Editorial Blog

Treat Sulfur Like a Macronutrient in Corn to Boost Yields

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:11:59 GMT

A farmer recently asked Ken Ferrie the question, “With organic matter above 3.5%, do I need to worry about applying sulfur?”

Ten years ago, Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, says his answer would have been different than what he recommends today.

A decade ago, 3.5% organic matter would have supplied enough sulfur and quickly enough in the growing season to meet the corn’s needs. At that point in time, the biggest response from sulfur occurred in soils at 2.5% organic matter or less, with soils at 1.5% organic matter and below showing the greatest response.

“Today, we are seeing pretty substantial sulfur responses in our corn plots at and above 3.5% organic matter,” he says. “I still believe that, in total, 3.5% organic matter soils will supply enough sulfur. The issue is those soils just don’t supply sulfur quickly enough in the spring.”

As proof, Ferrie says he is increasingly seeing the “yellow sulfur whorl” in soils with 3.5% organic matter between the time corn emerges and the V8 to V10 growth range. As the corn plant gets bigger, roots go deeper and the soil gets more active. Over time, the soil will release organic sulfur and that symptom of sulfur deficiency will gradually disappear.

“But under the concept of never let corn have a bad day, corn showing a sulfur deficiency is having a bad day,” he says. “This is especially true for those G and L1 hybrids that will flex down if you stress them in that window before tassel and right after emergence.”

Why More Sulfur Is Needed Today: What has occurred is less acid rain is falling today, so fields are getting less sulfur from the atmosphere. You can trace this fact back to the Clean Air Act of 1970. So, while it’s good that acid rain has been reduced, it has resulted in less sulfur being available for crops to tap into.

What that means now is that farmers in much of the Midwest must treat sulfur more like a macronutrient rather than a micronutrient.

“The continued drop in the soil’s ability to supply sulfur has now reached the level that we have to start thinking about applying sulfur every year ahead of corn, no matter what the organic matter is,” Ferrie says.

Different Soils, Different Nutrient Needs. He adds that farmers have some options to consider for sulfur use as part of their 4Rs strategy.

“In soils not subject to leaching -- which most 3.5% organic matter soils are less likely to have large amounts of leaching -- the sulfate could go on in the fall, when the phosphate and potash go on,” he says.

“Sulfur could also go on in the spring if that’s when you put your P and K on; it could go on at planting on the corn planter or be top-dressed with your pre-emergent nitrogen program,” he says.

Elemental sulfur must go through a biological breakdown to get to sulfate.

“This reaction doesn’t get into full swing, though, until soil temperatures are above 75 degrees F, which means elemental sulfur doesn’t make it to the dance until later in July and August,” he says. “That is great if you still need sulfur then, but in the 3.5% organic matter soils they usually release enough sulfur by mid-June to take care of the deficiency issues.”

The right placement and right timing of sulfur applications are important.

“Sulfate in a 2"x2” application with the planter is a good way to achieve good application timing. Sidedressing sulfate in the middle of the row with a coulter at sidedress time is usually too late, at least in central Illinois. By the time the root system and the sulfate get together, the plant has grown out of its sulfur deficiency,” Ferrie says.

He notes that Y-dropping sulfate next to the row can improve the sidedress response. “We’ll need to go early on small corn, which means we need to go slow and not splash product on the small corn plant and cause burn. Again, these are recommendations for higher organic matter soils that only have a temporary sulfur problem early in the season,” he adds.

Sandy Soils Need Another Strategy. In sandy, leachable soils, farmers need to put together a program that keeps the corn plant supplied in sulfur all season, and not just up until V10.

“When we do sulfur plots in corn, we can now see the sulfur checks show up the following year in soybeans,” Ferrie says. “These check plots from last year show up in color, and they can be seen in aerial imagery and with the naked eye.”

In the plots that got sulfur in the corn the previous year, the deficiency is a lot rarer than what Ferrie sees in high organic matter soils.

“This would suggest that we’re seeing some carryover effect into the soybeans. But this, too, is something we didn’t see years ago,” he says. “You could put a sulfur plot out on corn and not see anything show up the following year in soybeans. So, this is somewhat new in the last five, six years that we’re starting to see in our plots.”

Soybeans Tell a Different Story. However, Ferrie says he is not seeing a positive yield response from sulfur in soybean plots following corn.

“I think this lack of response is due to the fact that soybeans set their yield much later than corn. When soybeans are setting pods and starting grain fill, these higher organic matter soils are supplying enough sulfur to meet the plants’ needs,” he says.

So, back to the original question, do farmers need sulfur in 3.5% organic matter soils?

“Our plots would say yes, in corn – somewhere around 15 pounds to 20 pounds of sulfate,” Ferrie says.

However, in soybeans, Ferrie’s plot research doesn’t show a consistent response to sulfur in soils with high organic matter. At least not yet.

“If sulfur is going on the corn in these soils in a corn-soybean rotation, I think it’ll be longer before we see any payback or response in the soybeans,” he says.

Ferrie adds that depending on where farmers live, the results and needs for sulfur applications can vary. For instance, growers farming downwind of a large city like Chicago may still be receiving enough acid rain to meet their crop’s sulfur needs, due to all the fossil fuel being burned on the roads and highways.

“When all the cars in Chicago are electric, then you’re going to have to join the rest of us and start applying sulfur,” he says.

Check out this Boots In The Field podcast:

For more information on sulfur, read:

Your Fields Are Likely Low On Sulfur: Here’s How to Fix It

Want 200-Bu. Corn? You’ll Need 34 Pounds Of Sulfur Per Acre

Farm Journal Test Plots: Starter Hits the Spot

Ferrie: When to Expect Yield Response From Starter Phosphorus

When Chance and Purpose Meet

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 18:44:12 GMT

I love learning new words, and a recent one I added to my vocabulary is synchronicity. It defines when chance and purpose come together in our lives.

“These are the moments that change our lives forever—God’s messages,” Major Dan Rooney says.

Rooney knows a thing or two about life-changing moments. “I’d always dreamed of being a golf professional and a fighter pilot,” he says. “Ultimately, I had no idea those would combine in the way they did.”

On the way home from one of his three combat tours in Iraq as an F-16 pilot, Rooney learned a fallen soldier’s remains were also on the flight. He watched as Corporal Brock Bucklin’s twin brother walked alongside the flag-covered casket to meet his family. Among them was Bucklin’s young son. In that exact moment Rooney’s life changed forever.

“Synchronicity is all around us—signs on the highway of life,” Rooney says. “The great challenge is to recognize these moments, and to take action and have the courage and the faith to do something with it.”

Shortly after that flight, Rooney founded Folds of Honor, which, through scholarships and other financial assistance, gives back to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or seriously wounded in service to our country.

As we prepare to welcome Rooney as our keynote speaker at the 2019 Top Producer Summit , his story is instructive for farm executives reaching to achieve incredible goals. Attendees of all three Top Producer events—Top Producer Seminar, Executive Women in Agriculture and Tomorrow’s Top Producer—will hear his inspiring message.

Invitation To Learn. Rooney is not the only top-notch speaker in the queue Jan. 15-17 in Chicago. Nearly 30 experts will challenge you to make your operation even better. Our theme, “Breaking Barriers,” will remind you to look forward.

Here are a few of the speakers and topics on tap for Top Producer Seminar:

How Digital Media Has Changed the Food System by Steve Lerch, Google
Predicting Chaos: Managing Your Weather Risk by Eric Snodgrass, University of Illinois
Business through Collaboration: Rethinking the Family Farm by John Gladigau, Collaborative Farming Australia
15 Ways to Grow Your Business in Every Economy by Mary Kelly, Productive Leaders
Tools, Tips & Tricks for Hiring & Retaining Top Talent by Mel Kleiman, Humetrics

This event and time together provide the perfect opportunity to reflect on the previous year and dream about a bright future for your farm business. I hope to see you in Chicago in January.

Register now at tpsummit.com!

When Does ‘Do No Harm’ Actually Hurt Ag Trade?

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 04:49:36 GMT

You may have never heard of Ray Starling, but he has an impact on agriculture policy like few others. His office sits in the White House complex where he advises President Donald Trump on any manner of issues that impact agriculture and rural America.

U.S. Farm Report Host Tyne Morgan recently sat across from Starling in that Pennsylvania Avenue office and, among other things, talked trade. Starling gets it. Farmers are concerned. “Do no harm,” they say. But that attitude, Starling said, may ultimately be what harms them the most.

“In the Ag world we feel like, notwithstanding the inequities and the unfairness around the world with regard to the conversation about free trade, we have still done pretty well,” Starling admitted. “We are selling a lot of our product elsewhere and we are worried that we will upset the apple cart with regard to keeping those markets open. I think a point that we don’t make enough and that we don’t talk about enough is we should actually be doing a lot more.”

Watch Tyne Morgan’s interview with Ray Starling on U.S. Farm Report below.

China is a big target for the Trump Administration, and it should be. The U.S. sold $19.6 billion worth of Agricultural goods to that country in 2017, a figure that moved China down to second on the list of U.S. ag export destinations. On the whole, China spends about $170 billion in all U.S. goods in a year, but that’s less than half of the story. The total picture of the two-way trade is $684 billion. We buy a lot more iPhones and parts and trinkets than we sell them soybeans and pork.

For the moment, U.S. soybean growers continue to ship $14 billion worth of beans to China annually. And that number has been growing. But Starling said farmers should be concerned.

“I think if we look at the numbers of soybeans that China is importing, that number continues to go up,” he said. “The US percentage of that market continues to appear to be in decline. That’s something we need to reverse. We are still selling them more and more soybeans every year in terms of pure number of bushels, but as a percentage of their market we should be nervous that we are not growing along with their market.”

The White House says we want our fair share. It’s a lofty goal, but are we willing to lay all of our chips on the table in order to play that hand? If we win the trade battle, it could erase a lot of the challenges from the last four years. If we lose, we lose the farm.

Fortunately, there are positive signs. First, a high-level team of economic and trade advisors traveled to Beijing last week without the usual Twitter bluster of a full-blown Trump trade spat. Little progress was reported, but the talks continue with China’s trade team slated to visit Washington next week.

What’s more promising is that the rhetoric around NAFTA and Korea has died and serious talks have taken place. Rumors circle about a resolution to NAFTA 2.0 soon. We need it. President Trump needs it. A win under his belt with a trade deal that truly is better for American farmers and other sectors would quickly change the narrative on the trade talks in China and elsewhere.

If you’re going all in, it’s good to be holding an ace.

Bovine Viral Dilemma

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 20:59:30 GMT

The following commentary does not necessarily reflect the views of AgWeb or Farm Journal. The opinions expressed below are the author’s own

Among the most insidious pathogens affecting cattle, the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDv) stands out. Clinical signs and effects of the disease can vary widely, and while its name includes the word “diarrhea,” the most damaging effects include abortions in cow-calf herds and the role of BVDv in the bovine respiratory disease complex in stocker and feeder cattle.

At the heart of the issue, persistently infected (PI) cattle represent a critical control point and a significant ethical and financial challenge for producers. PI cattle are those that survive infection during gestation and shed the virus for as long as they survive.

In a recent article titled “ Enhanced BVDv Control Would Benefit the Cattle Industry ,” Oklahoma State University Extension specialist Derrell Peel, PhD, notes that BVDv incidence is relatively low at about 0.3 percent of cattle and only about 4 percent of cow-calf herds will have a PI-positive animal. However, he says, commingling that occurs in the stocker and feedlot sectors greatly magnifies the impact of PI cattle. A single PI calf may expose at least 150-200 head of other cattle to BVDv over its life, and around 79 percent of feedlot cattle are exposed to BVDv from a small number of PI cattle.

In theory, widespread testing and removal of PI animals, coupled with effective vaccination protocols in cow-calf herds, could eradicate the BVD virus. In reality though, testing adds production costs, as does removal of a PI calf, which might appear healthy. And from the rancher’s perspective, they cover the costs while stocker and feedlot operators reap at least a portion of the benefits.

Peel notes that Oklahoma State University research shows the net value of enhanced BVDv control in the beef industry could be as much as $24 per head. Currently though, the feeder-calf market does not provide mechanisms for directly compensating cow-calf producers for their investments in BVDv control. Peel refers to this as an example of “market failure,” where market participants do not fully recognize and incorporate all costs and/or benefits into their private decisions.

Cow-calf producers can benefit from testing calves, replacement heifers and imported animals for BVDv. Test results almost always will be negative, but timely diagnosis of a PI animal can prevent substantial losses from declining pregnancy rates and calf morbidity. Benefits associated with risk reduction are, however, difficult to quantify financially. For information on how to measure those benefits, read “ Analysis of cost-effectiveness of veterinary interventions ,” from Dr. Bob Larson at Kansas State University.

Some marketing chains will provide premiums for calves certified as BVD-tested and PI-free, but that trend has been slow in developing. In its annual survey of value-added markets, Superior Livestock Auction has collected data on BVD-tested calves since 2008. In their data, premiums averaged $2.42 per hundredweight in 2012, $2.97 in 2013, $1.63 in 2014, $2.42 in 2015 and no advantage in 2016.

Scientists and veterinarians recognize that removal of PI calves is critical for control of BVDV, but that discussion always leads to the question of what to do with those calves. Producers facing tight margins might be reluctant to euthanize or slaughter PI calves that appear healthy, and the potential loss of revenue can even discourage some producers from testing.

Ethically, the options for producers who find PI calves include euthanasia or shipping directly to slaughter. In some cases, producers can limit their losses by isolating and feeding PI calves to slaughter weights, either on their own operations or at a finishing facility that is equipped to feed the animals in complete isolation. The option entails considerable risk as morbidity and mortality rates tend to be high in groups of PI calves.

Peel notes that an indemnity program to pay for eliminating PI animals might increase incentives for better BVDv control in cow-calf herds. In any case, an industry-wide effort with shared risks and benefits across sectors, will be needed to significantly reduce the impact of the destructive BVD virus. For more, read BVD Biosecurity, Vaccination and Diagnostics from Bovine Veterinarian.

For High Corn Yields, Consider How It Uses Nitrogen

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 18:30:00 GMT

Corn needs nitrogen (N) throughout the growing season, though in varying amounts. The important thing is, “You want to keep enough nitrogen available during all corn growth stages so crop growth never slows down,” says Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal field agronomist.

He says nitrogen works in corn like gasoline in a vehicle, fueling crop growth from emergence through maturity. A lack of nitrogen at any point along the way can cause the crop to sputter or stall.

“Corn that’s nitrogen deficient at the beginning of the growing season gives up yield potential,” he says. “Nitrogen-deficient corn in the late reproductive stages costs actual yield.”

From emergence to V8, corn plants consume less than 2 lb. of N per acre per day. While N uptake is not much because plants are small, don’t underestimate this stage because it impacts overall yield potential, Ferrie notes.

From V10 to V18, the plant consumes 5 lb. to 10 lb. of N per acre per day, known as the rapid vegetative growth stage. Once the plant has reached R1 and is pollinated, the daily usage backs off to about 2 lb. per day.

“When corn hits R1 and drops its daily usage to 2 lb. per day, you still have 60 days of this stage remaining,” Ferrie says. “It’s critical you meet the 2 lb. per day demand, whether you or the soil supplies N, to reach maximum yield potential.”

Knowing uptake needs dictates how aggressively you apply N based on growth stage, Ferrie says.

For example, if you pull a nitrate sample on May 10 (growth stage matters more than date) and the results are in the medium to low range, you need to react immediately because N usage is about to increase during the rapid vegetative stage.

However, if you pull the same sample on July 25, a medium to low reading is manageable because the plant only needs 2 lb. per day.

Ultimately, the more N your soil supplies, the less you have to apply. Fields with low-supplying power are more likely to respond to multiple N applications, even later in the season.

Here are six additional nuggets of information Ferrie provides to help you plan your nitrogen program in corn.

1. Assess the environment for every field; that is crucial in building a nitrogen program. Know your risk of nitrogen loss from leaching, denitrification and/or volatility.

2. Pick the right nitrogen sources, timing and placement. Doing those three things is much more important than trying to pick the right rate.

3. Assess the carbon penalty potential based on the amount and type of carbon left from your previous crop. Don’t forget to assess a carbon penalty for grass cover crops.

4. Consider that split applications and nitrogen inhibitors might be part of the balance of your nitrogen plan.

5. If corn greens up right after a sidedress application, it is telling you that the crop was waiting for the nitrogen and it was giving up yield potential during the process.

6. Season-long scouting is the only way to get a handle on nitrogen needs and management. Knowing when you run short is more important than knowing how much you ran short. As Ferrie emphasizes, “Scout, scout, scout and then make a plan.”

Hemp Profits Get Real

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 18:28:49 GMT

With the passage of the 2018 farm bill, Congress legalized hemp--much to the delight of some farmers and the dismay of others.

Farm Journal’s perspective on hemp is that it’s now a legitimate crop, and we have a responsibility to address it for you as we would any other crop.

That sense of responsibility was the basis for our recent decision to focus on hemp as a Special Report in our February issue of Farm Journal, which has arrived in most farmer mailboxes by now.

Along with this special report, you can read an even wider variety of informative articles here on AgWeb. Look for the heading, “Cannabis: Potential and Pitfalls” to scroll through the topics, which cover everything from production to marketing to state-specific policies. I’ll include some links at the end of this column for your reference as well.

We hope our Special Report and ongoing coverage on AgWeb will be useful resources as you evaluate whether hemp represents a new opportunity for your farm.

Three Potential Paths for Farming Hemp

The Bank Secrecy Act Makes Growing Hemp A Risky Business

Facts and Fiction About Hemp in Animal Feed

Hemp is a Legal Commodity. Now What?

For High Corn Yields, Consider How It Uses Nitrogen

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 17:51:31 GMT