounts supplied in all fertilizer and manure applications. Beware of low analysis materials being sold as more efficient or more natural. Standard P and K fertilizers are readily available. Compare materials on total cost per pound of nutrient. Beware of recommendations that do not maintain soil test levels or correct deficits. Saving money on basic inputs like P and K undermines the ability of the soil to meet crop needs and leads to nutrient stresses on the crop and depletion of the basic soil nutrient resources for future crops.

2003 can be a good year for Midwest producers if plans are put in place to be sure the management system will make best use of the good growing days available. Managing for a good year is the best approach. Set a realistic yield goal and implement a plan to support it

Regardless of the 2002 weather challenges, some key points need to be remembered for crop management in 2003:
• Long-term yield trends are upward for most crops, which points to the increasing potential for higher production, with favorable weather and management.
• A balanced fertility program helps growers weather drought through more efficient moisture use and improved nitrogen use efficiency.
• If wet weather persists into spring, recommended phosphorus rates may need to be increased to help compensate for: 1) reduced availability associated with a decline in beneficial mycorrhizal fungus associations, 2) increased tie-up of P by iron and other compounds as the soils dry, and 3) reduced root growth caused by cool, wet conditions.
• On sandy soils, or coarse silt loams with low organic matter, the heavy fall and winter rains can leach available potassium below the root zone of spring-planted crops. Growers will want to consider potash this spring, even if they presumed there would be considerable carry-over potassium as a result of reduced crop removal associated with the 2002 drought.
• Higher crop yields on many farms in the last five years had led to increased nutrient removal in the harvested crops. If adjustments to fertilizer rates have not been considered in the last few years, it is time to re-evaluate nutrient needs through soil testing and simple nutrient input to removal calculations.

The information below is taken from individual southeastern state Agricultural Statistics reports. For more specific data, visit the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) website for individual state offices.

Sugarcane
The southern Louisiana rice and sugarcane crops were also hurt. Even sugarcane acreage may see a significant decline in 2003. Sugarcane was harvested very late and some remained in the field because of the wet soils and poor crop condition, caused by two hurricanes/tropical storms in late season. Despite this, the Louisiana Ag Statistics Service has reported that final production will be on par with that of 2001.

Cotton
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA) Crop Statistics Division reports, "Yield per acre, at 412 pounds, is the lowest since 1983 and down significantly from last year's record yield of 832 pounds. Harvested acres decreased from 965,000 in 2001 to 920,000 in 2002." The Georgia crop was estimated to yield 587 lb of lint/A, while the Alabama yield was estimated at 492 lb/A and the Tennessee crop was estimated to be 651 lb/A - down over 100 lb/A from the 2001 Tennessee yield.

Cotton was thrown out on the ground by the fall storms, lowering yields in many southeastern states by as much as 100 to 300 lb of lint/A. In other areas, regrowth occurred which aggravated harvest and increased defoliation expenses. Even with these difficulties, some farmers achieved near-record yields in the Mississippi Delta region. Dr. Will McCarty, Mississippi Extension cotton specialist, was reporting excellent yields before the hurricanes. The 2002 Mississippi state average yield is estimated at 821 lb of lint/A. He speculates, based on years of observations, boll numbers, size, and weight, that the state average yield could have been a record …. except for the hurricanes. Cotton yield in Arkansas was estimated at 861 lb of lint/A, the second highest state average yield in the last 10 years. According to the Louisiana Ag Statistics Service, " The Delta Region cotton harvest continued to be delayed during the first half of November due to unrelenting downpours. Growers managed to make progress with the harvest during the drier, last half of the month. Objective yield data continue to show boll counts in Arkansas higher than average with weights below average. Mississippi's boll counts are surpassed only by the 1997 and 1998 counts. The average weight per boll in Mississippi is the highest of the previous 10 years. Louisiana's boll counts and weights are the highest since 1994."

According to the Delta Farm Press (Farm Press On-line January 8, 2003), about 66% of the Midsouth farmers reported an increase in conservation tillage in the last five years, with individual growers reporting as much as 74% of their 2002 cotton acres were no-till or reduced-till. According to a study supported by the Cotton Foundation, no-till acres have nearly doubled since 1997, to 29% of total cotton acres, and reduced-till acres have more than doubled, accounting for 30% of cotton acres. Roundup Ready cotton is planted on about 77% of the U.S. acres.

Soybean
Dr. Alan Blaine reported excellent Group IV maturity soybean yields (above 70 bu/A) in Mississippi this year. The Mississippi state average yield is estimated at 32 bu/A, the third highest yield since 1992. He made the following statement at an industry agronomic training session in December, "I am convinced that we are seeing more diseases in soybean because of lowered soil nutrient status caused by higher yields and soil mining." This comment and some field observations indicate a need for increased soil sampling on some of the finer textured (silty clays to clay loam) soils in the delta states, and especially on the silt loam to sandy loam soils. Arkansas yield in 2002 was 34 bu/A, second highest since 1992. The Louisiana yield is forecast at 33 bu/A, which ties last year's record. The Georgia crop was estimated at 23 bu/A and the North Carolina crop was estimated at 24 bu/A. In Alabama, the 2002 yield was forecast at 26 bu/A, down from 35 bu/A in 2001. The 2002 yield in Tennessee was expected to be 32 bu/A, down 2 bu/A from 2001.

Wheat
Soft red winter wheat acreage was anticipated to increase going into the fall. However, the wet weather led to much less wheat acreage. Across the PPI Southeast region (excluding the bootheel of Missouri), the 2002 planting is estimated at 3.06 million acres, down slightly from the 2001 planting of 3.18 million acres. The 2001 planted crop (2002 harvest) yielded an average of 33 bu/A across the southeastern states, down from the 38 bu/A the year before.

Rice
Some long-standing fertilizer dealers have reported that rice acreage in Louisiana may decline by 30% in 2003. Arkansas 2002 state average rice yield set a new record at 6,440 lb/A. This is 290 lb/A (6.4 bu/A) higher than the best state average yield achieved between 1992 and 2001. Similar success was achieved in Mississippi, which reported a 2002 state average yield of 6,400 lb/A, but down 200 lb/A from 2001.

Corn
The NCDA reported, "North Carolina's 2002 corn for grain production totaled 58.1 million bushels, 26% less than the 2001 crop of 78.1 million bushels. Acres harvested increased 75,000 from 2001 to 700,000 acres. However, yield, at 83 bu/A, was down significantly from last year's record of 125 bu." The Arkansas state average yield is estimated at 134 bu/A, the second highest yield in the last 10 years. The Mississippi yield is estimated at 125 bu/A, also the second highest on record in the last 10 years. The Louisiana yield is estimated at 130 bu/A, down 18 bu from 2001. The 2002 yield in Alabama was low at 89 bu/A. Tennessee reported a 2002 yield estimate at 126 bu/A, down 26 bu/A from last year.

Tobacco
According to the NCDA, "North Carolina flue-cured tobacco growers suffered from the lack of precipitation throughout the growing season to achieve an average yield of 2,134 lb. This is 293 lb less than last year and 91 lb less than the 10-year average yield. Production, estimated at 347.9 million lb, is an 8% decrease from 2001. Harvested area, estimated at 163,000 A, is 8,000 A more than 2001."

Peanuts
The Georgia peanut yields in 2002 are estimated at 2,600 lb/A, while the North Carolina yield forecast was 2,100 lb/A, down 810 lb/A from 2001. The Alabama crop yield was down 375 lb/A from 2001 at 2,300 lb/A. The Florida yield was forecast at about 2,500 lb/A, down almost 500 lb/A from 2001.

Recent storms have battered California and much of the Pacific coast, but the lingering effects of prolonged drought continue to plague many of the western states. The effects of El Niño, the periodic Pacific weather phenomenon, continue to disrupt typical weather patterns.

While the Pacific coast appears to be on track to have adequate moisture for the coming growing season, drought conditions continue in much of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona.

The winter months are a time for reviewing management decisions and to plan upcoming field operations for the spring. It is important to remember that one of the components of a management system that affects water use is soil fertility. A complete and balanced fertility program helps to produce a crop with roots that explore more soil volume for water and nutrients in less time. This results in a healthier crop that can more easily withstand seasonal stresses.

Fertility and weed control are typically the factors that have the greatest influence on water use efficiency during crop growth. Plant nutrition influences the ability of the crop to produce the photosynthates required for development. When crop fertility requirements are not met, water use continues but grain yield is reduced. In other words, vigorously growing crops use about the same amount of water as poorly growing ones, but yield greater returns.

Adequately fertilized crops not only use water more efficiently, but also tend to be more effective in extracting water and nutrients from the soil. In the process, crops adequately fertilized actually reduce the risk of nitrate leaching into groundwater.

Although the predictions for below-average rainfall exist for many portions of the Western U.S., it is important to use the available moisture to its full extent. Maintaining optimal soil fertility is an essential component in making the best use of limited water supplies, whatever the storms may bring.